Work in Progress (Heyuannia Huangi)

November 16, 2015

Work in Progress (Heyuannia Huangi)

I've become aware that it is indeed some months since my last blog post, so just wanted to put up this work-in-progress to prove that I haven't been sitting on my laurels!

One of the biggest news stories in palaeontology this year was the announcement that scientists have been able to ascertain the colour of eggshells from at least the oviraptorosaurid family: the same green-blues seen in some of the most ancient of extant bird species today.
To illustrate this new revelation, I have been restoring these Heyuannia Heyuangi (the species used in the study) and their nest.

Work has been keeping me pretty busy for the past few months, but I am hoping to have this piece finished by the end of the year.

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Artist's statement:

For a professional in any field, it is important to know not just what you do but why you do it. I have developed my own 'Palaeoart manifesto' over the years; by which to choose my subjects and how best to present them.

RULE 1: Every image serves a purpose. Before beginning a new work, ask yourself "What good will representing this subject do for the wider community?". If your chosen subject is a relatively new discovery, of which few restorations have been made, then the clear benefit is in creating a new piece of reference material for a species of which few images exist. If, however the species has been long known to science, instead ask yourself "How will my representation of this species teach my audience anything new?".

RULE 2: Context is essential. Why spend so much time and effort getting your subject's morphology right if they then end up standing in an environment that is totally inappropriate, even anachronistic? The purpose of palaeoart is to inform and educate as well as to enthral.

RULE 3: If there's no evidence for it, don't draw it! There's no point spending time painting or sculpting a detail for which there is no evidence. Obviously, there are times when this is necessary, but these come often enough for a palaeo-artist to make it worth avoiding having to invent details if you don't have to.

You can view my full artist's statement here.

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Work in Progress (Heyuannia Huangi)

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