Blade-of-the-Moon's Art

[Patrx]

Ah , I need opinions on the type of arm/wing feathers therizinosaurs may have had.  I've looked at the Collecta figures and they are reduced to being only on the elbow to the wrist. I know Velociraptors and Oviraptors probably had more wing-like feathers extending from the middle finger back to the elbow and up to the shoulder.

Good question! Hm. Well, therizinosaurs are maniraptorans, so I say go with the full wings. The only therizinosaur for which feather remains are known is Beipiaosaurus, as far as I know. The holotype shows only filaments, not branching wing feathers. However, Scott Hartman has suggested that the animal was immature and would have developed wing feathers as an adult, like Ornithomimus. at least one Beipiaosaurus specimen does show a second coat of long, broad, and evidently stiff filaments, aptly dubbed "Elongated Broad Filamentous Feathers", or EBFFs.

[Takama]

Can't..stop..making..heads!

Dimetrodon?

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Now THAT got me excited!!!

lol seems things with sails do that for many people... 

Can't..stop..making..heads!

Dimetrodon?

Yep!

Ah , I need opinions on the type of arm/wing feathers therizinosaurs may have had.  I've looked at the Collecta figures and they are reduced to being only on the elbow to the wrist. I know Velociraptors and Oviraptors probably had more wing-like feathers extending from the middle finger back to the elbow and up to the shoulder.

Good question! Hm. Well, therizinosaurs are maniraptorans, so I say go with the full wings. The only therizinosaur for which feather remains are known is Beipiaosaurus, as far as I know. The holotype shows only filaments, not branching wing feathers. However, Scott Hartman has suggested that the animal was immature and would have developed wing feathers as an adult, like Ornithomimus. at least one Beipiaosaurus specimen does show a second coat of long, broad, and evidently stiff filaments, aptly dubbed "Elongated Broad Filamentous Feathers", or EBFFs.

Let me start by saying, thank you for answering my plea for help bud, much appreciated! I like your reasoning, these will likely be the largest feathered wings I've done or may ever do at around 4' long.

I did add some to our new Oviraptors :
  I hope the stencil worked for the body feathers..at least a bit.

[fabricious]

That oviraptor has a really nice silhouette, great work!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

That oviraptor has a really nice silhouette, great work!

Thanks, I was pleased with the overall look and the final scene with her and the male work I think.  I'll have more pics of them up soon.

[Tyto_Theropod]

I really like that Oviraptor - the stencilling really helps to give her a feathered look. I'm sorry to say that with the black-on-blue colours I thought it must be the male! I guess he's going to be even more flamboyant, then, huh? Hope you're doing well with the donations. If I'm ever passing that way (unlikely ATM, but you never know...) I'll definitely pay a visit and slip something in the piggybank.

[Patrx]

Whoah! The Oviraptor is marvelous; she may be my favorite of yours yet 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I really like that Oviraptor - the stencilling really helps to give her a feathered look. I'm sorry to say that with the black-on-blue colours I thought it must be the male! I guess he's going to be even more flamboyant, then, huh? Hope you're doing well with the donations. If I'm ever passing that way (unlikely ATM, but you never know...) I'll definitely pay a visit and slip something in the piggybank.

Thanks, I was super concerned it wouldn't work out..but I really had little choice in the end. lol yeah the male sticks out quite a bit more..in pose and look! I purposely tried to make her look a little duller..but blue is blue.. those darn Blue Jays that kept flying around me and jabbering their heads off inspired the basic color.   That would be great, I hope every dinosaur fan can enjoy this place at some point.

Whoah! The Oviraptor is marvelous; she may be my favorite of yours yet 

Awesome! Wait til you see the male! lol  I had a feeling you might like these guys..but wasn't sure if the feather reduction might put you off.  One of my friends even looked at it and said " Huh, I thought you were going to put more feathers.." I told him, " what do you mean? It's covered in them."  He knows the issued I faced with the others though..probably just rattling my cage.  

I'll post some pics of the male tonight.  Here are more of the female :

[Patrx]

Whoah! The Oviraptor is marvelous; she may be my favorite of yours yet 

Awesome! Wait til you see the male! lol  I had a feeling you might like these guys..but wasn't sure if the feather reduction might put you off.  One of my friends even looked at it and said " Huh, I thought you were going to put more feathers.." I told him, " what do you mean? It's covered in them."  He knows the issued I faced with the others though..probably just rattling my cage.

