T. Gurneyi Stalks Train Station

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVew3SDs5Dxt7_DxrzdCku0IbHSNmIAQU5kuBQtayjuTuKAxTUBex7N0ZrZ6r8M4fPWZmSN_0OtuBjMl36B492Y-VpzbHbCXknDTEO3g8zbGvJolCcagKyP9ABEhyphenhyphenUjCS-sIAAZHYg3on8/s1600/Torvosaurus+gurneyi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVew3SDs5Dxt7_DxrzdCku0IbHSNmIAQU5kuBQtayjuTuKAxTUBex7N0ZrZ6r8M4fPWZmSN_0OtuBjMl36B492Y-VpzbHbCXknDTEO3g8zbGvJolCcagKyP9ABEhyphenhyphenUjCS-sIAAZHYg3on8/s1600/Torvosaurus+gurneyi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Torvosaurus gurneyi has been spotted in a train station in Antwerp (<a href="http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/7976/foto/photoalbum/detail/1926772/1415406/0/Grootste-Europese-carnivoor-ooit-voor-Antwerps-Centraal-Station.dhtml">link</a>).<br />------<br />Previously: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2014/03/torvosaurus-gurneyi.html">Torvosaurus gurneyi</a><br />(Thanks, <a href="http://www.erikbongers.net/">Erik!</a>)

T. Gurneyi Stalks Train Station

Torvosaurus gurneyi has been spotted in a train station in Antwerp ( link ). ------ Previously: Torvosaurus gurneyi (Thanks, Erik! )

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Dutch Angle

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the newsstands now is a special collector's edition about dinosaurs from Scientific American. The cover image is the running <i>Giganotosaurus</i> that I painted a while back. (Thanks, Gene)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw4HVlh4IyvJFqeX1UoYcXQlrbdnFCM30nHkaO8a75AXecOo9Zn_GIhN95T-oF3dBzYL_66q4wAjzGsDdRFgeMMYCq7RVR_k3KM5EWTGvW1FlIbMt9RwJgLLbf8Hk4apaPcY5zp5buBmt/s1600/Dutch+Angle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw4HVlh4IyvJFqeX1UoYcXQlrbdnFCM30nHkaO8a75AXecOo9Zn_GIhN95T-oF3dBzYL_66q4wAjzGsDdRFgeMMYCq7RVR_k3KM5EWTGvW1FlIbMt9RwJgLLbf8Hk4apaPcY5zp5buBmt/s1600/Dutch+Angle.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note that this is the cloudless version of the image. A later state of the painting (below) includes cirrus clouds and a flock of pterosaurs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP0KRyh6p6k5ZdKdKKxw1uHRyAf_FGMuApyQQ3SutHCF4S2e5_x6uzp4NnOGYiVGjb7HlBv_arOejVszUfKXgbBHoTH2Hzq9gUkOIWvw3o2F9HfBi7UjNqOWEglV3sssRJHJzPS39ebjm/s1600/Giganotosaurus_w_Clouds.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP0KRyh6p6k5ZdKdKKxw1uHRyAf_FGMuApyQQ3SutHCF4S2e5_x6uzp4NnOGYiVGjb7HlBv_arOejVszUfKXgbBHoTH2Hzq9gUkOIWvw3o2F9HfBi7UjNqOWEglV3sssRJHJzPS39ebjm/s1600/Giganotosaurus_w_Clouds.sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>For this picture I used a compositional device called a "Dutch angle," where the camera is tilted off its vertical axis to lend a sense of unease, tension, or impending danger.<br /><br />The term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_angle">Dutch angle</a> (also called Dutch tilt, canted angle, oblique angle or German angle) comes from the movie world, where it was pioneered in the 1919 German film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cabinet_of_Dr._Caligari">The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr0xrLoSkHtWmJrxMK0qtGuWLOFvT9qnmBQXqM6JCrypdIgkfz3UZU436z_VafNIntsQjLTvjpewW5nuog6VWUEGRsgz6i2yJnYQ0WLthWx1o5-0jyxdFfJM8tZ9ZlnUsaBesJnt8DKOz/s1600/the-evil-dead-movie-poster.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr0xrLoSkHtWmJrxMK0qtGuWLOFvT9qnmBQXqM6JCrypdIgkfz3UZU436z_VafNIntsQjLTvjpewW5nuog6VWUEGRsgz6i2yJnYQ0WLthWx1o5-0jyxdFfJM8tZ9ZlnUsaBesJnt8DKOz/s1600/the-evil-dead-movie-poster.sm.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>It was also often used by illustrators doing movie posters and paperback covers in the 1970s and 1960s.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2HJwTqDMwuyMafPiGn8Qb57wBj7fH7Ae5wGlzVevztSEHXfaXQNnKuwQTYFJqV2hmIgVXyICEh7RTdhjhEVTlNw3Q9Jesp9_H81RfbZLQs3mAC6WGsL32xLPoZBUXwDEurf3k3TDFMnA/s1600/You_Can't_Win_Em_All_-_1970_-_Poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2HJwTqDMwuyMafPiGn8Qb57wBj7fH7Ae5wGlzVevztSEHXfaXQNnKuwQTYFJqV2hmIgVXyICEh7RTdhjhEVTlNw3Q9Jesp9_H81RfbZLQs3mAC6WGsL32xLPoZBUXwDEurf3k3TDFMnA/s1600/You_Can't_Win_Em_All_-_1970_-_Poster.png" /></a><br />This poster by Frank McCarthy has it all: guns, girls, explosions, bright colors, and a Dutch angle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXgdDinz67nJjV4lKrpEPKYShz1C7Fl1Aql7hDGlTIgc0aEEKnsof1glpAQlmyehrajQzczfKLZTeIo3iVIZAQhYNQKaPFdyPP1YK_nhN2OUlmIfKPEhfemqsnbwRJfXJfQg3RMfNphIt/s1600/Berkey.KenBirdwell_HydroShip.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXgdDinz67nJjV4lKrpEPKYShz1C7Fl1Aql7hDGlTIgc0aEEKnsof1glpAQlmyehrajQzczfKLZTeIo3iVIZAQhYNQKaPFdyPP1YK_nhN2OUlmIfKPEhfemqsnbwRJfXJfQg3RMfNphIt/s1600/Berkey.KenBirdwell_HydroShip.sm.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>And John Berkey used it in this hydro ship, which would have looked more static if the horizon had been level.

Dutch Angle

On the newsstands now is a special collector's edition about dinosaurs from Scientific American. The cover image is the running Giganoto...

