Skybax Car

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltEWQv8WUk609k1EWF_ej7BAt687K85ytmbDlhOxDHL8wRTggPf-oDKtjBRa7xhFtOT6yJ_SVYO1-3XaTU7EhLhIFAfodvWgNKW1Lmvg1SPhyphenhyphenQTF-aT6dRyzDneMcDBvkrfAmTKV1glc1/s1600/Skybax+Car1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltEWQv8WUk609k1EWF_ej7BAt687K85ytmbDlhOxDHL8wRTggPf-oDKtjBRa7xhFtOT6yJ_SVYO1-3XaTU7EhLhIFAfodvWgNKW1Lmvg1SPhyphenhyphenQTF-aT6dRyzDneMcDBvkrfAmTKV1glc1/s1600/Skybax+Car1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've always had a fondness for exuberantly painted cars. Here's one in Ohio that features Will Denison from <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/253/dinotopia-journey-to-chandara">Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara</a> painted on the hood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyK5UVWY8Rfccr4PsQCXn7Rpk65AzLEH7v1oxuJZeX0W3IIiiLjCAi-6jaEnoPs9-_wyjFHxCZkID6LZ1e48u_dL7gTW7XdHEIOziQLesAw5GDOM9pCrjBhK2fg1X5pgebE1ouOsiOCg/s1600-h/WILL+ARRIVES.sm.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111142927722357730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyK5UVWY8Rfccr4PsQCXn7Rpk65AzLEH7v1oxuJZeX0W3IIiiLjCAi-6jaEnoPs9-_wyjFHxCZkID6LZ1e48u_dL7gTW7XdHEIOziQLesAw5GDOM9pCrjBhK2fg1X5pgebE1ouOsiOCg/s400/WILL+ARRIVES.sm.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />In case you couldn't make it out, here's the painting it's based on.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgR0Jpo94HU0R2TWH-SnhMUYEE3by3pbyB_8eycTxswd4vvil-gY7oiR3Hj7vh6OOX3vxepf2Eip02gq_pcx5ejJBsh32o1Ix7auqEaXYujNoKtgznjq6LSI-e48Flk6oHOAKc8eEdNMQ/s1600/Skybax+Car3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgR0Jpo94HU0R2TWH-SnhMUYEE3by3pbyB_8eycTxswd4vvil-gY7oiR3Hj7vh6OOX3vxepf2Eip02gq_pcx5ejJBsh32o1Ix7auqEaXYujNoKtgznjq6LSI-e48Flk6oHOAKc8eEdNMQ/s1600/Skybax+Car3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the wiggly yellow line against the blue and black stripes and the gradation from red to orange. Nice job!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyK5UVWY8Rfccr4PsQCXn7Rpk65AzLEH7v1oxuJZeX0W3IIiiLjCAi-6jaEnoPs9-_wyjFHxCZkID6LZ1e48u_dL7gTW7XdHEIOziQLesAw5GDOM9pCrjBhK2fg1X5pgebE1ouOsiOCg/s1600-h/WILL+ARRIVES.sm.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-align: start;"><br /></a></div>Thanks, Azonthus.<br />Previously: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/01/fan-fun.html">Fan Fun</a>, <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/10/dan-gamaldi-is-stained-glass-and-mosaic.html">Waterfall City mosaic</a>, and<a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2013/06/dinotopia-in-legos.html"> Dinotopia in Lego</a>

Skybax Car

I've always had a fondness for exuberantly painted cars. Here's one in Ohio that features Will Denison from Dinotopia: Journey to Ch...

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Dinotopia at the Children's House

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfc8OnAxXHssTD-ZgWSwsWONrRDOipbzqBvSo6SyEdG0Tvv5lsn4qtWQcZH9gJ6krdcAznA16lIklWx8nNKpYMGnrs6ToLPrDpAGo-THwWOVhvwkDLE8CorIBn3PcXM6iiKGafhu-ZsC8/s1600/Children's%2BHouse1.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfc8OnAxXHssTD-ZgWSwsWONrRDOipbzqBvSo6SyEdG0Tvv5lsn4qtWQcZH9gJ6krdcAznA16lIklWx8nNKpYMGnrs6ToLPrDpAGo-THwWOVhvwkDLE8CorIBn3PcXM6iiKGafhu-ZsC8/s1600/Children's%2BHouse1.sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Dr. Jo Ann Leggett, director of the <a href="http://pk.greatschools.org/texas/victoria/preschools/Childrens-House/18547/">Children’s House preschool</a> of Victoria, Texas recently completed a Dinotopia-themed project for the school’s summer program, and she sent some photos to share.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjB_oX1HTaDWAihd9eZAOO-0zMntTQ1HMa-UghgAkLCPL1A7ZVj-8x3Tlom3JOFtV92iK-m8FtQgPvuy0CU2DnpR-6b1s0shoUah4iiDKhLI4Y-s_xi3vX0X07ILgM5nzZNeFSB8nwWBO/s1600/Dinotopia+map.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjB_oX1HTaDWAihd9eZAOO-0zMntTQ1HMa-UghgAkLCPL1A7ZVj-8x3Tlom3JOFtV92iK-m8FtQgPvuy0CU2DnpR-6b1s0shoUah4iiDKhLI4Y-s_xi3vX0X07ILgM5nzZNeFSB8nwWBO/s1600/Dinotopia+map.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Dr. Jo says: "Children delighted in all the books," and they learned about geography from the Dinotopia map.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOQbb2iNl6wVwIjpMYeY9veRfCi8m3D8IKep8mg8MCdDKlp_0ir8aeucnThpfxadV18JMHCqgBdI11zln3MInW0_oTY0QDLut4NR1K9X7gp8BoQ5CYF7c-sLwf7JeWbSt2Rbg5ZEfmS3e/s1600/Plank+Walking.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/AVvXsEgdOQbb2iNl6wVwIjpMYeY9veRfCi8m3D8IKep8mg8MCdDKlp_0ir8aeucnThpfxadV18JMHCqgBdI11zln3MInW0_oTY0QDLut4NR1K9X7gp8BoQ5CYF7c-sLwf7JeWbSt2Rbg5ZEfmS3e/s1600/Plank+Walking.sm.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />They tried "plank walking," a Dinotopia game that I introduced in "<a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/253/dinotopia-journey-to-chandara">Journey to Chandara</a>."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacvOaYPpqwODJx5ED9GWzmXvrvb9lIVjOPp9uy1s3iWyu34-_cD3Cz7lDbZUCC5qx7bxpOc4EOYJIBPwj8cF_jFXOzM0YKETfyu46M3EPGTfZSiHpn9TmqeRQNf5QdCtKrpYCMqIA4S2T/s1600/Plank_Walking.CH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacvOaYPpqwODJx5ED9GWzmXvrvb9lIVjOPp9uy1s3iWyu34-_cD3Cz7lDbZUCC5qx7bxpOc4EOYJIBPwj8cF_jFXOzM0YKETfyu46M3EPGTfZSiHpn9TmqeRQNf5QdCtKrpYCMqIA4S2T/s1600/Plank_Walking.CH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>To succeed at plank walking, everyone has to pull the ropes and lift their feet together as a team.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjQ5_eR2v8aqON8GuEkZ9gXybSOsnjU0pu-u8_WfVIBi58hYZJc8DblezNc4Xi5PF11hZmzLdEy5wxNM_h8ViprLGwIsNvrfHLg3tE4HpDelV6T8ZJGYZY7Azn5Ek2LnI6MUfJrr8_yNE/s1600/Dino+Tower.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/AVvXsEhqjQ5_eR2v8aqON8GuEkZ9gXybSOsnjU0pu-u8_WfVIBi58hYZJc8DblezNc4Xi5PF11hZmzLdEy5wxNM_h8ViprLGwIsNvrfHLg3tE4HpDelV6T8ZJGYZY7Azn5Ek2LnI6MUfJrr8_yNE/s1600/Dino+Tower.sm.jpg" width="373" /></a><br />"Dinotopia is our 'most-looked-forward-to' unit at the school. Thank you for your inspiration," says Dr. Jo.<br /><br />Thank YOU, Dr. Jo! If you're a teacher of any age group and would like to spotlight Dinotopia at your school, please write me a letter. I’ll be happy to send you a list of suggested games, projects, and activities, and I'll include a signed card to help you get the ball rolling.<br /><br />Previously:<br /><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2010/10/dinosaurs-invade-millburn.html">Dinosaurs Invade Millburn High School</a><br /><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2007/11/science-art-and-fantasy.html">Science, Art, and Fantasy</a> (Elementary School)<br /><div><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2007/11/dinosaurs-invade-elementary-schools.html">Dinotopia at the Grant Elementary School</a></div><div><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2007/10/cool-schools.html">St. Albans School in Washington, DC</a></div><div><br /></div>

