Thursday, July 22, 2010

Amazing Jehol Art and Microraptor Tailfins


Just a quick note on something I stumbled upon while checking out the new google image search. These paintings by Zhang Zong Da are seriously cool, some of the most effective art I've seen portraying the Jehol and Dauhugou biota. My favorite is the third image down depicting pollinating insects. Reminds me of Microcosmos or something, an aesthetic I've tried for with some of my own digipaintings but not nearly at the same level of skill or effectiveness.

One idea I particularly like (and wonder why I haven't seen more often) is the Microraptor with "tailfins" like a '57 Chevy. As we all know, microraptorians had long pennaceous feathers not only on the metatarsus but the tibia (and the thigh in some cases, known as "butt fans"). All gliding micro restorations I've seen have the tibiae fully extended, creating a wide gap between the sticky-out biplane feathers of the metatarsals and the front wings of the arms. The restoration above shows the legs in a 'kneeling' posture, so that the tibia feathers stick more or less straight up behind the front wings, presumably creating a stabilizing effect. I don't know how aerodynamically sound this configuration would be, but it sure is a cool idea!

6 comments:

  1. That's some pretty good paleo art. Where are the other works that you speak of?

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  2. Whoops, forgot the link! It's there now.

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  3. Hi Matt! Compliments for your wonderful art & blog...just added your blog to my own blogroll @ "Geomythologica" (geomythology.blogspot.com).
    Keep up the good work!

    Leo

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  4. Thanks. The artist's name appears to be 张宗达. Romanized with an online converter that comes out as Zhang, Zong Da.

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  5. There are some lovely paintings on that webpage.

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  6. Ah........this is my artwork in 2006 ....
    Zhang, Zong Da or Cheung, Chung Tat

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