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Snake attacks baby dinosaurs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A few years ago, paleontologists found direct fossil evidence of a dramatic scene where a giant snake invaded a nest of baby sauropods.<br /><br />When I was proposing illustration ideas to the editors of <i>Ranger Rick</i> for their May issue about baby dinosaurs, I suggested that we reconstruct this fossil.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HfVc5gPC89cHBsnAYlBM_feB0q2VIAlWfaFW5M1j8E4QumJtpVQBfCK4KYarp_QQ28mzIgyxvMNBBveyssjlfHvjOrZXmDGXWqxPs1O_l6-Qoib0UyiXrpdHcKB16wsqeGVrhpd_lO6b/s1600/Snake+and+baby+sauropod.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HfVc5gPC89cHBsnAYlBM_feB0q2VIAlWfaFW5M1j8E4QumJtpVQBfCK4KYarp_QQ28mzIgyxvMNBBveyssjlfHvjOrZXmDGXWqxPs1O_l6-Qoib0UyiXrpdHcKB16wsqeGVrhpd_lO6b/s1600/Snake+and+baby+sauropod.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Here's the final oil painting. I chose an orange and cyan color gamut for a weird look, and I used photographic effects, such as lens flares to add a sense of vérité.<br /><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZIMgjIlhC-J5YIIFS1UpY-xNQdyDujJmaxOOQaE8S-MphiLeiP8z3WDdK63vFcaFUd6hbEKGxjYKR57gDaDC4yq7C5ofjkB8PHfMd_W53Gb3YRKHK1c4NaQCO8OkzyV4WBNbaqhrt7sc/s1600/Sanajeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZIMgjIlhC-J5YIIFS1UpY-xNQdyDujJmaxOOQaE8S-MphiLeiP8z3WDdK63vFcaFUd6hbEKGxjYKR57gDaDC4yq7C5ofjkB8PHfMd_W53Gb3YRKHK1c4NaQCO8OkzyV4WBNbaqhrt7sc/s1600/Sanajeh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I referred to this fossil photo, along with a line drawing in the scientific paper showing the position of the snake, eggs, and hatchling.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFlccDPTEE5DG6zSBYTevWlqi-hRVogw5ryH_9dUq2v2tm7BrnmeqywjYA3jp2z3Y_XFljDO9ZLXnzhmSuDyv5mCdsMSE1O_FrcgjWyp2uHljR310hbwkRwgYBcCcTmp0azR0YodEMm-U/s1600/Snake+Predation.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFlccDPTEE5DG6zSBYTevWlqi-hRVogw5ryH_9dUq2v2tm7BrnmeqywjYA3jp2z3Y_XFljDO9ZLXnzhmSuDyv5mCdsMSE1O_FrcgjWyp2uHljR310hbwkRwgYBcCcTmp0azR0YodEMm-U/s1600/Snake+Predation.sm.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I did a series of quick sketches in colored pencil, fountain pen, and watercolor to explore variations of angles, lighting ideas, and value organizations. These sketches were based on a beautiful sculpted reconstruction by <a href="http://www.tylerkeillor.com/pdfs/Tyler's%20Deposits%20article.pdf">Tyler Keillor</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4H2XiBoG2o2wGP-jhrgSRcOw3NBgEHbii1hF1wYQapr-JELcd9kHef50qvkTJQle8eVq_0bwnE-7nHQNgD-TrVUCNeGM5le9v0huKLNBBGQjSmr2FACC5wMGqXeyapZ0E4qI3kkHsdBuN/s1600/Snake+predation+maquette.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4H2XiBoG2o2wGP-jhrgSRcOw3NBgEHbii1hF1wYQapr-JELcd9kHef50qvkTJQle8eVq_0bwnE-7nHQNgD-TrVUCNeGM5le9v0huKLNBBGQjSmr2FACC5wMGqXeyapZ0E4qI3kkHsdBuN/s1600/Snake+predation+maquette.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="p1">But I wanted to sculpt my own interpretation of it, so I made a maquette out of plasticine modeling clay. I used that because I planned to recycle the material rather than saving it. Note the lens flare effects when it was set up out in real sunlight.</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1"><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2010/03/01/sanajeh-the-snake-the-ate-baby-dinosaurs/">Link to science blog about the fossil discovery</a></div>

Snake attacks baby dinosaurs

A few years ago, paleontologists found direct fossil evidence of a dramatic scene where a giant snake invaded a nest of baby sauropods. When...

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Hatching Triceratops

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I painted a hatching Triceratops for the article on baby dinosaurs in the new issue of Ranger Rick magazine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01rzyFexAk663hLWVx_I0r3EIElR34x9qpr2QrfUPJ11c3xwuOeis1JsD4lkU2pszT9HkJjQmwL9fO_PCfXvePDe5iIHiR3FQNsevJzHxAS7ahnNfi3a4eii1mkw47DavoHLPkZItB_J_/s1600/Triceratops_Hatchling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01rzyFexAk663hLWVx_I0r3EIElR34x9qpr2QrfUPJ11c3xwuOeis1JsD4lkU2pszT9HkJjQmwL9fO_PCfXvePDe5iIHiR3FQNsevJzHxAS7ahnNfi3a4eii1mkw47DavoHLPkZItB_J_/s1600/Triceratops_Hatchling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose I could have painted the scene in sweet pastel colors and bright morning light, but I imagined it more as an urgent moment of crisis, where life hangs in the balance. So I set the scene at night, as if dazzled by the intrusion of a photographer's flash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS39s6SpAMfS75J9ezDxSp2b-eiY3Q7A19h1n9gRlnjvePJq-38Yir7zQ7lVGf5_WOV1e6sBLnDc77Y1jOWvdF_MYvWz8l0mFYHLtEhpcJqmROVg-T7CCIKUfnGryBJH_OuWHxTbbUZTm0/s1600/Triceratops_Hatching.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS39s6SpAMfS75J9ezDxSp2b-eiY3Q7A19h1n9gRlnjvePJq-38Yir7zQ7lVGf5_WOV1e6sBLnDc77Y1jOWvdF_MYvWz8l0mFYHLtEhpcJqmROVg-T7CCIKUfnGryBJH_OuWHxTbbUZTm0/s1600/Triceratops_Hatching.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I limited the colors to yellow ochre and a dull slate blue, leaving out greens, reds, and pinks. The whole composition includes a wider shot of the nest, with shell fragments, and mud caked on the eggs. I painted everything in shallow focus to evoke the impression of wildlife photography.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfjbnFTTsDxFyrFSGhuQ4dpZgHydut6Eqxouw2DCL6TyB-RMRB4gKWrjWpuhhXibnnNUA56QOWn97G5rR-zKym9IiXpjw2eczTO7KDzTQdTVPtNfqeRQgp85TdPr1X95pWVa9iCOgmUWm/s1600/baby-turtle-egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfjbnFTTsDxFyrFSGhuQ4dpZgHydut6Eqxouw2DCL6TyB-RMRB4gKWrjWpuhhXibnnNUA56QOWn97G5rR-zKym9IiXpjw2eczTO7KDzTQdTVPtNfqeRQgp85TdPr1X95pWVa9iCOgmUWm/s1600/baby-turtle-egg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This photo of a hatching turtle provided the stimulus for the pose. I liked the way it reached one foot to the ground, and seemed to be gasping for air. But a photo like this is just a starting point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtXHDwgZByT8yDqizBTqmLolcC6K93oLBjwNMjRTXdroT8BSAK94EXHIppr4BFFiEjh4YdqWDcWGZXJzEY3hg4Sy-vx_Hj1c_LHisKMi_k6pzbJaBvZgMHmuD78L2jFfGNY4UT0KlMn5A/s1600/dino_babyskulls3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtXHDwgZByT8yDqizBTqmLolcC6K93oLBjwNMjRTXdroT8BSAK94EXHIppr4BFFiEjh4YdqWDcWGZXJzEY3hg4Sy-vx_Hj1c_LHisKMi_k6pzbJaBvZgMHmuD78L2jFfGNY4UT0KlMn5A/s1600/dino_babyskulls3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shapes of very young <i>Triceratops</i> skulls are known from fossils.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I needed to know the exact light and shadow design of the whole scenario, so I sculpted a small maquette from Sculpey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZI-N1smB_QJ3KW4yIzfdRQbr0dWwNxA4z4auyxp8HhHWCFLRdNPH36HjX1_ZLSv8vTRwMOar3PlWvvevNTclKzDq3oTT3fSNeKa08zsdCTW721ItkGvtvCDas2O-b1cKIGM1x91jBKJj/s1600/Triceratops+hatchling.maquette.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZI-N1smB_QJ3KW4yIzfdRQbr0dWwNxA4z4auyxp8HhHWCFLRdNPH36HjX1_ZLSv8vTRwMOar3PlWvvevNTclKzDq3oTT3fSNeKa08zsdCTW721ItkGvtvCDas2O-b1cKIGM1x91jBKJj/s1600/Triceratops+hatchling.maquette.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The egg is a thin layer of Sculpey applied over a styrofoam egg. I didn't know what would happen to the styrofoam egg when I put it in the oven. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was awesome! It sort of shriveled up to nothing, leaving the Sculpey shell. I spray painted the maquette a flat gray and took it outside in sunlight to figure out the best lighting. </div><br />

Hatching Triceratops

I painted a hatching Triceratops for the article on baby dinosaurs in the new issue of Ranger Rick magazine. I suppose I could have painted ...

