Pagurus Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I've been working on a painting of the early Jurassic fish, Redfieldius gracilis for a while now, and I've finally decided it's time to call it finished. I'm not entirely happy with it but it will have to do for now. When I began the painting I decided not to draw it with great accuracy, but now I'm sorry I wasn't more careful with it. It resembles a Redfieldius in many ways, but that's all. Maybe I'll try a watercolor next time, with greater accuracy. In any case I think it will look pretty good hanging over the partial fossils I've been able to find on my fossil fishing adventures with Tim the fossil dude. Here's what it looks like: And here's one of my favorite finds: This is what my painting looks like after playing with photoshop: I'll probably play with it some more in Photoshop. It sure adds a whole new element to painting. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks after all. Thanks for looking, Mike G Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Looks great Mike! I likey. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Healthy self criticism is a virtue, but I find you've done well and of course the next attempt will be even better. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Wow, Mike! I think it looks quite good! Love the back ground as well as the main fish itself! Well done, I say. Thanks for posting it. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "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...
MarcoSr Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Really nice fossil. Maybe I'm just a purest but I like the original canvas painting much more than the Photoshop version. The original looks more natural and realistic. With the Photoshop version maybe enhance just the fish but keep the background original. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koss1959 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I also like the original. Very subtle and easy on the eyes. Its not trying to force anything upon you and not trying to be too much. Less is more, I think. It's very nice, well done. Etsy shop for Dinosaur Art: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IzzyBeeCreates?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 approved! Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 They live again! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I really like your original painting. Good composition and very nice brush work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thank you all. I never tried a fish painting before. It's really hard to get those scales right, and that middle fish really gave me a headache and it's still not quite right. Anyway, I'm satisfied with it but I always think I could do better. Thank you for the encouragement. I agree that I like the original better than the photoshopped version, but it's interesting to see what can be done. I think I might try your idea, Marco, to just enhance the fish, mostly just to see what different colors would look like. It would be a heck of a lot easier if someone back in the Jurassic days would have taken a nice underwater photo. Mike Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thair Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Looks real good. I never finish an art progect, at some point you just have to stop. At least thats what I do and I have never been completly happy with one I have done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 ...It would be a heck of a lot easier if someone back in the Jurassic days would have taken a nice underwater photo. You'd still have to guess on colors; Kodachrome came later... "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triceratops Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Prehistoric gold fish! -Lyall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 terrific work on both fronts Mike, canvas and PS, thanks for sharing them! "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thanks, Carmine. I need to get working on another one. 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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