tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post7952275799643547596..comments2024-03-23T12:02:36.626-07:00Comments on Mark P. Witton's Blog: The Golden Age of Palaeoart?Mark Wittonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02524696111911168322noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-4087079087658917802013-07-23T21:25:07.678-07:002013-07-23T21:25:07.678-07:00Replying to my own comment because I hadn't me...Replying to my own comment because I hadn't mentioned that making Polacanthus cute is quite a feat, nicely achieved as we've all had the experience of something landing on our nose when we don't have a hand available to shoo it away.Mike from Ottawanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-59316895406309492532013-07-20T22:25:48.758-07:002013-07-20T22:25:48.758-07:00I have answered this challenge as of now. But, I w...I have answered this challenge as of now. But, I will wait to reveal it as I need to finish a project that links to it tangentially. I'll link back to here when it's ready.Jaime Headdenhttp://qilong.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-35401269226838875252013-07-19T05:20:20.041-07:002013-07-19T05:20:20.041-07:00Many artists depict dinosaurs as skinny.I have rea...Many artists depict dinosaurs as skinny.I have read a study where body fat percentage is lesser than previously thought.Nonetheless,Archosaurs were probably active with a very efficient metabolism and storing fat.<br /><br />I love the colour composition,this is a bright Cretaceous landscape.The flower revolution is on the way !<br /><br />OliverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-27369003625346530712013-07-19T05:16:15.723-07:002013-07-19T05:16:15.723-07:00Hadiaz- Sorry to hear you're having the same r...Hadiaz- Sorry to hear you're having the same rotten luck as me :(<br /><br />Well to make perfect clear about myself, I have no aspirations or delusions of making a living as an artist of any sort. It is a hobby for me.traumadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00387315561167115253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-11248499854518924652013-07-19T05:10:52.497-07:002013-07-19T05:10:52.497-07:00Thanks for the reply Dr. Witton,
I understand exa...Thanks for the reply Dr. Witton,<br /><br />I understand exactly what you are saying, and don't see a single bit of selfishness in your response ;P<br /><br />I guess I'm just at the point where to find palaeo-art fun I need some constructive outlet for my work. Without that I might as well be making silly fantastic stuff like spaceships or Kaiju monsters.traumadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00387315561167115253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-38937840272751214652013-07-19T03:23:21.945-07:002013-07-19T03:23:21.945-07:00@Jaime: you deserve the praise. Deal. :-)
@Mark: ...@Jaime: you deserve the praise. Deal. :-)<br /><br />@Mark: Groovy! I do have a few points to add:<br />One of the main reasons these are golden times, methinks, is that working scientists are generating graphics. And no, I'm not referring to artist-scientists such as yourself, but the usage of computer visualization technologies for research that create hot eye candy in the process (think Hutchinson, Mallison, etc.). I think this has a huge effect, as it communicates direct research visually and efficiently to a wide audience.<br /><br />Quote: "Even non-artists, like the guys behind Tetrapod Zoology" Darren does do a lot of visuals... I've always thought of him as a scientist-artist. He tends to shy away from perspective difficulties, but then, so does Paul. It would be interesting to hear what he thinks himself, but I thoroughly enjoy his book, for the illustrations as much as the writing.<br /><br />davidmaashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16696298300141402317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-20733678347239229042013-07-18T21:45:18.719-07:002013-07-18T21:45:18.719-07:00@Craig Dylke
Honestly, I feel ya man. What you de...@Craig Dylke<br /><br />Honestly, I feel ya man. What you described is basically my life story, career-wise (not that I'm trying to be a paleoartist, but still). However, if there's any chance of doing what you love for a living, then I hope you keep trying. I know I will.Hadiazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805346627826158173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-15480707418461636992013-07-18T13:12:27.540-07:002013-07-18T13:12:27.540-07:00"I've not yet been convinced it's pos..."I've not yet been convinced it's possible to illustrate <i>Incisivosaurus</i> in a wholly non-goofy way."<br /><br />I'm going to save this challenge for a rainy day.Mike Keeseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147156174467903264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-84671647837121582362013-07-18T12:23:51.052-07:002013-07-18T12:23:51.052-07:00Emily, I might be tempted to prove the non-goofy I...Emily, I might be tempted to prove the non-goofy <i>Incisivosaurus</i> can be done, but it takes a bit of a leap of faith (refer to my discussions on extraoral tissues in exteinct vertebrates). This would be the same thing that <a href="http://qilong.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/dr-masiaka-meet-mr-vicious/" rel="nofollow">I did for <i>Masiakasaurus knopfleri</i></a>.Jaime Headdenhttp://qilong.