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Sculpting a Croc in Three Minutes

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DZEp3PfwuH0" width="450"></iframe><br />Sculptor <a href="http://www.staabstudios.com/">Gary Staab</a> created this short video showing how he sculpted and cast a saltwater crocodile. The croc will be part of an exhibition called <a href="http://www.peelingproductions.com/CROCS.html">"Crocs -- Ancient Predators in a Modern World" </a>(<a href="http://youtu.be/DZEp3PfwuH0">link to video</a>)

Sculpting a Croc in Three Minutes

Sculptor Gary Staab created this short video showing how he sculpted and cast a saltwater crocodile. The croc will be part of an exhibition...

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Lines and Colors reviews 'How I Paint Dinosaurs'

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ9Wsxfz7pkjrZn26BfYLUZioWWXxzAktLP23niAdZ_1V3xWn33go4dhYTBBcGUg-QiqG-HjSjF8uunyN4_ruAhbQ0AEn2Hg3HElrmCZYocVTCaTJ3jaDzjHf4SBmJFlOH888TMwyfiCJ/s1600/Lines+and+Colors+How+I+paint+dinosaurs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ9Wsxfz7pkjrZn26BfYLUZioWWXxzAktLP23niAdZ_1V3xWn33go4dhYTBBcGUg-QiqG-HjSjF8uunyN4_ruAhbQ0AEn2Hg3HElrmCZYocVTCaTJ3jaDzjHf4SBmJFlOH888TMwyfiCJ/s320/Lines+and+Colors+How+I+paint+dinosaurs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Charley Parker of the art blog "Lines and Colors" just <a href="http://linesandcolors.com/2013/12/03/james-gurneys-how-i-paint-dinosaurs/">reviewed my instructional video</a>, "How I Paint Dinosaurs."</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Like many of the best instructional art videos, on a second viewing, you’ll find little nuggets that you may have cruised over on initial viewing (like doing a pencil drawing on illustration board with the pencil held horizontally, so the point doesn’t indent the board, making it easier to erase and move lines). Much of the detail is visual, beyond the verbal instruction, in good close-ups of brush work and paint application."</blockquote><a href="http://linesandcolors.com/2013/12/03/james-gurneys-how-i-paint-dinosaurs/">Read the full review.</a><br /><div>The DVD is available at <a href="http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX007IXP77">Kunaki.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Paint-Dinosaurs-James-Gurney/dp/B00EN45YMS/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1376998971&sr=1-1&keywords=How+I+paint+dinosaurs+by+james+gurney">Amazon.com.</a><br />Digital file from <a href="https://gumroad.com/products/zLtj">Gumroad</a> (credit card) or <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt/">Sellfy</a> (Paypal): <a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt/" id="nNyt">buy</a><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>

Lines and Colors reviews 'How I Paint Dinosaurs'

Charley Parker of the art blog "Lines and Colors" just  reviewed my instructional video , "How I Paint Dinosaurs." ...

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Longer preview of stamp video

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CAa3bPlcoTeRAtOXBAgw2XN_BEsqt87XQGeWlVyKeTtcaKPPwF2PvGnLKNoyaeiJ99-AkReY0uJYfDGTFFsOO8jkBldQsMXqPT0N-Uvyd4Vslq8xai1mD450zkPEI95pT1xwHSA2_RAR/s1600/International+Artist+Gurney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CAa3bPlcoTeRAtOXBAgw2XN_BEsqt87XQGeWlVyKeTtcaKPPwF2PvGnLKNoyaeiJ99-AkReY0uJYfDGTFFsOO8jkBldQsMXqPT0N-Uvyd4Vslq8xai1mD450zkPEI95pT1xwHSA2_RAR/s320/International+Artist+Gurney.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>The latest issue of <a href="https://www.internationalartist.com/">International Artist magazine</a> has a feature about the making of the Australian dinosaur stamps. If you pick up a copy, you can see the various preliminary stages that the art went through.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/80ccdDtuGSg" width="450"></iframe><br />I've also just uploaded this longer video preview about the making of those stamps. (<a href="http://youtu.be/80ccdDtuGSg">Direct video link</a>)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You can travel with me to Museum Victoria to study original fossils with paleontologist Tom Rich. Then we head into the Australian bush to study ancient plants. The full video shows every part of the creative process, from the unique design challenges of philatelic art to the construction of 3D reference maquettes, then the comprehensive drawing, the color planning, and the oil painting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4oSzYvb87P4_0EEhJOh0LNr2c-JLMRgbzbGyjtqZXgQeTEGnIrfChRfgsmHQMS_Guo8fSt_e8E5j-GWihUCruGTAsJwD4V59dLlGgUFeKWc-8E1CCGlGRM9YxB-8KoQ3SsU-Gx8QqUPv/s1600/AAOD.disk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4oSzYvb87P4_0EEhJOh0LNr2c-JLMRgbzbGyjtqZXgQeTEGnIrfChRfgsmHQMS_Guo8fSt_e8E5j-GWihUCruGTAsJwD4V59dLlGgUFeKWc-8E1CCGlGRM9YxB-8KoQ3SsU-Gx8QqUPv/s1600/AAOD.disk.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The DVD version also includes 10 minutes of additional interview material with Dr. Tom Rich, plus an eight minute narrated slideshow of development artwork and philatelic products, and a 13.5 minute documentary on the making of Dinotopia, called "Dinotopia: Art, Science, and Imagination."<br /><br />This is a great resource for art teachers or parents wishing to inspire a young person who wants to find a way to do imaginative or science-based artwork.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.proko.com/">Stan Prokopenko</a> says: "Saw the DVD and loved it. He takes you through his whole process from concept to final. I liked seeing how he built his maquette and used it as part of the creative process. Great to see how free he is in every stage to experiment with ideas and make changes. Makes me want to go paint dinosaurs."<br /><br />Learn more about the full-length art instruction video:<br /><a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ausdinos">Digital download </a> via credit card <a href="https://gum.co/ausdinos">Australia's Age of Dinosaurs: Art of the Stamps</a> <script src="https://gumroad.com/js/gumroad.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">Digital download via Paypal </a><br /><a href="http://kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=136361&PP=1">DVD with 32 minutes of additional content</a> available now here<br />or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Australias-Age-Dinosaurs-Postage-Stamps/dp/B00GB7XCKQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1383745395&sr=8-6&keywords=australia%27s+age+of+dinosaurs">preorder with Amazon </a><br /><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/videos">More info at James Gurney.com </a>

Longer preview of stamp video

The latest issue of  International Artist magazine  has a feature about the making of the Australian dinosaur stamps. If you pick up a copy,...

