Pagurus Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 I'm working on some new fossil fish paintings and thought I'd share them here. I'm trying to work my way through the Green River formation fish first, though I'm sure I won't paint them all. I've only done two so far, but I'll add more as I paint them. The quality will vary, I'm sure. Here's my take on a Priscacara. and of course a Knightia: I've started on a diplomystus, and will post that soon. Thanks for looking. Oh, for those interested, I'm using gouache paints, similar to watercolor but more opaque. 25 4 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praefectus Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Ooh, pretty fish! Nice job. They look great. Do you think you will get around to painting the gar or stingray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Great work Mike! They both look superb! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 These are really quite nice. Would you mind if I printed a copy of each to show with the fossils of each that I have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 10, 2020 Author Share Posted May 10, 2020 51 minutes ago, Praefectus said: Ooh, pretty fish! Nice job. They look great. Do you think you will get around to painting the gar or stingray? Thanks. I wanted the priscacara to look pretty so I gave it some pretty colors. I think I would enjoy painting a gar and a stingray. I had a baby skate hatch in my aquarium a few years ago, from an egg case I found washed up on a local beach. Thanks for the suggestion! 48 minutes ago, Darktooth said: Great work Mike! They both look superb! Thanks Dave. Good thing I didn't have to fly-fish for them. 25 minutes ago, grandpa said: These are really quite nice. Would you mind if I printed a copy of each to show with the fossils of each that I have? I'd be honored. 2 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 I really love that Priscacara. This is some excellent work here, Mike! Thanks for showing us. Can't wait to see the next one. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Wow, Mike... Your eye for texture and colour is spectacular! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 Excellent. I love them both and look forward to the next one............ Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 11, 2020 Author Share Posted May 11, 2020 @Fossildude19, @Kane, @Tidgy's Dad Thank you Tim, Kane, Adam. I'll post more soon. I appreciate your comments. I'll try not to disappoint, though I'll never be satisfied with my own work. I occasionally like what I've done, but not often. I have seen improvement, though, over the past year, and I do feel good about that. 1 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelivingdead531 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 These are terrific! Amazingly well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Like JP says, very nice! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Very nice.. I would like to print up the Knightia one, too. I don't have many GR fish but that's one I do have and it's always nice to have a reconstruction to go with certain fossils in the collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 4 hours ago, Wrangellian said: Very nice.. I would like to print up the Knightia one, too. I don't have many GR fish but that's one I do have and it's always nice to have a reconstruction to go with certain fossils in the collection. Thanks. Please do. I think all our collections bring our finds back to life a little. 1 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 On 5/11/2020 at 7:44 PM, Pagurus said: I'll try not to disappoint, though I'll never be satisfied with my own work. I occasionally like what I've done, but not often. You are your own worst critic! We all tend to see the flaws and mistakes in our own work. This is a double edged sword. It drives us to do better next time and improve, but it can also make us feel unsatisfied; longing for perfection. Too much self criticism can lead one to stop enjoying their craft altogether, since it can make you feel so inadequate. Reset assured that your paintings are good, but don't just take my word for it! It is evident by members asking to print them to show with their fossil displays. I don't know anyone who would want a bad representation of their fossil out for the world to see. BTW... I like both of your paintings and can't wait to see what comes next! Great representations! 2 The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 Here's a Diplomystus I finished today. This has been an enjoyable undertaking so far, and I'm looking forward to the next one. 14 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 I am in awe of your use of understated colour variation, Mike. That, and the sheen of light. Oh, and the fins and texture is top shelf! 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelivingdead531 Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Beautiful! Very nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 Kane, I wish my painting was actually worthy of your awe, but I'm afraid the background variation in light and color is an artifact of the photograph. The background is actually not painted, and only white. Sorry. I will have to get my scanner working again in the future. Mike Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Just now, Pagurus said: Kane, I wish my painting was actually worthy of your awe, but I'm afraid the background variation in light and color is an artifact of the photograph. The background is actually not painted, and only white. Sorry. I will have to get my scanner working again in the future. Mike Are you talking about the space around the fish? I know all too well the challenges with lighting when it comes to that! I was speaking of the fish itself! Even the muted discolourations are well done (on par with the likely long process of scales on the ones above). 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Beautiful! I will add this to my display to enhance the Dip fossil I have, with your permission. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 19 minutes ago, Kane said: Are you talking about the space around the fish? I know all too well the challenges with lighting when it comes to that! I was speaking of the fish itself! Even the muted discolourations are well done (on par with the likely long process of scales on the ones above). Well, I guess I'm just not very good with compliments, Kane. Thank you. I really don't know what I'm doing when I paint, I just work on the painting until it looks right to me. Thanks for educating me, and your compliments. You've made my day. Thanks. 8 minutes ago, grandpa said: Beautiful! I will add this to my display to enhance the Dip fossil I have, with your permission. Great! If I keep painting you're going to have to get more fossils! Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 13 minutes ago, Pagurus said: I just work on the painting until it looks right to me. Artist [noun]. definition: what you just wrote here. 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 24 minutes ago, Pagurus said: If I keep painting you're going to have to get more fossils So . . . just so you know, that is the sum total of my GRF collection. I can't wait to see what I am getting next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 1 hour ago, thelivingdead531 said: Beautiful! Very nice work! Thank you! I'm pleased that you like it. Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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