Nah, I think the stenciling worked out quite well! It reminds me of some advice given by Matt Martinyuik on his blog:

"simply [render] the basic outline of the animal in life, feathers included, and [apply] textures and highlight feathers where necessary... Feathers, thanks to their interlocking barbs, form a Transformer-like dynamic shell around the whole animal. There is simply no need to render (or draw) individual feathers except on the parts that are supposed to stick out, like the tail and tips of the wings."

[Halichoeres]

Seconded. I think it looks good and feathery.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Thanks guys!  That quote from Matthew Martyniuk sums up something similar I read awhile back and it made sense to me then as well. Just very glad it worked out!

Went out today and dropped 75.00 at the printers gettign new laminated signs made for theses newer pieces.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to display the signs for each of the species in the Terrors of the Deep building though.  I could place them outside the entrance, but then they wouldn't match up to the ones inside, if  I place them inside it they will need lights on them..that would take away from the feel of walking through a cave , which is all dark except for the lighted scenes.

[joossa]

Thanks bud!

Here's a pic of him traveling :


Took him to his new home in the woods.

Haha, looks like a jolly old time. Love it! I should visit this part of the forum more often. Great stuff.

[Yutyrannus]

Actually, I think doing the feathers this way actually looks much better than the way you did them on the Ornithomimus .

[stargatedalek]

I agree with Yutyrannus, I think these two will probably by my favorite of your pieces!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Thanks bud!

Here's a pic of him traveling :


Took him to his new home in the woods.

Haha, looks like a jolly old time. Love it! I should visit this part of the forum more often. Great stuff.

It's a bit fun a bit harrowing at times, and a lot of work  but in the end it's not a bad way to spend your time.

Actually, I think doing the feathers this way actually looks much better than the way you did them on the Ornithomimus .

I agree with Yutyrannus, I think these two will probably by my favorite of your pieces!

Thanks! I know the tough critics here so I try to do the best job I can manage.  I'm really happy you all like these guys so much!


As promised here's some pics of the male :

[fabricious]

I like how sharp and crisp the pattern on his face is, Chris! Definitely something you might consider doing more often, I get the feeling that sometimes the patterns look a bit too washed out. I like his pose as well, makes me want to draw him.

Maybe you could paint the tips of the arm and tail feathers in a different color? Maybe white tips to mirror the pattern on the face? A lot of birds seem to have such a feature and it might improve the overall silhouette a bit. Just ideas, though. Can't wait to see them together!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Thank you, sometimes patterns blend a bit too much..also this material/paint can be glossy looking in direct sun so that contributes to the washed out look you see I think?   I really wanted his pose to be as agitated looking as possible..he's trying to appear large and threatening while defending his mate, my basically brown Velociraptors would find him very flamboyant ..lol

[Tyto_Theropod]

He looks awesome Blade! I think both ways of doing feathers look equally good, it just depends on the situation which you choose to do. I'm busy feathering up a WS Velociraptor ATM. (Not quite 1:1 unlike so many people have been doing, but my space and budget don't really go hand in hand with that - maybe one day...) I decided on more advanced feathers than my WIP Tyrannosaurus rex, but for the main part of the body I just did a covering of milliput with a few semi-circular indents to indicate the feathering. Basically I wasn't confident, skilled or patient enough to individually do every last feather!  I guess I'll only see if the approach works when I get the paint on.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

He looks awesome Blade! I think both ways of doing feathers look equally good, it just depends on the situation which you choose to do. I'm busy feathering up a WS Velociraptor ATM. (Not quite 1:1 unlike so many people have been doing, but my space and budget don't really go hand in hand with that - maybe one day...) I decided on more advanced feathers than my WIP Tyrannosaurus rex, but for the main part of the body I just did a covering of milliput with a few semi-circular indents to indicate the feathering. Basically I wasn't confident, skilled or patient enough to individually do every last feather!  I guess I'll only see if the approach works when I get the paint on.

Yeah having to make them more and more outdoor worthy with as little maintenance as possible forced the change, I'm just glad it worked out in the end. I suspect given how well this was received I'll do the Deinonyhus in the same way with a bit more confidence!   I tell you trying to make every single feather is mentally draining. You kind of get into a rhythm and just keep going til your fingers are sore...or such as it was with me.   Sometimes all you can do is try something and see if it works.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

In place getting ready for paint!