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How to sculpt your maquettes to scale

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How do you build a maquette exactly to the size you want? Here are seven quick tips.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCnyQNfK3md84V9TxPxgYQRr-MqFRhCc00aQSaz9bUnJ3FJFwEmpFwcJtvKIq2Kz8h85zGCzPpIsG1ZXoPdBSPxAsmR7o8IUz6vLkOmW2lW-v9tsOvVArDOKPUtno2VnX0m5g1PAARdtv/s1600/maquette+armature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCnyQNfK3md84V9TxPxgYQRr-MqFRhCc00aQSaz9bUnJ3FJFwEmpFwcJtvKIq2Kz8h85zGCzPpIsG1ZXoPdBSPxAsmR7o8IUz6vLkOmW2lW-v9tsOvVArDOKPUtno2VnX0m5g1PAARdtv/s400/maquette+armature.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. First, do a scale drawing of your subject (dinosaur, monster, mech, or building) from at least a side view, but ideally a top and front view, too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Make a photocopy of the drawing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Fold it where the feet touch the ground, and position it right behind your armature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Using a red marker, draw where you want the aluminum wire armature to go inside the form.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. As you build the wire armature, shine a sharp light from far away to cast a shadow on your drawing. The shadow will be like an x-ray of your eventual maquette. You will be able to see exactly where the armature will fit inside the form. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbfjaX4yUZHYIH2px22rSUh4egWMkBFL2T0AqloNoSJx7p9AYOf_PMi3u-86nLgkHHBPGpCNmyh_4uwQfyXGu8sBbse6CNMwbmg7-7D5wNgLtbKGPnGu1gUB9EbHkH8NwUFYJ6XsQ0Cp_/s1600/Maquette+Drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbfjaX4yUZHYIH2px22rSUh4egWMkBFL2T0AqloNoSJx7p9AYOf_PMi3u-86nLgkHHBPGpCNmyh_4uwQfyXGu8sBbse6CNMwbmg7-7D5wNgLtbKGPnGu1gUB9EbHkH8NwUFYJ6XsQ0Cp_/s400/Maquette+Drawing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. As you build the maquette, make sure it matches the size and pose that you planned in your drawing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN-h35OIy-HD9le9Ir8JmEZhdglXM0XkPNOdtePCCB9igXRMSRAK2NivzVqMDdsq3U2L0qNw_KGd4U4HCYDHMCUN19QFlLCeF5NWN4hYfUq2rIoVzzgmUL0UoFpBFK1CVfxmKL9_aJQuB/s1600/Calipers.sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN-h35OIy-HD9le9Ir8JmEZhdglXM0XkPNOdtePCCB9igXRMSRAK2NivzVqMDdsq3U2L0qNw_KGd4U4HCYDHMCUN19QFlLCeF5NWN4hYfUq2rIoVzzgmUL0UoFpBFK1CVfxmKL9_aJQuB/s400/Calipers.sm.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. You can use a caliper to check actual measurements of the 3D form against the 2D drawing. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005L6YQSU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005L6YQSU&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Here's a cheap caliper that you can get for about 6 bucks.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005L6YQSU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see this tip in action, along with lots of other practical behind-the-scenes insights, in my new instructional art documentary (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-E2bGzsDS8&feature=youtu.be">watch the trailer on YouTube</a>) about the making of the Australian dinosaur stamps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More at:</div><div><a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ausdinos">Gumroad (for credit card payments).</a></div><div>or: <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">Sellfy (for Paypal payments).</a><br /><br /><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>

How to sculpt your maquettes to scale

How do you build a maquette exactly to the size you want? Here are seven quick tips. 1. First, do a scale drawing of your subject (dinosaur,...

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Peter Trusler and the Dead Wombat

The "Australia's Age of Dinosaurs" stamp issue was not the first scenic dinosaur minisheet that Australia Post produced.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhY7cG5v-QOHDKXsGU8X_2WPwzj8QqijJ_Rs1FV8JTHcNGljWDWGmn9yurrJJS74flzCSpQV80H3Lstpj0HhXxwSnGuVm45YuAemnTYMrwXc17fUd3yGBPdu-EBo9_Qm66vpeXM2Hrcn0/s1600/1993+Dinosaurs+mini.RGB.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhY7cG5v-QOHDKXsGU8X_2WPwzj8QqijJ_Rs1FV8JTHcNGljWDWGmn9yurrJJS74flzCSpQV80H3Lstpj0HhXxwSnGuVm45YuAemnTYMrwXc17fUd3yGBPdu-EBo9_Qm66vpeXM2Hrcn0/s400/1993+Dinosaurs+mini.RGB.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Artist Peter Trusler created this landmark stamp scene in 1993, called "Australia's Dinosaur Era." This was one of the ancestors of the current stamp issue, as well as the inspiration for the "World of Dinosaurs" stamps, which I created for the USA in 1996.<br /><br />I had the distinct honor of not only meeting, but hanging out, with Peter during the research visit. He's a brilliant guy, a great artist, and a lot of fun.<br /><br />He led me and paleontologist Tom Rich on an expedition into the bush near Melbourne. We were looking for plants that were analogous to Cretaceous flora, but we were also were hoping to get a glimpse of the elusive lyrebird.<br /><br />During the lyrebird's mating season when we were there, it does its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y">incredible calls that mimic</a> other birds and noises. In the new <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">making-of video</a>, our cameras and microphones actually captured a brief glimpse of the lyrebird.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dDQgE3YI-hXhJmr20VfkgEHH8Ifin3YCPGbKm2RFY_qwGLEtrcg7H-Qu1EUU_nUqq6pybvFuSM3Fcy1IfYvkXmsw5Euyz_CscINmY5JcNAMfHy9DGpq7H20EjJ6dfu0aL1JEo-G1fGMy/s1600/Trusler+wombat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dDQgE3YI-hXhJmr20VfkgEHH8Ifin3YCPGbKm2RFY_qwGLEtrcg7H-Qu1EUU_nUqq6pybvFuSM3Fcy1IfYvkXmsw5Euyz_CscINmY5JcNAMfHy9DGpq7H20EjJ6dfu0aL1JEo-G1fGMy/s400/Trusler+wombat.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />On the way back into town, we spotted a wombat carcass on the side of the road. One thing about paleontologists: they love roadkills. So we couldn't resist stopping to check it out. It was bloated with gas and buzzing with flies. Peter bent down near its rear end and showed me its vestigial limb-grasping toe.<br /><br />I gave it a couple of gentle kicks. "You might not want to do that," Peter reminded me. "They've been known to explode in this condition."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RbYldJm8orFNyPKuAXTft9bNrx3DHv5el5ZkEqg8vSRMZpxOPcHE4dArfEfNDf6VhNrSdl1yauNqq9xvxP6RXn0kDSUG_UXd9VuXHcx2B8lXHkWbdDXQoW7VErhxnL4RGiOHKD5Nr5hu/s1600/Trusler.Leaellynasaura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RbYldJm8orFNyPKuAXTft9bNrx3DHv5el5ZkEqg8vSRMZpxOPcHE4dArfEfNDf6VhNrSdl1yauNqq9xvxP6RXn0kDSUG_UXd9VuXHcx2B8lXHkWbdDXQoW7VErhxnL4RGiOHKD5Nr5hu/s400/Trusler.Leaellynasaura.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Everyone who loves dinosaur artwork should know about Peter's work. His painting of a dead <i>Leaellynasaura </i>is one of the masterpieces of modern paleoart.<br /><br />The wombat episode is just one adventure in my new video, <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">"Australia's Age of Dinosaurs: The Art of the Postage Stamps."</a> To learn more about the digital download of the art instruction documentary, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-E2bGzsDS8&feature=youtu.be">have a look at the trailer on YouTube</a> or check out the button below:<br /><div><a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl/" id="FZwl">buy</a><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />Also, stamp collectors anywhere in the world can order the new stamps, including first day of issue cancellations while supplies last, <a href="http://shop.auspost.com.au/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/AusPost-Shop-Site/en_AU/-/AUD/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse?SynchronizerToken=1c05a3451a124604f2d5c8d6bda8f6148319b98110463c9b9abf9dca5f154623_fAfVyyFZLe4%3D%7Cc%2Fa%2FqSnKRzxwqWxTBtu%2FUA%3D%3D&CategoryName=CC-ISSUE-2013SCM&CategoryDomainName=AusPost-Shop-CC&SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26ContextCategoryUUID%3DmmjS9.9SuZ0AAAFAAA5_0Z5H%26OnlineFlag%3D1%26ProductVariationFlag%3D0&PageNumber=0&PageSize=200">at this link to Australia Post.</a></div>

Peter Trusler and the Dead Wombat

The "Australia's Age of Dinosaurs" stamp issue was not the first scenic dinosaur minisheet that Australia Post produced. Artis...