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-13519137071110093622013-07-18T12:15:52.533-07:002013-07-18T12:15:52.533-07:00I hate to seem rude, but I don't think I'm...I hate to seem rude, but I don't think I'm that influential. This may seem self-effacing of me, but I've not noticed that my work comes cited up a lot save for maybe the occasional skeletal diagram, and that is quickly being overshadowed by Scott's and Greg's far superior work. As for my life-reconstructions, well, they are always hypothetical things, and just art, and they certainly don't seem to get cited. I'd hate to say this, but I don't think my name belongs on this list.Jaime Headdenhttp://qilong.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-75615307957293222042013-07-18T09:03:44.500-07:002013-07-18T09:03:44.500-07:00P.S. Great Polacanthus image. Almost seems to be t...P.S. Great Polacanthus image. Almost seems to be thinking, "Oh, goody! The mid-and high-level browsers have left a little treat for me down here in the low-browser zone!Tom Hopphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17683044597782252722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-60600877828667090322013-07-18T08:56:12.090-07:002013-07-18T08:56:12.090-07:00Mark, I think you are absolutely right that we are...Mark, I think you are absolutely right that we are entering the golden age of paleo art. It is truly amazing to look around the web at images of ancient creatures popping up all over, running the gamut from scholarly presentations to works of extreme fancy. You have crossed that range yourself, and I think the fanciful side is quite appealing. Sometimes the best insights about vanished creatures come from deep in the imagination of the artist. In my own humble, semi-skilled artistic way, I have tried to join in with my Dinosaur Tales stories. In the context of what you have said here, consider the following. Suppose some paleo outsider comes up with an entirely new insight and makes it available to the public as, say, an ebook. This can serve as a means of putting ideas and images out to the world with publication date, author credit, and searchable content. Sure, it's not peer reviewed -- or wait -- is it? Once a large body of web wanderers have encountered an idea or image and had their say as to its value or lack thereof, perhaps the peer review process has been met. Anyway, I have embarked on a small campaign of my own. Tales like "Saving Pachyrhinosaurus," showing a wooly version of the beast, or "Riding Quetzalcoatlus" describing Quetzi mating dances on forelimbs only, several odd gaits they may have used, and brooding and feeding behavior of adults. These ideas cannot be published in the orthodox scientific literature, but they are now published nonetheless. You are absoulutely right, Mark, that a golden age is here. Just wait till you see what I'm about to publish concerning Alamosaurus!Tom Hopphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17683044597782252722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-11963167219934528192013-07-18T06:29:30.456-07:002013-07-18T06:29:30.456-07:00On the CGI/photorealistic aspect, photography has ...On the CGI/photorealistic aspect, photography has been around for quite a while it has not entirely eliminated the demand for animal paintings (and I'm not referring only to the neontological equivalent of dromaeosaurs playing poker) so there is some hope there for the paleopainters.<br /><br />I think Pterosaurs would have been a lesser book if it were done in CGI. It only just occurred to me that the often breezy writing style (which I enjoy for its own sake) works better with paintings than it would have with photorealistic images.<br /><br />And, as a consumer rather than creator, I don't know whether this is the golden age for paleoartists, but it is certainly the golden age of paleoart and I offer my thanks to all of you who have made it so.<br /><br />Mike from Ottawanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-84638312892530575052013-07-18T02:39:10.773-07:002013-07-18T02:39:10.773-07:00Thanks for the nice words, Emily. I agree that thi...Thanks for the nice words, Emily. I agree that this <i>Polacanthus</i> painting is definitely a product of it's time.<br /><br />I know what you mean about the decline of hand-painted art, particularly with respect to traditional media. I imagine (or at least, hope) it won't ever fully disappear. It's methodological simplicity and immediacy are hard to replace, and I imagine it's always going to have a place in all art. That said, perhaps 'professional' palaeoart gigs will move further and further into CGI and photograph manipulation because, try as hand-painters might, they're much more effective ways of producing photo-real imagery. Because photo-real palaeoart seems to be more in demand than anything else, traditional-old hand painters like us may be out of a job (er, moreso) in future years.Mark Wittonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524696111911168322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-19894042105696186302013-07-18T01:58:03.942-07:002013-07-18T01:58:03.942-07:00Hi Craig,
