Prehistoric Times.

My Velociraptor Pair illustration was published in the Reader Art section of the latest issue of Prehistoric Times Magazine (Issue #96)!

But that's not the main reason I'm hyped up about this issue. In it is a multi page promotion for James Gurney's new book, Color and Light: a Guide for the Realist Painter. I've been a sucker for James Gurney's oil work since I was a child and would recommend flipping through his book, Dinotopia, to anyone in need of inspiration. He makes fantasy worlds feel more real because of his classical approach to painting. You'll just have to check it out to see what I mean. :)

Happy Holidays! :D

Even though I skipped a year this is turning into an annual thing. :) I like making paper ornaments that everyone can print and share. It means my Yule gifts aren't limited by my workload or the names on my card list.

2010 was a hard year for a lot of people. Here's hoping for a better 2011! :)

Velociraptor mongoliensis pair

Even though it's been finished and on-line for a while now I figured I'd post the final version of my velociraptor painting so I could explain it a bit further. :)

Description X-posted from Deviantart:
Male (background) and female (foreground) variations of Velociraptor mongoliensis. *waves her "artistic license" around*

I have been wanting to paint this since I read an article on feathers having possibly evolved for display, before flight. I liked the idea of a more fluffy crest plumage, rather than scraggly red sticks poking out of the head like they are commonly shown as having on TV. The male raptor would be able to hide his bright feathers and only flash them as a territorial display towards other males or a pick-up line with the ladies. I'm embarrassingly behind on my dinosaur learnin', so please don't beat me if I missed something. I wouldn't mind pointers however, so I don't make the same mistakes twice.

Photo reference of raptor skeletons were heavily utilized. I don't think I'll use this painting technique again. It took WAY too long and didn't leave me much control over the lighting. I kept zooming out and face-palming far too often.

New Blog.

Since I don't like talking about myself very much, I thought I'd kick start this blog with a painting I'm working on. It's a pair of fluffly Velociraptor mongoliensis. I thought it would be cool if they had a mobile crest like cockatoos and could flash bright colors for communication/mating.

Thank you for stopping by!