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Evolution of Koolasuchus

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GrBwvBGzzbioKUoD_uMojpEqQ4ShtGor4BCRxjqYVZIUJ4wdisK-22lIRnyiH8teZuzwRvuuh_UUYdsZTFTD0BHPgJrWNLZq4GLeSH3_0bT3tfLdS0mc09gmgvf0EyK3c_-1GdWvC4Zf/s1600/KoolaStages.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GrBwvBGzzbioKUoD_uMojpEqQ4ShtGor4BCRxjqYVZIUJ4wdisK-22lIRnyiH8teZuzwRvuuh_UUYdsZTFTD0BHPgJrWNLZq4GLeSH3_0bT3tfLdS0mc09gmgvf0EyK3c_-1GdWvC4Zf/s400/KoolaStages.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are six different stages of the development of the new Koolasuchus stamp from Australia Post. The first two are in pencil, drawn from imagination while looking at the fossil diagrams. The third is painted in gouache and colored pencil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCzj7DiCy0gHGPIPATEA06aKcrV1eDNrixYsjrlPu9bQRwkrJ1cCIZPnkWLhWYmPxZ6ZUGTDLI4CEKvHBRcCq6tC4MiXtyqDJgZCT89ri42q8ksCv88c2LoODxA5DJagxPK5QsJJn28sc/s1600/Koola.Stages2.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCzj7DiCy0gHGPIPATEA06aKcrV1eDNrixYsjrlPu9bQRwkrJ1cCIZPnkWLhWYmPxZ6ZUGTDLI4CEKvHBRcCq6tC4MiXtyqDJgZCT89ri42q8ksCv88c2LoODxA5DJagxPK5QsJJn28sc/s400/Koola.Stages2.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>When I made the maquette from Sculpey, I understood better how I could give the pose more twist. And I could turn the form in real sunlight to see exactly where the light and shadow divided. The comprehensive layout at center is drawn in charcoal on vellum. This was the map for the final oil painting.<br />------<br /><a href="http://shop.auspost.com.au/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/AusPost-Shop-Site/en_AU/-/AUD/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse?SynchronizerToken=1c05a3451a124604f2d5c8d6bda8f6148319b98110463c9b9abf9dca5f154623_fAfVyyFZLe4%3D%7Cc%2Fa%2FqSnKRzxwqWxTBtu%2FUA%3D%3D&CategoryName=CC-ISSUE-2013SCM&CategoryDomainName=AusPost-Shop-CC&SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26ContextCategoryUUID%3DmmjS9.9SuZ0AAAFAAA5_0Z5H%26OnlineFlag%3D1%26ProductVariationFlag%3D0&PageNumber=0&PageSize=200">You can purchase a set of the stamps or other philatelic products from Australia Post at this link.</a> (Reasonable shipping to anywhere in the world).<br /><br /><div>And you can get an instant digital download of my instructional art documentary (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-E2bGzsDS8&feature=youtu.be">watch the trailer on YouTube</a>) about the making of the stamps at:<br /><a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ausdinos">Gumroad (for credit card payments).</a></div><div>or: <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">Sellfy (for Paypal payments).</a><br /><a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl" id="FZwl">buy</a></div>

Evolution of Koolasuchus

Here are six different stages of the development of the new Koolasuchus stamp from Australia Post. The first two are in pencil, drawn from i...

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"Australia's Age of Dinosaurs" Stamp Issue

It's now September 24th in Australia, which means I can announce the release of a new set of postage stamps that I spent a lot of the last year working on.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i-E2bGzsDS8" width="420"></iframe><br />(<a href="http://youtu.be/i-E2bGzsDS8">Link to video trailer</a>) This trailer gives you a peek at the instructional documentary that I created to record the adventure of creating the stamps. In the video, I share all the unique artistic insights that I learned from doing philatelic designs.<br /><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqC35tOrZTeP-TL8oOtYShZL-qRlfocCmK-v4-GQ4LSbpFbpPlMw7pIzUn56YnWpblftSJX6MO4_XX9HP4L_KXK3IQzdhKO4dj-dscGJoiS2suuH3YTf5x7-8wzEf0Py0W2iXHA9vilsL/s1600/Australias_Age_of_Dinosaurs_James_Gurney.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqC35tOrZTeP-TL8oOtYShZL-qRlfocCmK-v4-GQ4LSbpFbpPlMw7pIzUn56YnWpblftSJX6MO4_XX9HP4L_KXK3IQzdhKO4dj-dscGJoiS2suuH3YTf5x7-8wzEf0Py0W2iXHA9vilsL/s400/Australias_Age_of_Dinosaurs_James_Gurney.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The stamp issue is called "Australia's Age of Dinosaurs," and it includes six stamp subjects against a scenic backdrop. If you live in Australia, you can pick up the stamps at the local Post Office, and regardless of where you live, <a href="http://shop.auspost.com.au/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/AusPost-Shop-Site/en_AU/-/AUD/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse?SynchronizerToken=1c05a3451a124604f2d5c8d6bda8f6148319b98110463c9b9abf9dca5f154623_fAfVyyFZLe4%3D%7Cc%2Fa%2FqSnKRzxwqWxTBtu%2FUA%3D%3D&CategoryName=CC-ISSUE-2013SCM&CategoryDomainName=AusPost-Shop-CC&SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26ContextCategoryUUID%3DmmjS9.9SuZ0AAAFAAA5_0Z5H%26OnlineFlag%3D1%26ProductVariationFlag%3D0&PageNumber=0&PageSize=200">you can purchase the stamp products at this link.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll tell you more about the making of the stamps in coming days (like the story of kicking a bloated wombat carcass), but if you want to grab the whole story <i>right now, </i>check out the links below to download the full-length 1080p (not 720p) HD digital video:</div><div><br /></div><div>Available via: <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ausdinos">Gumroad (for credit card payments).</a></div><div>and via: <a href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl">Sellfy (for Paypal payments).</a><br /><a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/FZwl" id="FZwl">buy</a><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div>

"Australia's Age of Dinosaurs" Stamp Issue

It's now September 24th in Australia, which means I can announce the release of a new set of postage stamps that I spent a lot of the la...