Dinotopia at the Children's House

Dr. Jo Ann Leggett, director of the Children’s House preschool  of Victoria, Texas recently completed a Dinotopia-themed project for the sch...

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Nuthin' But Mech 2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasDduk-z9uRU_LfNFkJxy7p5bLXtVNf1GavXlbgAqgBRBDERhckdFuaz8MBR4SWx8FYTeI4VPDb6trCCyMRlGjCxgtLrZiSGZZc5SHc8bUA34dcc5Aq3rylaUugqIt8sIlL_opU6VTZI6/s1600/Jake+Parker+NBM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasDduk-z9uRU_LfNFkJxy7p5bLXtVNf1GavXlbgAqgBRBDERhckdFuaz8MBR4SWx8FYTeI4VPDb6trCCyMRlGjCxgtLrZiSGZZc5SHc8bUA34dcc5Aq3rylaUugqIt8sIlL_opU6VTZI6/s1600/Jake+Parker+NBM.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>Fans of robots, jaegers, droids, mobile weapons, drones, and transformers will be interested to know that the new edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624650104/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1624650104&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20&linkId=OWNHEXIG7UQGY5J2">Nuthin' But Mech Volume 2</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1624650104" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is now available.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6C1ABTZc4bqhRj8nPT7XJ2ssuXz4IzfGzqoQPc-8NouOC2KyudB6L5RI7Qsh-XCou9yRmdsuAJEC8tqwj6S5e-gFv06ysmmppnmTcpxXI55q-0ksM0DmKOjcVv1h3CIf8RRsOs_ahSSk/s1600/nuthin-but-mech-2-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6C1ABTZc4bqhRj8nPT7XJ2ssuXz4IzfGzqoQPc-8NouOC2KyudB6L5RI7Qsh-XCou9yRmdsuAJEC8tqwj6S5e-gFv06ysmmppnmTcpxXI55q-0ksM0DmKOjcVv1h3CIf8RRsOs_ahSSk/s1600/nuthin-but-mech-2-06.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the second volume in the series originated by Lorin Wood, who created the original Nuthin But Mech blog. Ian McQue produced these robot walkers with all the wear and tear and rust of a real machine that had been left outdoors for a long time.</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/AVvXsEiR1KWcuejd_ev9QonzFejgYlDUnws-duZVZkRP4TLzhSdar4NQXnrGyknouTjd-nH458K1-TzSOZ9-Ii3Su9pJaio4kyNxaPpK3x9F3b2QBHz_2ktWiVDLAR3KxVtKh8liihqunn3qZoGi/s1600/Calum+Alexander+Wait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1KWcuejd_ev9QonzFejgYlDUnws-duZVZkRP4TLzhSdar4NQXnrGyknouTjd-nH458K1-TzSOZ9-Ii3Su9pJaio4kyNxaPpK3x9F3b2QBHz_2ktWiVDLAR3KxVtKh8liihqunn3qZoGi/s1600/Calum+Alexander+Wait.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>Most of the images are either 2D or 3D digital, but there are a few painted in traditional media. All of the proceeds will go to help the medical costs of Francis Tsai, one of the book's contributors, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2010.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiUhb7mMDEazbyOQhIABi87VUwtUF6eUCi4qq4qnHZ83Cq9VgTny0H8FLiT-EY9NFR3xhHnASx4WYJV6tSm2ZAufmadcdBzpYyabHSEEsGpWnUAAV3gHcZUyLKprIOhH2IHacO7VLsFSG/s1600/Nuthin_But_Mech_2_Art_Book_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiUhb7mMDEazbyOQhIABi87VUwtUF6eUCi4qq4qnHZ83Cq9VgTny0H8FLiT-EY9NFR3xhHnASx4WYJV6tSm2ZAufmadcdBzpYyabHSEEsGpWnUAAV3gHcZUyLKprIOhH2IHacO7VLsFSG/s1600/Nuthin_But_Mech_2_Art_Book_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This book features the work 40 contributors, ranging from whimsical concepts to realistic and compelling dystopian visions, such as this one by Bastiaan Koch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEb2TtQUfGcTy64wfriIZVrtZqS_pXesMC7zhYpnMbqBJnQdNveBephqGsbt-nV0eTxgfXI81ngW7lZ-cPYY42JBtoY4DCMy1UOfTYKpN5Y-sUWTnmqc3lbJnIQpiJK4dYrDq1xZktfoy/s1600/Nuthin+but+Mech+Robot.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/AVvXsEhQEb2TtQUfGcTy64wfriIZVrtZqS_pXesMC7zhYpnMbqBJnQdNveBephqGsbt-nV0eTxgfXI81ngW7lZ-cPYY42JBtoY4DCMy1UOfTYKpN5Y-sUWTnmqc3lbJnIQpiJK4dYrDq1xZktfoy/s1600/Nuthin+but+Mech+Robot.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />There are six pages of my own artwork, mostly the new sepia paintings for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600575/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600575&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20&linkId=RE3LK7NWKRFHEHMT">Dinotopia, First Flight Expanded Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600575" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. This one, called "Drainage Man," has the caption: "Poseidian D-class brontostrutters require frequent fluid exchange service. Drainage men, stationed at remote outposts along the steam safari routes of the Great Desert, replace hydraulic oil from the quad pistons after every 50K cycles. They also check lube levels, and they pump water into the belly tanks for the long hauls."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624650104/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1624650104&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20&linkId=OWNHEXIG7UQGY5J2">Nuthin' But Mech Volume 2</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1624650104" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>