That's not good news that you'r...Hi Craig,<br /><br />That's not good news that you're becoming disenchanted with palaeoart. I know what you're saying about the numbers of hopeful artists trying to 'make it big', about the lack of roles working directly alongside researchers and so forth. It also sucks that you've been booted off projects after being involved as a volunteer in favour of someone else. <br /><br />I guess my response to these issues - which affect me as much as anyone else - is that I don't worry about them. It sounds selfish to say it, but I primarily paint for my own enjoyment. I render my images and post them online, and the essays that go with them, because I enjoy creating them, and nothing more. I try to create content that I like, and that I think other people will like, and, yeah, it is nice when people respond positively to my work. But I know the overwhelming majority of my work will not see life beyond my websites, and I've learned the hard way that there's not enough interest for commissions or for reproduction rights to make a serious play for finances or prestige. I'm well aware that my artistic skills are below those of the Martin's, Nicholls' and Csotonyi's of the world, and I understand why they (and others) are the current chaps of choice for many palaeoart projects. That's not to say I don't get any money or recognition from my artwork, but they're a bonus, not the outright goal.<br /><br />This isn't meant to sound defeatist or pessimistic: it's meant to be liberating. I'm happy enough just doing what I'm doing now, with no pressures or motivations other than my own enjoyment and any positive engagement I can bring to others. That's not a particularly deep or meaningful statement on what I see in the field of palaeoart, but that's all there is to it!Mark Wittonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524696111911168322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-25335801166753783142013-07-17T13:53:16.815-07:002013-07-17T13:53:16.815-07:00As a Paleoartist myself, I agree! Looking forward...As a Paleoartist myself, I agree! Looking forward to another great 100 years of paleoart!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630838114257894524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-22872600187075795482013-07-17T10:27:18.215-07:002013-07-17T10:27:18.215-07:00To be fair, I've not yet been convinced it'...To be fair, I've not yet been convinced it's possible to illustrate <i>Incisivosaurus</i> in a wholly non-goofy way.<br /><br />Great post! I really love the composition on that <i>Polacanthus</i> painting, too. It definitely feels like a realistic and organic scene, and is a great demonstration of where paleoart is, and where it's going.<br /><br />I was thinking recently about how we're not only in the golden age of paleoart in general, but we're also (by my own perception, anyway) at the tail-end of the era of hand-painted paleoart (both digital and traditional). The discipline seems to be moving slowly but inexorably toward the realm of CGI and photomanipulation, and I wonder if in another few decades there will still be a niche for people like me who have no interest (or ability) in that type of illustration. Emily Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912270684173200144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-76918983722041727402013-07-17T08:24:01.682-07:002013-07-17T08:24:01.682-07:00Very good post! I agree with your conclusion. Last...Very good post! I agree with your conclusion. Last February I have posted a similar palaeoart-themed piece, entitled "A 'Palaeoartistic Enlightenment': Dinosaurs as (Deconstructed) Scientific Iconography" [http://tempiprofondi.blogspot.it/2013/02/a-palaeoartistic-enlightenment.html].<br />Now that your new book is finally out I think it's time to add another post to my palaeoart series. I had the opportunity to leaf through a copy of "Pterosaurs" and I admit that the combination of your writing talent plus your amazing artistic skills is spectacular (SPOILER_ not to mention the caption chosen for the taking off Quetzalcoatlus near the end of the book: best palaeontological breach of the fourth wall ever!! _SPOILER)Tempi Profondihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15235675491070751122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3653345901774701895.post-49437135550697724132013-07-17T07:49:26.812-07:002013-07-17T07:49:26.812-07:00An interesting take on it all.
Overall I agree wi...An interesting take on it all.<br /><br />Overall I agree with you. There really has never been a time quite like this for the amount of palaeo-art being produced.<br /><br />However I find like many other areas of life, the economic times have hit palaeo-art in a predictable way. There is no money in it, and yet a huge surplus of eager artists.<br /><br />I was curious what you yourself as a "professional" see in the field (I use quotes as I know you do the art on the side of research. Honestly I think you're almost as close as one comes to being a pro palaeo-artist these days), as far as creators seeing their work used "officially". Whether it be in a paid gig or not.<br /><br />Me, I've lost interest almost altogether in the field sadly (a big part of why the ART Evolved galleries are dying... though our participation has been plummeting for past 1.5 years, which hasn't helped inspire me either).<br /><br />I have been trying rather unsuccessfully to volunteer my services to various researchers, and been continually disappointed by being told nice things to my face and than some form of shaft or another awaits me down the road. Whether it simply be not returning my emails (a simple not interested anymore would have been nice), to being yanked off one reconstruction at the last minute when the funds were secured for a pro (while I get I'm not a pro, it was not done in a remotely polite way, considering I was a BLEEPING volunteer).<br /><br />Part of me is sad, but part of me isn't (I've found a few niches in the board game industry that pay a little bit. Sure it ain't paying the bills, but it is nice to get some actual recognition for my art). <br /><br />I wonder if this current golden age with too many hopefuls and not enough opportunities will see the good times snuffed out.traumadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00387315561167115253noreply@blogger.com