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World of Dinosaurs Stamps: Behind the Scenes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCEd7ZQLJkGtiCmxOk8K8PEQjLMDf8h5GSEJ_0SAoQlriYtufZcBvkTHG4rloww9LzMgIm2fAm_loaVzlD_r7v1nVNRNQaDcT0QROmsXSnHtdix-9NJK98tPX2EoDmW3ZFp1Kqc5GZXh6/s1600/WorldofDinosaurs.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCEd7ZQLJkGtiCmxOk8K8PEQjLMDf8h5GSEJ_0SAoQlriYtufZcBvkTHG4rloww9LzMgIm2fAm_loaVzlD_r7v1nVNRNQaDcT0QROmsXSnHtdix-9NJK98tPX2EoDmW3ZFp1Kqc5GZXh6/s400/WorldofDinosaurs.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was asked to design the World of Dinosaurs stamp issue (1996), I painted two panoramic settings for the individual stamp subjects. The top one was Jurassic and the other was Cretaceous. I keyed the colors differently to separate them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-apBkij54GsQJsytISiU0u7CmiJNe8L8imHtFscO-KQ36pbOLaF1FpxLtmhyYwxCxuLsUEHbdFewmiqkHXfJLgz2HLJDhj-_urcO3Mku0B1Y6M2s9Rmaw_5PRWuuRSzkoNcU55vXRnOtu/s1600/Study+for+Stamp+Art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-apBkij54GsQJsytISiU0u7CmiJNe8L8imHtFscO-KQ36pbOLaF1FpxLtmhyYwxCxuLsUEHbdFewmiqkHXfJLgz2HLJDhj-_urcO3Mku0B1Y6M2s9Rmaw_5PRWuuRSzkoNcU55vXRnOtu/s400/Study+for+Stamp+Art.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I developed the design in a charcoal comprehensive drawing that I showed to the various paleontological consultants for their input and approval.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was vitally important that the dinosaurs, insects, and plants in each panorama were all known from the same geologic formations and so would have lived together in the same time and place. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NpzD2UbS1mFxZgCga9PQ_JxHVC9mcDHQK5D3sAB9OUrAorQLoAKOHfBnGjem6wJSWZBmQ65mS0S340MH8AuWwlortLwFasorT51qmUQC6rXm2XKUSTXnjGLuFGLe6Ii9cpWHA6sgydCO/s1600/WorldofDinosaurs.det.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NpzD2UbS1mFxZgCga9PQ_JxHVC9mcDHQK5D3sAB9OUrAorQLoAKOHfBnGjem6wJSWZBmQ65mS0S340MH8AuWwlortLwFasorT51qmUQC6rXm2XKUSTXnjGLuFGLe6Ii9cpWHA6sgydCO/s400/WorldofDinosaurs.det.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having worked out the plan in charcoal (bottom), I felt a lot more confident when I went to the final oil painting (top). In most natural science illustration, it's essential to present the art in a comprehensive, intermediate step that is sent out for approval by the scientists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSmdlMEiUilxScSJw5nrmTNFLPzRV8JZ8ZUd3YC_v969vsjCZqgekVOGXsOvOKL3ssVf8HBixTNnWtTcxLXaSJ2hRxxfrHNMEnQCcGWdtHfXKj1BHKJtee53I4oVVsrE0xjF8z3lm1rjo/s1600/PaintingtheStamps.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSmdlMEiUilxScSJw5nrmTNFLPzRV8JZ8ZUd3YC_v969vsjCZqgekVOGXsOvOKL3ssVf8HBixTNnWtTcxLXaSJ2hRxxfrHNMEnQCcGWdtHfXKj1BHKJtee53I4oVVsrE0xjF8z3lm1rjo/s400/PaintingtheStamps.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This was probably the only final stamp artwork that was ever worked on en plein air. I had to go outside in the forest to paint the ferns, because I discovered that cut ferns wilt too fast. The painting was less than 24 inches wide and painted on flexible Bristol board so that it could fit on the drum scanners of the time.<br />------<br /><div>For for a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at how I do paleoart, check out my new DVD "How I Paint Dinosaurs" from <a href="http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX007IXP77">Kunaki.com</a>.<br />Digital download (HD 720p) at <a href="https://gumroad.com/products/zLtj">Gumroad</a> (credit card) or<a href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt"> Sellfy</a> (Paypal). <a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt" id="nNyt">buy</a><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“How I Paint Dinosaurs is a fascinating, detailed look into the making of the masterful dinosaur creations of James Gurney. I loved following his creative process, from the initial ideas, through the scientifically informed and accurate paleo-reconstructions, to the final stunning artwork. I found this video to be extremely informative and creative, and I have to say that I was completely inspired to draw dinosaurs!” </span></div><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1">—Mick Ellison, paleoartist, American Museum of Natural History </span></div></div><div><br /></div>

World of Dinosaurs Stamps: Behind the Scenes

When I was asked to design the World of Dinosaurs stamp issue (1996), I painted two panoramic settings for the individual stamp subjects. Th...

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Release of "How I Paint Dinosaurs"