Nuthin' But Mech 2

Fans of robots, jaegers, droids, mobile weapons, drones, and transformers will be interested to know that the new edition of Nuthin' But...

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What did the world look like to dinosaurs?

Seven-year-old Ben asked: "I was reading <i>Dinotopia</i> and I found the page where it showed the human vision and the dinosaur vision. Did dinosaurs really see that way?"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgiSIDfn4EBHfzc1R57Ihuq1xtwXpegSbtp70otMxtpVlkwKLPQdzx9diOEgksyrYcQwRc7S_VOWlmgUbL7-gKSXlR1jxzqUw_o7gAD8S7ry5KBziVQatzNR3EUC8bZG8aQ6WeywOTDpx/s1600/Dinosaur_Vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgiSIDfn4EBHfzc1R57Ihuq1xtwXpegSbtp70otMxtpVlkwKLPQdzx9diOEgksyrYcQwRc7S_VOWlmgUbL7-gKSXlR1jxzqUw_o7gAD8S7ry5KBziVQatzNR3EUC8bZG8aQ6WeywOTDpx/s1600/Dinosaur_Vision.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Hi, Ben,</span><br />Good question. Of course we’ll never really know how the world looked to dinosaurs, or for that matter, what things looks like to a dog or cat or bird. In fact, if you think about it, you can’t even be completely sure exactly how another person sees, and whether that’s different from the way you see, because you can’t climb inside their head.</div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">But scientists are able to study the structures in the eyes of modern animals and they’ve found out some interesting things. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Dogs, cats, deer, and other mammals do not have color receptors in their eyes that can sense the difference between green and red. So their view of the world may only distinguish light and dark, and maybe blue and yellow colors. Humans, apes, and monkeys have the addition of green / red color receptors, so we see those colors, too. </span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><span class="s1">Most birds seem to have as many color receptors as we do. But some birds, like hawks, may have sharper distance vision based on how their eyes are structured, and some other birds, like owls, surely see much better in the dark than we do. </span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ5CMK_wj5jQfLEFf1xFL7086DqM04Lq6J5FH6R9NHsduge9V5rmlc6tB_pkblwAuENPhETh0R6l2qitmM9tzCpZg48o71q70jFW8Xe62Y1b1WHmBHxma2JiXdSlwBWI_OqVTR1-0wWED/s1600/mantis_shrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ5CMK_wj5jQfLEFf1xFL7086DqM04Lq6J5FH6R9NHsduge9V5rmlc6tB_pkblwAuENPhETh0R6l2qitmM9tzCpZg48o71q70jFW8Xe62Y1b1WHmBHxma2JiXdSlwBWI_OqVTR1-0wWED/s1600/mantis_shrimp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantis shrimp from <a href="http://amasianv.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/more-than-meets-the-eye/">Amasian Science</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="s1"></span><br /><span class="s1">When it comes to color, some insects can see into the ultraviolet range, a kind of light that’s invisible to us. T</span>hese unique abilities probably help bees and butterflies to see fruit or flowers. The mantis shrimp has 16 kinds of light receptors in its eyes, which apparently allow it to see images in polarized light and ultraviolet light that we can't see without special instruments.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgob8L35wgFg_fT_AyA298RknYLzYZaOngFYH6mCiUlpL5MHaM55YfI5oG4PdrQce-MVcpxwzN8qb72c0VHs8ktzjqd0qXUjqQ4dvfGGnwgCGPKEshM5dPn55CSynABOF0LnVHgwRskA62/s1600/Red+faced+monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgob8L35wgFg_fT_AyA298RknYLzYZaOngFYH6mCiUlpL5MHaM55YfI5oG4PdrQce-MVcpxwzN8qb72c0VHs8ktzjqd0qXUjqQ4dvfGGnwgCGPKEshM5dPn55CSynABOF0LnVHgwRskA62/s1600/Red+faced+monkey.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Red faced Uakari Monkey from <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/12496504@N06/6508019997/">Flickr wbirt1</a></td></tr></tbody></table>A good clue is that if animals have bright colors on them, then others of their kind can see those colors. That's why most animals aren't colored red, except for monkeys, which are unusual among mammals for having the same sort of color vision that humans have.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpOwirSoSIrDp7LJjTiuk_pf1FUPu3lESetubkQ5fjgA3M3DWAY6VUzuesY3rAw83-t06Z4A27tIkfnWSjusC1136lkdYionuZ02D0-nkxROFP0nUuuGcXgDl6y2tIX1gTOnltYffeT_/s1600/Inspector+Myops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpOwirSoSIrDp7LJjTiuk_pf1FUPu3lESetubkQ5fjgA3M3DWAY6VUzuesY3rAw83-t06Z4A27tIkfnWSjusC1136lkdYionuZ02D0-nkxROFP0nUuuGcXgDl6y2tIX1gTOnltYffeT_/s1600/Inspector+Myops.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspector Myops from <i><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/861/dinotopia-world-beneath-20th-anniv-edition">Dinotopia: The World Beneath</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Returning to dinosaurs, if some dinosaurs were a lot like birds in other respects, they might well have had the added color sensing abilities of modern birds. Not only that, they might have been as colorful as birds.</span><br /><span class="s1"><br /></span><span class="s1">So the illustration of "dinosaur vision" in Dinotopia may not be too far off.</span><br /><span class="s1">-------</span><br /><span class="s1">Read more about color perception in animals at <a href="http://amasianv.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/more-than-meets-the-eye/">Amasian Science</a></span><br />or listen to the <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/story/211119-colors/">Radiolab episode on color.</a><br /><br />Get a signed copy of Dinotopia for your inquisitive person in your life:<br /><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/263/dinotopia20">Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time</a><br /><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/861/dinotopia-world-beneath-20th-anniv-edition">Dinotopia: The World Beneath</a><br />or from Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600222/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600222&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20&linkId=HLIVLD6HFZUXJCDL">Dinotopia, A Land Apart from Time: 20th Anniversary Edition (Calla Editions)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600222" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><div><br /></div></div>

