Prognathodon

[Newt]

I'm embarking on my first real attempt at paleoart since I was a kid copying drawings from the Dinosaur Heresies, lo these many years ago. My subject is the mosasaur Prognathodon. It's one of the few Mesozoic reptiles known from my home state of Tennessee (local specimens have not been identified to species, so I'm making a sort of generalized Prognathodon, based mainly on P. overtoni).

My working process here is very much influenced by James Gurney's "How I Paint Dinosaurs" video. I'm starting with a three-dimensional bozetto or maquette made of polymer clay (in this case Kato Polyclay, just because I wanted to try it out). It's fairly quick and has just enough detail to help me figure out light and shadows.

[Plasticbeast95]

See, I could never be able to do things like this. Yours isn't even finished and its already better than anything I could do.

[Newt]

Thanks, but don't despair! If you want to get good at illustration, you can, so long as you're willing to put in some work. If you want help, I'm happy to give it (not that I'm all that great, but I do know a few things).

[Lanthanotus]

Very nice maquette, am curious for the final model. Did you use anything as a frame (connected to that screw?) or is it all made of polyclay?

[Plasticbeast95]

Thanks, but don't despair! If you want to get good at illustration, you can, so long as you're willing to put in some work. If you want help, I'm happy to give it (not that I'm all that great, but I do know a few things).

Oh I can draw pretty good, but I cannot work with clay! lol.

[Newt]

Thanks Lanthanotus! There is a simple armature of 17-gauge aluminum electric fence wire inside. I didn't take any in-progress pictures, but it wasn't very exciting anyway.

I should clarify: this maquette is a study for a painting, not a sculpture. I may make a somewhat larger-scale head-only maquette as well.

[Newt]

PB - if you can draw, you can sculpt! And if you sculpt, you'll get better at drawing! At least that's how it worked out for me.

[Plasticbeast95]

PB - if you can draw, you can sculpt! And if you sculpt, you'll get better at drawing! At least that's how it worked out for me.

Well if you want you can check out my art thread and give me your expert opinion.

[Newt]

Done! 

[Jetoar]

Really beautiful sculpture Newt  .

[fabricious]

That is one great maquette, I love the flow of motion it has! Curious to see the finished work!

[Newt]

Thanks friends!

[Newt]

Just bought me a nice big canvas and am bout to get painting! Updates soon.

[spinosaurus1]

wow. just wow. your sir have amazed me with this maquette. wonderful work and i look forward in seeing your progress on it.

[Newt]

Thank you!

[Newt]

I'm getting started on the painting. It's on a 36" X 48" canvas.

First, an acrylic underpainting, just to cover the white canvas and see if the basic composition looks OK.


Then, the first layer of oils.


Still a very long ways to go!

[Kayakasaurus]

Super fun and looking great so far!

[Newt]

Thanks!

[LophoLeeVT]

nice!

[Newt]

Thanks Raptor!

More progress:


I've actually done quite a bit more, but haven't taken any more progress pics. It should be done tonight, along with a companion piece of the coeval sea turtle Toxochelys weeksi. Both will be hung at a community gallery in Selmer, Tennessee, along with pieces by my (much more talented) girlfriend.