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LQxwmGt1OkA" width="420"></iframe><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I'm proud to announce the release of my first art instruction video. Here's a trailer to tell you about it. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQxwmGt1OkA">Direct link to YouTube trailer</a>)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9I3yxTcFGZVddVhF06M6AE-cviRjNEjPW2qSn_Gn3iUdmL0l3RQ1MvOKm4rf8ihsQJmFg9Aw4lh_i6_NVn-EQ4efA022sd_VRgmdo0jrUeATg1M0heTF0dERo13PFLbdCXPkXxgwwGop/s1600/How_I_Paint_Gurney_sm.WT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9I3yxTcFGZVddVhF06M6AE-cviRjNEjPW2qSn_Gn3iUdmL0l3RQ1MvOKm4rf8ihsQJmFg9Aw4lh_i6_NVn-EQ4efA022sd_VRgmdo0jrUeATg1M0heTF0dERo13PFLbdCXPkXxgwwGop/s400/How_I_Paint_Gurney_sm.WT.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><br /></b><br /><div><b>How This Video Came to Be</b><br /><div>Over the last few years, three different art video companies have asked to film my working methods, but I turned them all down because I wanted to learn how to do it myself. That way, I felt I could deliver a better result to you.<br /><div><br /></div><div>That's why it took a while to produce this and bring it to market. I had to learn a lot first. I wanted to shoot detailed video coverage of the entire process, not just one or two days of it, and I knew that an outside team couldn't do that if they just dropped into the studio for a short period of time. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMiOO8_BuI3FImjzQaP-23X-3T4eEFsXl-Rl81gHf1D9lN0zXiaCrQnlKxU3zPyzBxg8tm2cftaqElIFixBOmaxyAgv6B0jFqJVkKQKKLUrt_T7fFgRacKHzTkTYBUT1hso_TxXryapob/s1600/Takedown.Kosmo.pairing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMiOO8_BuI3FImjzQaP-23X-3T4eEFsXl-Rl81gHf1D9lN0zXiaCrQnlKxU3zPyzBxg8tm2cftaqElIFixBOmaxyAgv6B0jFqJVkKQKKLUrt_T7fFgRacKHzTkTYBUT1hso_TxXryapob/s400/Takedown.Kosmo.pairing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What's in the Video</b></div><div>The video follows the making of these two paintings from start to finish over a two month period from assignment to delivery. It covers the research, thumbnails, maquettes, line drawing, color planning, priming, and the final oil painting. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq7036WOV8O7ie4UYTQtYmUcQ_JHOz4R203wG9jMcnaWeZdHGa5Agi4nJfq64l7NJOiBvcVNQUuXL0wdHq50lPtBvWmM4EymsiV31PjzkysobFLvtqVworR5MKABKxSPToD5JPkxyaJVC/s1600/Matching+Armature+to+drawings.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq7036WOV8O7ie4UYTQtYmUcQ_JHOz4R203wG9jMcnaWeZdHGa5Agi4nJfq64l7NJOiBvcVNQUuXL0wdHq50lPtBvWmM4EymsiV31PjzkysobFLvtqVworR5MKABKxSPToD5JPkxyaJVC/s400/Matching+Armature+to+drawings.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>I know not everyone is into dinosaurs, but if you paint any kind of imaginative realism, I think you'll find the method helpful. <span style="text-align: center;">I have more videos in the pipeline about plein-air painting in watercolor and casein, which I'll tell you more about later.  </span></div><div><br /></div><div>"How I Paint Dinosaurs" runs about 53 minutes, short enough to watch multiple times, but long enough to cover everything. I tried to apply everything I learned from <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/01/video-in-works.html">your 81 comments</a> to my post asking you what you like (and don't like) in an art video.<br />  </div><div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaBlmr7t06e9BdglohDVQLAgjlxZNQK155Dgs-EQUv-C-1ojdWbX_gOL0hGciqwO9FqdgsIFkvFDmtfwagwVV216kZ6cxfwHqORrV7x_h8aalqoxockXxyQ8zSJpErDi0C0UslHDP1vbs/s1600/Palette+strings+closeup.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaBlmr7t06e9BdglohDVQLAgjlxZNQK155Dgs-EQUv-C-1ojdWbX_gOL0hGciqwO9FqdgsIFkvFDmtfwagwVV216kZ6cxfwHqORrV7x_h8aalqoxockXxyQ8zSJpErDi0C0UslHDP1vbs/s400/Palette+strings+closeup.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Reviews</b></div><div>“Any artist who has been treated to James Gurney’s previous books will be delighted with his newest offering, How I Paint Dinosaurs, an over-the-shoulder look at how this remarkable dinosaur artist achieves not only realism but a true sense of drama in portraying these animals for National Geographic Magazine and others. Gurney not only knows dinosaurs but is a master painter of light and shadow, and he shares his techniques in an easily understandable and informal way. I learned much from watching this.”<br />---<a href="http://www.hallettpaleoart.com/">Mark Hallett, paleoartist</a><br /><br />“What do Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles R. Knight, and Jim Gurney have in common? True art, texture, and no photo manipulation software. Who needs a time machine to see life in the Mesozoic? Just let Jim paint it for you. Here is how True Magic is done. Now it is your turn to learn to make magic.”<br />—<a href="http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/brettsurman.html">Michael K. Brett-Surman, PhD.</a>, co-editor of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0253357012/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0253357012&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">The Complete Dinosaur (Life of the Past)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0253357012" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfAldmj0FQN19Vr2MmiZ3DmizHsxF-s4d-m072y1KlMrlV-UrqecnhudZw4ItK5iDhyphenhyphenbYNQ5gOwwvcjQ3ID4Qolg_ljCWt1zfmqj7-h5-_g1HrUCV4K_DEenwpfL4ZJFj8gGCiBGqqL8k/s1600/20+Grypo+lighting+variation.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfAldmj0FQN19Vr2MmiZ3DmizHsxF-s4d-m072y1KlMrlV-UrqecnhudZw4ItK5iDhyphenhyphenbYNQ5gOwwvcjQ3ID4Qolg_ljCWt1zfmqj7-h5-_g1HrUCV4K_DEenwpfL4ZJFj8gGCiBGqqL8k/s400/20+Grypo+lighting+variation.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><b>How to Order</b></div><div>The DVD is currently available at <a href="http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX007IXP77">Kunaki.com</a>, where you can order directly and have it shipped to you. (International customers, please remember, it's region-encoded NTSC for U.S.A and Canada.)<br /><br />You can also preorder the DVD from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Paint-Dinosaurs-James-Gurney/dp/B00EN45YMS/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1376998971&sr=1-1&keywords=How+I+paint+dinosaurs+by+james+gurney">Amazon.com.</a> I just set up the page there, and they'll have copies soon.<br /><br />At <a href="https://gumroad.com/products/zLtj">Gumroad</a> where you can download a video file right now. (Edit: I would like to sincerely thank all of you who have added a little extra to your Gumroad payment. I really appreciate it!)<br /><br /></div><div>Paypal customers can also get the digital download at Sellfy (<a href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt/">link to product description page</a>) by clicking on this button: <a class="sellfy-buy-button" href="https://sellfy.com/p/nNyt" id="nNyt">buy</a><script src="https://sellfy.com/js/api_buttons.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>

Release of "How I Paint Dinosaurs"

Today I'm proud to announce the release of my first art instruction video. Here's a trailer to tell you about it. ( Direct link to Y...

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Book Review: Pterosaurs by Mark Witton

Pterosaurs dominated the skies during the time of the dinosaurs. They were remarkably diverse creatures, from the size of a sparrow to giants as tall as a giraffe, and were by far the largest creatures ever to fly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ag90zLtl1Z__QBb0-jK8z3mYx1vT_BtlDOkLvHPKBMEQ_DePKnPaf0kQJjM5JQScTPGDTDqWCpIPL14wpweFXp0I1q4oteDCscW1rfAydN3P1mNkVMBSXanxA-bWUXmTbwzSys8vC22/s1600/pterosaur.Witton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ag90zLtl1Z__QBb0-jK8z3mYx1vT_BtlDOkLvHPKBMEQ_DePKnPaf0kQJjM5JQScTPGDTDqWCpIPL14wpweFXp0I1q4oteDCscW1rfAydN3P1mNkVMBSXanxA-bWUXmTbwzSys8vC22/s320/pterosaur.Witton.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />One of the tallest subgroups, known as the azhdarchids, stood as tall as giraffes.<br /><br />Yet surprisingly, the scientific story of pterosaur anatomy, ecology, and extinction has not been told as thoroughly as has that of the dinosaurs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RrvIhKvm_JeW1jko4Gsx1j0IaKRUDIrWaYaHV00ernMU0t-EhAYmOCQnyQyU0MUE6z-wlDuQOR8lTTWXSgO8pyFCP0-4Kpa-1oy-9nKAMwhE3kUUu8OOxDqRJM8zDhs51Va_pIFhmHyj/s1600/Pterosaurs+Witton.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RrvIhKvm_JeW1jko4Gsx1j0IaKRUDIrWaYaHV00ernMU0t-EhAYmOCQnyQyU0MUE6z-wlDuQOR8lTTWXSgO8pyFCP0-4Kpa-1oy-9nKAMwhE3kUUu8OOxDqRJM8zDhs51Va_pIFhmHyj/s200/Pterosaurs+Witton.gif" width="155" /></a></div>A new book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691150613/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691150613&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy</a> helps to fill the gap. It is published by Princeton University Press, the same publisher that produced <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691151342/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691151342&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">The Unfeathered Bird by Katrina van Grouw</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0691151342" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br /><br />Mr. Witton is the ideal person to write such a book. He combines his deep knowledge of the subject as a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth (U.K.) with his skills as an artist, and he has a flair for informal but accurate writing. His 292-page book is the most comprehensive and authoritative book to come along since Peter Wellnhofer's classic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517037017/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0517037017&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0517037017" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> back in 1991.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0I61hXfTAS-Y9Vm8sNkdcFPzqSAM2pXRv9dbdnWTvjFoAVwEYb8DxV466CctY3Rw_LisyGtzz4T5WdqfKcE-a1Wem0TC8jydsf9fTje0jYKbgyREp3FPWMz2rvwMhvmzof5r7ohJBad/s1600/Pterosaurs+Witton+Assortment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0I61hXfTAS-Y9Vm8sNkdcFPzqSAM2pXRv9dbdnWTvjFoAVwEYb8DxV466CctY3Rw_LisyGtzz4T5WdqfKcE-a1Wem0TC8jydsf9fTje0jYKbgyREp3FPWMz2rvwMhvmzof5r7ohJBad/s400/Pterosaurs+Witton+Assortment.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />The book contains about 200 illustrations, mostly in color. Typically Witton portrays each type in a side-view flying position at the bottom of the flap cylce. In most cases the color restoration is accompanied by a line drawing of the reconstructed skeleton in the same pose. There are also many fossil photographs, maps, diagrams, and full-environment restorations.<br /><br />Witton's book covers general topics first, such as what we know and don't know about the skeletons, soft tissues, coloration, aerodynamics and behaviors. He then covers more than 130 species group by group, including many recently discovered and beautifully preserved specimens. The back of the book has a very thorough list of references and an index for deeper reading.<br />----<br />Find out more:<br /><span style="text-align: center;">Amazon: Mark Witton's new book </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691150613/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691150613&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20" style="text-align: center;">Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0691150613" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><div>Amazon: Peter Wellnhofer's 1991 book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517037017/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0517037017&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0517037017" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pterosaursbook">Facebook page for the book</a><br /><a href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9967.html">Princeton University Press webpage</a><br />.