What did the world look like to dinosaurs?

Seven-year-old Ben asked: "I was reading Dinotopia  and I found the page where it showed the human vision and the dinosaur vision. Did ...

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Congratulations, Carol

<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/AVvXsEgPZJlthM7tLzEah2RnVDI4LxNKW3lMZp27WV1M8BjBOUdtGZXc2_RnMeF-W0B_pVMoDE9nFj9n5Ffz85Svon_gIZKwUzV0hxrjRKOaUt7seIis2pnn089pZScp900J5W9H8HmBHaq4deDk/s1600/First+Flight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZJlthM7tLzEah2RnVDI4LxNKW3lMZp27WV1M8BjBOUdtGZXc2_RnMeF-W0B_pVMoDE9nFj9n5Ffz85Svon_gIZKwUzV0hxrjRKOaUt7seIis2pnn089pZScp900J5W9H8HmBHaq4deDk/s1600/First+Flight.JPG" width="308" /></a></div>We shipped out another big stack of orders of <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/1011/dinotopia-first-flight-2">Dinotopia: First Flight</a> today. Congratulations to Carol W. of Accord, New York, who was Order #50.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu40B5T8Uacms8Mn2XGmcbr-4WQPvTITr4PAn8IutqWRQnykEPQX1RTWTyWlciEKt8bZLqdipElNE2FesnM-e739-UFxWxLIxTsdsUZf4O5ctJg9aQ-ScG3O0zl4Z466Ud02UTDU8HKtE/s1600/Carol_W.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu40B5T8Uacms8Mn2XGmcbr-4WQPvTITr4PAn8IutqWRQnykEPQX1RTWTyWlciEKt8bZLqdipElNE2FesnM-e739-UFxWxLIxTsdsUZf4O5ctJg9aQ-ScG3O0zl4Z466Ud02UTDU8HKtE/s1600/Carol_W.sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>That means Carol won an original storyboard that I sketched while planning the book. For those who didn't win the grand prize, no worries: you'll receive an original drawings inside your copy as well as a signature, so everyone should get a fun surprise.<br /><br />There are still two storyboard sketches left, for orders #75 and #100. If you order now, you might be a lucky winner.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Update: CONGRATULATIONS to Daniel B. of Indianapolis, whose order was #75. </span><br /><span style="color: red;">That means he wins the storyboard sketch, as well as a custom original drawing of a little character named Fritz in his book. Now #100 is still up for grabs. </span><br />-------<br />You can order the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600575/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600575&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20&linkId=DWBIPSAAH33XP7AS">Dinotopia, First Flight at Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600575" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />or from me at <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/1011/dinotopia-first-flight-2">JamesGurney.com </a>or <a href="http://dinotopia.com/">Dinotopia.com</a>. (USA customers only, sorry)<br />Previously: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-flight-edition-released.html">First Flight Released</a>

Congratulations, Carol

We shipped out another big stack of orders of  Dinotopia: First Flight  today. Congratulations to Carol W. of Accord, New York, who was Orde...

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First Flight On Its Way

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtiXcOY3kP6MI1VHyh8R-x1JV0Sim15V23Fg87UXT4u6ii3AvFBjkDoJKb9uJlOulB243H48K76zST1xlCJlIkz_fta8LiOQrC5gPDgJR5OL_zLz7zj_NOH6hlrmWOhBRLrYeYTw_Ib4t/s1600/First+Flight.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtiXcOY3kP6MI1VHyh8R-x1JV0Sim15V23Fg87UXT4u6ii3AvFBjkDoJKb9uJlOulB243H48K76zST1xlCJlIkz_fta8LiOQrC5gPDgJR5OL_zLz7zj_NOH6hlrmWOhBRLrYeYTw_Ib4t/s1600/First+Flight.sm.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you ordered a copy of the brand new expanded edition of <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/1011/dinotopia-first-flight-2"><i>Dinotopia: First Flight</i>,</a> good news! Your copy shipped out today. </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/AVvXsEieis9LGuGk0Z2tg2m3parEMwTnkxXZGSa43jlgXZ9DM4n-AwYCPVLF37pdcbhX1JRqkFkHsHyAaeLVYXH0kBkVfbmy0JDkfOuGzxpnDfCUTpQhM-Vtl1PAYdy-Zwe9a26gCXBMwacBggLK/s1600/First+Flight.Rem.sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieis9LGuGk0Z2tg2m3parEMwTnkxXZGSa43jlgXZ9DM4n-AwYCPVLF37pdcbhX1JRqkFkHsHyAaeLVYXH0kBkVfbmy0JDkfOuGzxpnDfCUTpQhM-Vtl1PAYdy-Zwe9a26gCXBMwacBggLK/s1600/First+Flight.Rem.sm.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And congratulations to Peter O. of San Francisco. You were Order #25, and that means you'll be receiving the special copy with the actual original storyboard from First Flight included inside, along with a hand drawn and painted remarque.<br /><br />If you haven't ordered yet, good news! There are still three original remarques waiting: #50, #75, and #100.<br /><br />So if you order today you might be the lucky one. Plus everyone who orders from me gets a signature and a little drawing, and a few random people will get extra-custom drawings of the hoverhead Fritz with the painted flame effect, like above.<br />-------<br />You can order the book at <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/1011/dinotopia-first-flight-2">JamesGurney.com </a>or <a href="http://dinotopia.com/">Dinotopia.com</a>. (USA customers only, sorry)<br />Previously: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2014/04/first-flight-edition-released.html">First Flight Released</a>

First Flight On Its Way

If you ordered a copy of the brand new expanded edition of  Dinotopia: First Flight , good news! Your copy shipped out today.  And congratu...

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Giant insect mech vs. T. rex

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In this concept art study, a crab-like mech, surrounded by a cloud of drones, tackles a tyrannosaur, while two archers try to take it down. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMxyrKXV539mrmfFO6MUtF3PEaIoshmXS2WU-8jBER5fDNUINM6jMgIoV-p9XcNeYJYlCPJnpzYGXuSPtdmpe3WvelD2gUUo9vfnPpt6njKsBQfc33xlZVgX0PXtmR-JDytxjcP2Yk2lu/s1600/Grapple+Hold.sm3.W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMxyrKXV539mrmfFO6MUtF3PEaIoshmXS2WU-8jBER5fDNUINM6jMgIoV-p9XcNeYJYlCPJnpzYGXuSPtdmpe3WvelD2gUUo9vfnPpt6njKsBQfc33xlZVgX0PXtmR-JDytxjcP2Yk2lu/s1600/Grapple+Hold.sm3.W.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>It's painted in gouache, using white and black, warmed with yellow ochre and raw umber. I chose monochrome to evoke the look of an old photo. The gouache gives me more precise control over the recession of values in the dense, backlit atmosphere. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRjJLeyw48eCRkOFirRjQiJ_JsjKRIrXUPcpE7DIpsGzSSWLC_SXhcZhhfVZk1Gltce519VXQLGkkLbF5uHyqBfBFSjiAS5JOdvPh_EmnnjuYZK5TojlLneJtYYckppQzX0pzepPnqtN_/s1600/Grapple+Hold.LG2.det.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRjJLeyw48eCRkOFirRjQiJ_JsjKRIrXUPcpE7DIpsGzSSWLC_SXhcZhhfVZk1Gltce519VXQLGkkLbF5uHyqBfBFSjiAS5JOdvPh_EmnnjuYZK5TojlLneJtYYckppQzX0pzepPnqtN_/s1600/Grapple+Hold.LG2.det.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Tyrannosaur's head in "Grapple Hold" from Dinotopia: First Flight by James Gurney</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I reserved the darkest values (though still not black) for the dinosaur's tail. The darks on the dinosaur's head are much lighter, closer to 50%. </div><div><br /></div><div>To give it a photographic look, I tried to paint each section with just three values: a light value, a dark value, and a much brighter edge light. Those values step back together as you go back in space, like paired notes in music.</div><div><br /></div><div>This painting is part of the new backstory development for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600575/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600575&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Dover edition of Dinotopia: First Flight</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600575" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> coming out next month. </div><div><br /></div><div>The new edition has more than 40 pages of new supplementary material: character sketches, vehicle designs, cinematic story treatments, and backstory notes--all of which is published for the first time. This material fleshes out the tumultuous ancient origins of Dinotopia, which predates its utopian recent history.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mgKGfxDKAVeURZ7s96u9kip8-WfM0eGlOCMhlmRGfzlUbRcAc1brUGhfYNhNDa65DtBKHJrkyofIBJ_oAwY6Pg6gQMltyMOq_xc9niI-lsK42vRHM8sdcbL49Lwv0DaPu_gUa4K7ZgoY/s1600/Monochrome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mgKGfxDKAVeURZ7s96u9kip8-WfM0eGlOCMhlmRGfzlUbRcAc1brUGhfYNhNDa65DtBKHJrkyofIBJ_oAwY6Pg6gQMltyMOq_xc9niI-lsK42vRHM8sdcbL49Lwv0DaPu_gUa4K7ZgoY/s1600/Monochrome1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also just wrote a special article about painting in monochrome for the April/May issue of International Artist magazine. The article is illustrated with six of these steampunk mech pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Preorder the book on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600575/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600575&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Dinotopia: First Flight new Dover Edition / April 2014</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600575" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">More about color in my book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740797719/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0740797719&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0740797719" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div><a href="https://www.internationalartist.com/">International Artist Magazine</a></div><div><br /></div><br /></div></div>

Giant insect mech vs. T. rex

In this concept art study, a crab-like mech, surrounded by a cloud of drones, tackles a tyrannosaur, while two archers try to take it down. ...

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Accordion-Fold Greeting Card

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXZ8g-ufm-3nXZPCoXg8JCrsL6z982e3OGyK1zuyfEFV21X5gPkWmnx18MEaIFLW0tfPbnQgj2vN0t2AgzidZpgwlYZSwhqBMRM3d1F4m5R7SFC4JaRrOFG9c7iQIsmo0v78SU5M2AC5C/s1600/Field+of+Flowers.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXZ8g-ufm-3nXZPCoXg8JCrsL6z982e3OGyK1zuyfEFV21X5gPkWmnx18MEaIFLW0tfPbnQgj2vN0t2AgzidZpgwlYZSwhqBMRM3d1F4m5R7SFC4JaRrOFG9c7iQIsmo0v78SU5M2AC5C/s1600/Field+of+Flowers.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I did this painting of Dinotopians riding through a field of flowers in 1996, I had to address two unique design constraints. On the one hand, I wanted to create a frieze-like composition for a horizontal poster, <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/09/kids-riding-dinosaurs.html">using the kids who won a national poster contest as models.</a></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/AVvXsEi4_MCHkgQwkJiX2i0tB8jdi0AYB3ayrnpklzKxU9eYtnKFJ0Am_SpVhkKUZW8tiBRuwU4o8MqMKU5OxM87xDwOaoJPIUiY3_v7KtwbXdtm1vH1l-2TbC-0CIOsJZnzm-_6cqvu5PQEoZL6/s1600/Kids-Dinos.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_MCHkgQwkJiX2i0tB8jdi0AYB3ayrnpklzKxU9eYtnKFJ0Am_SpVhkKUZW8tiBRuwU4o8MqMKU5OxM87xDwOaoJPIUiY3_v7KtwbXdtm1vH1l-2TbC-0CIOsJZnzm-_6cqvu5PQEoZL6/s1600/Kids-Dinos.sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also designed the image to work as an accordion-fold greeting card for Portal Publishing's "Streamers" line.  The card was printed the same on both sides and then die cut around the silhouettes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQGSV_mv4HlO8-6oLZgxbnnbJvSfeL9ylqdde5DD7WfvzR5RtpW9O96TJN1i6BH_gwK5e2U0GJ4oElZdvB-KqrDw9-PMJ9w_vylQeqJpOJ-AZ3t3aZ_ua4D87fQRLud9FTFxg2HcVdpF3/s1600/Kids-Dinos.folded.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQGSV_mv4HlO8-6oLZgxbnnbJvSfeL9ylqdde5DD7WfvzR5RtpW9O96TJN1i6BH_gwK5e2U0GJ4oElZdvB-KqrDw9-PMJ9w_vylQeqJpOJ-AZ3t3aZ_ua4D87fQRLud9FTFxg2HcVdpF3/s1600/Kids-Dinos.folded.sm.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>When the card was all folded up, the silhouettes overlapped in such a way that faces could peek out in a surprising way.<br /><br /><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/09/kids-riding-dinosaurs.html">Previous post about the kids who modeled for the painting.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