Book Review: Pterosaurs by Mark Witton

Pterosaurs dominated the skies during the time of the dinosaurs. They were remarkably diverse creatures, from the size of a sparrow to giant...

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Walking with Dinosaurs trailer

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SyK60mad1u4" width="450"></iframe><br />(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SyK60mad1u4">Video link</a>) If you can ignore the rather conventional voiceover, this is a well animated trailer for the Walking with Dinosaurs 3D movie, coming out this Christmas.<br /><br />

Walking with Dinosaurs trailer

( Video link ) If you can ignore the rather conventional voiceover, this is a well animated trailer for the Walking with Dinosaurs 3D movie,...

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Dinosaur Art

Over at Tor.com, Irene Gallo has posted a big gallery of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine reptiles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdeQCs_OQoIYy1xCbLseBqDAQgOsNQeTS_zm9ni91j63bFIsoHtFvF8HyfzSRPqx04CHVzlTfrRykoU-BlJqxAnT4DxSOnX6SZkLRHvMAJlpUaE8ybJTn-dI7l1CD9GMxU5YBVe23EfPT/s1600/Z-Burian_pterosaur.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdeQCs_OQoIYy1xCbLseBqDAQgOsNQeTS_zm9ni91j63bFIsoHtFvF8HyfzSRPqx04CHVzlTfrRykoU-BlJqxAnT4DxSOnX6SZkLRHvMAJlpUaE8ybJTn-dI7l1CD9GMxU5YBVe23EfPT/s400/Z-Burian_pterosaur.png" width="400" /></a><br />Above: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zden%C4%9Bk_Burian">Zdeněk Burian</a>, Below, chocolate box art<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK-EOYPeu58lUMM1x7eF4gP22WRDNq4rviSTHeWIHLBQXo-U4ASVuHLhap_7ftjMkvj9RFHWIeKXJg0iFqcYG8wH-H6dPVNSC1-fBatO2XD3GHYAn77VbLkFeOVo0aDY2NPW7KF3onlAB/s1600/chocolatBrontosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK-EOYPeu58lUMM1x7eF4gP22WRDNq4rviSTHeWIHLBQXo-U4ASVuHLhap_7ftjMkvj9RFHWIeKXJg0iFqcYG8wH-H6dPVNSC1-fBatO2XD3GHYAn77VbLkFeOVo0aDY2NPW7KF3onlAB/s1600/chocolatBrontosaurus.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/03/picturing-dinosaurs">"Picturing Dinosaurs" at Tor.com</a><br />Thanks, Irene and Charley!

Dinosaur Art

Over at Tor.com, Irene Gallo has posted a big gallery of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine reptiles. Above:  Zdeněk Burian , Below, chocolat...

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Drowning a Dinosaur

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know: the photographic evidence seems to implicate me. It looks like I’m drowning a dinosaur.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReKcTncuzvquEndOYVxEhsT2BSXVbyAVjkb7jWUXZc8eFs5f2yY3p80zLLkgbacGxynf_dvFnRa-p4oIwNWiiY5mDipF980qOclvBS3I4NUvW7DY5ry3MqRpV2LMjjCYVFo2Z4H22qI8/s1600/Drowning+a+Dinosaur.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReKcTncuzvquEndOYVxEhsT2BSXVbyAVjkb7jWUXZc8eFs5f2yY3p80zLLkgbacGxynf_dvFnRa-p4oIwNWiiY5mDipF980qOclvBS3I4NUvW7DY5ry3MqRpV2LMjjCYVFo2Z4H22qI8/s400/Drowning+a+Dinosaur.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />But really I just want to know what an ceratopsian would look like in shoulder-deep water. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPm8v0sEEZ8QvSdIJTXrRqDyyeTy1NbnRCrCra3yP8yYrCiS1teqU53emp7bwtYdFJTm8Vmy0OcDPjR27coCPfuu_VHY4CX3CQWSH-Zo9GXnmaieWkZ5KTpuwiFt5kVnsjWmh4-kafCE/s1600/Bathing+Day.cr.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPm8v0sEEZ8QvSdIJTXrRqDyyeTy1NbnRCrCra3yP8yYrCiS1teqU53emp7bwtYdFJTm8Vmy0OcDPjR27coCPfuu_VHY4CX3CQWSH-Zo9GXnmaieWkZ5KTpuwiFt5kVnsjWmh4-kafCE/s400/Bathing+Day.cr.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />It was just one of many references I used to create this scene from <i><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/253/dinotopia-journey-to-chandara">Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara.</a></i></div><div>The book is available <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/253/dinotopia-journey-to-chandara">signed from me</a> or from <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>

Drowning a Dinosaur

I know: the photographic evidence seems to implicate me. It looks like I’m drowning a dinosaur. But really I just want to know what an cerat...

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360 Dinosaur Cyclorama

Here's a full 360 degree cyclorama that puts you into a dinosaur swamp. To make it interactive, click on the image and give it a spin in either direction.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="236" nbsp="nbsp" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.dermandar.com/swf/Viewer.swf?v=1.7"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="pano=cxNOmm"></param><embed src="http://static.dermandar.com/swf/Viewer.swf?v=1.7" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="236" flashvars="pano=cxNOmm"></embed></object><br />To view the image full-screen, click the arrow in the upper right hand corner. If you don't see the image, <a href="http://www.dermandar.com/p/cxNOmm/360-dinosaur-panorama">try this link.</a><br /><br />How I did it: I used Photoshop to stitch together three of my paintings to make a 1x7 panorama (580p x 4054p) that joins back on itself. Then I uploaded the image to <a href="http://dermandar.com./">Dermandar.com.</a> and copied the embed code (set for flash object) into the blog. Visit  <a href="http://dermandar.com./">Dermandar</a> to browse through other digital cycloramas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGFgrs-4J_X3Xy1G5bQk9iNVL_K5LQfxqpXg3zm2-R5aIYWI4CbARWAYVFMjjH6DPo46xixd9sBCL9Zw9Ri30bs9OdcfKxOJ_Xyp_yFa4rwOJpVkS0ReohXvtD_w-gjZsU7RC0gEanug/s1600/missonary_ridge_close.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGFgrs-4J_X3Xy1G5bQk9iNVL_K5LQfxqpXg3zm2-R5aIYWI4CbARWAYVFMjjH6DPo46xixd9sBCL9Zw9Ri30bs9OdcfKxOJ_Xyp_yFa4rwOJpVkS0ReohXvtD_w-gjZsU7RC0gEanug/s400/missonary_ridge_close.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Read about historical painted cycloramas at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclorama">Wikipedia/ Cyclorama</a>

360 Dinosaur Cyclorama

Here's a full 360 degree cyclorama that puts you into a dinosaur swamp. To make it interactive, click on the image and give it a spin in...

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