Accordion-Fold Greeting Card

When I did this painting of Dinotopians riding through a field of flowers in 1996, I had to address two unique design constraints. On the on...

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Skybax toy prototype

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z2U9Fqo179crG2DFKAHvUgxDtmYEdaYCCEcXRhUuYga-ycoG9_9NqoUTp0AYkmXlPJKIcFAAEpIXdelSr4-s2UXH0_TIf2SP2_X7f6uqmRLUpF_QqJVrLQafzv-DvZh3JNSj0oXZ6jiH/s1600/Skybax.sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z2U9Fqo179crG2DFKAHvUgxDtmYEdaYCCEcXRhUuYga-ycoG9_9NqoUTp0AYkmXlPJKIcFAAEpIXdelSr4-s2UXH0_TIf2SP2_X7f6uqmRLUpF_QqJVrLQafzv-DvZh3JNSj0oXZ6jiH/s1600/Skybax.sm.JPG" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a one-of-a-kind toy prototype made by Hasbro in 1997, part of a proposal for a line of Dinotopia toys. The skybax is fully posable, with flapping wings, gripping foot claws, and a removable saddle for the Will Denison action figure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As it often happens with toy ideas, this one never got off the ground. The toy line was tied to a movie at Columbia Pictures that went far into development but never got green-lit.</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/AVvXsEgaqmMZz9jc6UzZfvrbGajR4kvo6SRmtq6NxIXY1Q3m8A3HTI8O9EVslfTeiLPKPxNNLXoDUD1hwF4bpGOFWKarwQpbLsFBwYib7D8HiNEj79m67JhO-8qIrpJZHKSF5UNilrrcYIOrvrl-/s1600/loose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqmMZz9jc6UzZfvrbGajR4kvo6SRmtq6NxIXY1Q3m8A3HTI8O9EVslfTeiLPKPxNNLXoDUD1hwF4bpGOFWKarwQpbLsFBwYib7D8HiNEj79m67JhO-8qIrpJZHKSF5UNilrrcYIOrvrl-/s1600/loose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Edit: In the comments, Drew pointed out a Jurassic Park toy with a remarkable similarity. I'm not sure, but it's possible that the JP toy came first and that they modded it out for the Dinotopia presentation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-----</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Previously: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/06/action-figures.html">Hasbro's proposed Dinotopia action figures</a></div>

Skybax toy prototype

Here's a one-of-a-kind toy prototype made by Hasbro in 1997, part of a proposal for a line of Dinotopia toys. The skybax is fully posabl...

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Sylvia doll prototype

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one-of-a-kind doll prototype was made in 1997 by the Hasbro toy designers for a proposed Dinotopia toy. </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/AVvXsEjST1hEY_XFjX43hTsyrTwOTYAp06fpszwQsVpZjDlTp6pHe7kRFvGz4LGBqIzzmOfYM7exh08rtcmo5vQxr-rdwyJJ_ZnLs2mVTtTaNRldyWiEvUFGn2R5HLyZKpDGK9RtB3PCopSRlt4s/s1600/Sylvia_Dinotopia1.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/AVvXsEjST1hEY_XFjX43hTsyrTwOTYAp06fpszwQsVpZjDlTp6pHe7kRFvGz4LGBqIzzmOfYM7exh08rtcmo5vQxr-rdwyJJ_ZnLs2mVTtTaNRldyWiEvUFGn2R5HLyZKpDGK9RtB3PCopSRlt4s/s1600/Sylvia_Dinotopia1.sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She is the red-haired character Sylvia in ceremonial costume, with a coronet of flowers and a tiny handmade vest that fastens in the back with Velcro. Her dress is a crinkle cotton gauze made to look like pleated linen, with gold trim. We liked the way she is dressed in a timeless and modest way, and her face has a sweet smile.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYPbsssfmVD5GBqRbgPT1iWRkMFhLJSVPNXmvq0QznU5soPdQ0t-0U-VgUdpyc2-qS_JoLIapToJiOIysssTMDuzuTTvzK1LhRhzkrzF3TkWURITMBJKRaBd2A0y0fwxNO7UgAj4KGfjS/s1600/Sylvia_Dinotopia2.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYPbsssfmVD5GBqRbgPT1iWRkMFhLJSVPNXmvq0QznU5soPdQ0t-0U-VgUdpyc2-qS_JoLIapToJiOIysssTMDuzuTTvzK1LhRhzkrzF3TkWURITMBJKRaBd2A0y0fwxNO7UgAj4KGfjS/s1600/Sylvia_Dinotopia2.sm.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>This is not a reconfigured Barbie doll; it's completely unique and original, custom made for Dinotopia.<br /><br />Although the Dinotopia toy line never went into production due to reversals in the movie project at Columbia, Hasbro's toymakers made a beautiful group of proposals, and their marketing people were excited about the prospect of that rare thing: a toy line designed for both boys and girls.<br />------<br />Sylvia appeared first in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600222/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600222&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600222" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> in 1992.<br />Thanks, Michael Stone and Robert Gould.

Sylvia doll prototype

This one-of-a-kind doll prototype was made in 1997 by the Hasbro toy designers for a proposed Dinotopia toy.  She is the red-haired characte...

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New edition of "First Flight" coming in April

Happy New Year, everyone. One of the things I'm excited about in 2014 is the release of a greatly expanded new edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600575/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600575&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">Dinotopia: First Flight</a><img border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600575" /> from Dover Publications. The book will be coming out this April.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTRqFnQhO6qg7dOgmTlJ5E9iXorblwEZ6JcQ3eHLwfLaxy-BZ8_Y2Tg4by9N6AiECk5vBQAP68UGl6I_VHFOma3CgQHeGPnDsFjZGT8dsVFR_moJMk_U2yZf4mhTsz0u8MvRUEuYSoer_/s1600/First-Flight_newimages.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTRqFnQhO6qg7dOgmTlJ5E9iXorblwEZ6JcQ3eHLwfLaxy-BZ8_Y2Tg4by9N6AiECk5vBQAP68UGl6I_VHFOma3CgQHeGPnDsFjZGT8dsVFR_moJMk_U2yZf4mhTsz0u8MvRUEuYSoer_/s400/First-Flight_newimages.sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I just finished checking the proofs. Here's what my studio floor looks like. This new edition is going to be very lavishly produced, beginning with an unabridged republication of my 1999 story about Gideon Altaire, one of Dinotopia's early heroes who learns to pilot a giant pterosaur to challenge the mechanized empire of Poseidos. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iVp5EXleU_0OYZ8Egh3kHiIG8NtK0cMa3ZZI5lh0OhpoQyqFCsn-5sReEImIkyrHmbd9Go6BkWRVhWngreu0QyEulx62dGBHjVKOe7J2K4lvGVdWxhczgpYKOV7iDc8PSYsaZ1B4ChK8/s1600/Dinotopia+AoH.leadoff.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/AVvXsEi_iVp5EXleU_0OYZ8Egh3kHiIG8NtK0cMa3ZZI5lh0OhpoQyqFCsn-5sReEImIkyrHmbd9Go6BkWRVhWngreu0QyEulx62dGBHjVKOe7J2K4lvGVdWxhczgpYKOV7iDc8PSYsaZ1B4ChK8/s400/Dinotopia+AoH.leadoff.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The second half of the book includes a bonus of over 45 new images, including never-before-published storyboards, concept art, vehicle designs, and backstory illustrations, many of which I created just for this edition.<br /><br />The written part of the new supplement fleshes out some of Dinotopia's turbulent origin stories during the ancient period known as the "Age of Heroes." We'll include a cinematic treatment that I wrote about a character named Blake Terrapin, who leads the resistance on the ground while Gideon takes to the air.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLLBJLVpog9r5gbszQSxvDIAHE7nO_9yu7cS6DMu-MFuR1psvWtyuaYcol5t9w3fQLT1wbKtqvOEmZ0qBZjd_4fTwnRwXcjLb_Nm_1asQeJOlw9g1E9-x9LZsXKnGdbIAvagpMFMy68Oo/s1600/Dinotopia+First+Flight+Cover+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLLBJLVpog9r5gbszQSxvDIAHE7nO_9yu7cS6DMu-MFuR1psvWtyuaYcol5t9w3fQLT1wbKtqvOEmZ0qBZjd_4fTwnRwXcjLb_Nm_1asQeJOlw9g1E9-x9LZsXKnGdbIAvagpMFMy68Oo/s320/Dinotopia+First+Flight+Cover+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The relatively peaceful world that you may know from the other three books was forged on the flames of conflict, where human and saurian alliances were severely tested, and unlikely heroes emerged to face off some of the greatest challenges ever to threaten Dinotopia.<br /><br />I'll share some of the new artwork in future posts as we get closer to the release date.<br /><br />Meanwhile, you can get the other three Dinotopia books <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606600222/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1606600222&linkCode=as2&tag=gurnjour-20">from Amazon</a><img border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gurnjour-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1606600222" /> or order them from my online store:<br /><div><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/263/dinotopia20">Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time</a><br /><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/861/dinotopia-world-beneath-20th-anniv-edition">Dinotopia: The World Beneath</a><br /><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/253/dinotopia-journey-to-chandara">Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>

New edition of "First Flight" coming in April

Happy New Year, everyone. One of the things I'm excited about in 2014 is the release of a greatly expanded new edition of Dinotopia: Fir...

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Horses, Dinosaurs, and Turnip Carts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The draft horses at the farm have their full winter coats, and I'm hoping Lenny will be hitching them up soon to pull the sleigh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx_SJ85GTqabM4bczFalMMSbX736OHaMr28DfrCDyX17-unDgY14oo8QFnxTayrCC8X4u3VHMBtW-kQ0YRVMwWSYKqZ_soaBjUESGuOQF6Y1uqdyIwo5EibjR10bgE-2SU_VHUtgOyjFF/s1600/Dec.+2013.vsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx_SJ85GTqabM4bczFalMMSbX736OHaMr28DfrCDyX17-unDgY14oo8QFnxTayrCC8X4u3VHMBtW-kQ0YRVMwWSYKqZ_soaBjUESGuOQF6Y1uqdyIwo5EibjR10bgE-2SU_VHUtgOyjFF/s400/Dec.+2013.vsm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watching the draft horses working in harness always impresses me.  The horses have to respond to so many voice commands. Each horse has to recognize whether Lenny is talking to both of them, or just one of them. And they have to know the commands for forward, back, stop, right, left, and step sideways right and step sideways left. </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/AVvXsEjGIJ9qBJZs6CyY9e78U31lWjNNJNs4q9Cc1lvY1fFmg0Dnn8OFOL-Ll5lhhAhNwTI6MBrUN9c9-p_Q1SU4fMiXugm8CvEafedo0NkZTEJ1cI0vdTY0AI7zR3-F-DB_txdty8CNVW2gCA9b/s1600/Gurney+Turnip+Cart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIJ9qBJZs6CyY9e78U31lWjNNJNs4q9Cc1lvY1fFmg0Dnn8OFOL-Ll5lhhAhNwTI6MBrUN9c9-p_Q1SU4fMiXugm8CvEafedo0NkZTEJ1cI0vdTY0AI7zR3-F-DB_txdty8CNVW2gCA9b/s400/Gurney+Turnip+Cart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The experience of seeing how a driver communicates with draft horses inspired me when I painted this image of a Triceratops pulling a turnip cart. You'll note that there are no reins; the driver (and Bix) are using voice signals entirely to communicate with the Triceratops. The painting originally appeared in <i>Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara </i>and later in <i>Imaginative Realism. </i><br /><br />You can own this original painting. It is currently available for sale <a href="http://www.danielmaghen.com/fr/james-gurney-dinotopia-un-voyage-a-chandara-2007-turni_p50510.htm">at the Daniel Maghen Gallery in Paris</a>.<br /><br />Previous posts on GurneyJourney:<br /><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/spokewheeling.html">Spokewheeling</a> (compositional principle using this painting)<br /><a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2011/05/animal-news.html">Ground Driving</a> (me walking behind two of the Belgians)<br /><br />Thanks, <a href="http://www.damianjohnston.com/">Damian</a>

Horses, Dinosaurs, and Turnip Carts

The draft horses at the farm have their full winter coats, and I'm hoping Lenny will be hitching them up soon to pull the sleigh.  Watch...

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Dinotopia art museum exhibition opens today

<br />Dinotopia has arrived at the Arkell Museum of Art in Canajoharie, New York. The exhibition of original artwork "<a href="http://www.arkellmuseum.org/upcoming-exhibitions">Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney</a>" opens today at 1:00.<br /><br />At 2:30, I'll be in attendance to give a family lecture on the making of Dinotopia, followed by a booksigning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U_95xqcoHD333APBgQh83BcH8qsx6WLS9xIXbUm4NNuhmozt3_z2BMIhuFsKAb3pE3RD3JdcDmwnPclRwNMgwujzRoN6CP_qov4Vg4nAjnTHZ8eN3OYMxm_iFSPZHtRLWlO2wsdMeOJD/s1600/Arkell+Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U_95xqcoHD333APBgQh83BcH8qsx6WLS9xIXbUm4NNuhmozt3_z2BMIhuFsKAb3pE3RD3JdcDmwnPclRwNMgwujzRoN6CP_qov4Vg4nAjnTHZ8eN3OYMxm_iFSPZHtRLWlO2wsdMeOJD/s400/Arkell+Museum.jpg" /></a><br />The exhibition will feature major works from Dinotopia, The World Beneath, and Journey to Chandara, along with maquettes, preliminary sketches, and plein air works that inspired the fantasy world.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3akuQRSrr-wgUPM1xbUqyyCV6Yl7Gzr_00upj_w48VnuKy7ropO01RWWyft5Qvodexu2pNVvdjXFY0hneapAbSL_2X61wNe0M9E10l784hkVPkNHlhkPFTCWk-rwUhaKpVcWGFYkfTV0p/s1600/Gulliver+Lilliput.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3akuQRSrr-wgUPM1xbUqyyCV6Yl7Gzr_00upj_w48VnuKy7ropO01RWWyft5Qvodexu2pNVvdjXFY0hneapAbSL_2X61wNe0M9E10l784hkVPkNHlhkPFTCWk-rwUhaKpVcWGFYkfTV0p/s400/Gulliver+Lilliput.jpg" /></a><br />To connect Dinotopia to the tradition of imaginative painting, the Arkell will also exhibit J. Georges Vibert's painting of <a href="http://www.vibertfamily.com/jgvgulliver.html">Gulliver on the Island of Lilliput</a>, which is featured in <i>Imaginative Realism. </i>I'll be visiting a local elementary school on Monday to talk dinosaurs.<br />----<br /><a href="http://www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar">More info on the lecture</a>

Dinotopia art museum exhibition opens today

Dinotopia has arrived at the Arkell Museum of Art in Canajoharie, New York. The exhibition of original artwork " Dinotopia: The Fantast...

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Submersible Maquette

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reference maquettes don't have to be made from Sculpey. Any materials that you've got in the studio or workshop can come in handy (which is a good excuse for being a lateral thinker and a packrat).</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0evKMuGLdPJcjXO83EX305aYP6wMESGCNfswjmm1sHFQxTGsbpaSkRTXJ89eX5hor56-OKB5x72jTROWpIHdGmPdmTikyGA5od5NZEVXMNRbP2LI_za0_W5ceBjViMM-mhnIkeg1TF1I6/s1600/Submersible_Maquette.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0evKMuGLdPJcjXO83EX305aYP6wMESGCNfswjmm1sHFQxTGsbpaSkRTXJ89eX5hor56-OKB5x72jTROWpIHdGmPdmTikyGA5od5NZEVXMNRbP2LI_za0_W5ceBjViMM-mhnIkeg1TF1I6/s400/Submersible_Maquette.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />I constructed this very rough maquette for Arthur Denison's submersible using cardboard for the body profile and a <a href="http://www.craftworkz.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=295">clear plastic egg shape</a>, which I filled with kit-bashed plastic model parts. The long gray pieces came from a model railroad supply store.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehQ-qX8wP22D-J7o99zc30yhuM_70HaqVGVDMtUVD-M8IcJflSvSLxsp0KKn-gqfvftkxoEQeIriK1RTXh22ot4TK8HjVm0CtCg3qTSj9y3UeLBNyU16xQhkvpBapfFrmD2k8-tRKTGtp/s1600/Submersible+Cutaway.sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehQ-qX8wP22D-J7o99zc30yhuM_70HaqVGVDMtUVD-M8IcJflSvSLxsp0KKn-gqfvftkxoEQeIriK1RTXh22ot4TK8HjVm0CtCg3qTSj9y3UeLBNyU16xQhkvpBapfFrmD2k8-tRKTGtp/s400/Submersible+Cutaway.sm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />As you can see, I didn't follow the maquette closely at all, but it was really valuable for imagining Arthur Denison's submersible. I also referenced reconstructions of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_(submersible)">Bushnell's <i>Turtle,</i></a> a Revolutionary-era ancestor of submarines.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1P7JPbcyfC4EdASTvnRVrCT9_Yoy3iwd2bPKsenLZQpO4LZOfICrFr8wTIv_xyA9I1uMy6N3q3ULC0CUSQabrGfOXvSB4nUXUoPkHLjkLM7XM-ZRuzGI2rc5qNBDBHX__r0GwQHjnJuP/s1600-h/Underway+Undersea.sm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422951878704627698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1P7JPbcyfC4EdASTvnRVrCT9_Yoy3iwd2bPKsenLZQpO4LZOfICrFr8wTIv_xyA9I1uMy6N3q3ULC0CUSQabrGfOXvSB4nUXUoPkHLjkLM7XM-ZRuzGI2rc5qNBDBHX__r0GwQHjnJuP/s400/Underway+Undersea.sm.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />Combined with a kronosaur maquette that I had on hand, along with underwater photos of whales, I felt more sure of myself when I tackled a more difficult scene like this one, from <i><a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/861/dinotopia-world-beneath-20th-anniv-edition">Dinotopia: The World Beneath. </a></i>

Submersible Maquette

Reference maquettes don't have to be made from Sculpey. Any materials that you've got in the studio or workshop can come in handy (w...

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