Latest sketch: Caturus furcatus

[Bone guy]

Just finished up my recent sketch: a fish from the Solnhoffen lithographic limestone Caturus furcatus. I did this sketch because I'm hoping to acquire a specimen of Caturus furcatus soon, and I wanted to make an "in life" photo to liven up my display. I'm actually quite happy with the result! It only took me a few hours, I really like how the head came out the shadows are very satisfying. I'll attach a picture of the specimen in question that I based my sketch on.  

[Fossildude19]

This is quite good. Excellent job.  

I like it.

 

However, some constructive criticism, if I may?

 

The skull should show some indication of the different bones. Especially the gill cover. (Operculum) The lower jaw looks a bit thin. 

I would include a mid-line on the fish, following the vertebral column from behind the skull, to the center of the tail. 

The fins look a bit "fringe-y" Should be crisply defined, usually terminating to a point.  Dorsal fin a bit further back. 

Tail more deeply forked.

I would also add pelvic fins. 

Also, scales  should probably be a bit smaller.   

Maybe a bit more hump to the front of the dorsal side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ynot]

Nice drawing.

[Bone guy]

2 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

The skull should show some indication of the different bones. Especially the gill cover. (Operculum) The lower jaw looks a bit thin. 

I would include a mid-line on the fish, following the vertebral column from behind the skull, to the center of the tail. 

The fins look a bit "fringe-y" Should be crisply defined, usually terminating to a point.  Dorsal fin a bit further back. 

Tail more deeply forked.

I would also add pelvic fins. 

Also, scales  should probably be a bit smaller.   

Maybe a bit more hump to the front of the dorsal side.

Cool! I may take another shot at this now that I have some information to work with.

 

I don't know a whole lot about fish anatomy, it's something I've been trying to learn. I basically did the sketch based off of what's I saw in the specimen and that was it. I never even noticed the pelvic fins.....wow. Thank you so much for the info  

[Mahnmut]

Good start! looking forward to the second edition.

That´s what I like about this forum, you get expert feedback.

Aloha,

J

[Bone guy]

Here is the revised version based off of @Fossildude19 suggestions. What do you think? 

[Fossildude19]

8 minutes ago, Bone guy said:

Here is the revised version based off of @Fossildude19 suggestions. What do you think? 

 

Most excellent!  It is really coming along!  

I really like this.

 

Just a few tweaks would help it, though. 

Make a shaded midline,... it is usually visible to some degree in extant fish. See fish pic 2

Larger, more centrally located eye.

Thicker lower jaw, with more detail.  See brown trout head photo. Just need a bit of shading to indicate the bones- see dotted lines.

Slightly smaller pectoral fins, and they should come from behind the sharp angle of the operculum.

 

Your drawing is quite realistic, but for the caudal fin. 

The fins aren't just lines, but rays and raylets connected together. 

Take a look at the ones I posted.  Try to draw it more like these look. Second one and fourth one in particular.

 

Your's has a bit too harsh of a transition. 

 

It should end up looking something a bit more like this:

 

 

 

      

 

      

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

[Bone guy]

You're advice is invaluable! If I'm going to be drawing more prehistoric fish I need to know this stuff.....

 

i just finished tweaking the sketch based of your recent advice, and this rendition is so far my favorite. Elongated the lower jaw a bit and made it thicker toward the articulation point. Shaded in the midline along the spine. Made the caudal fin look more lifelike. Shortened and repositioned the pectoral fins. Repositioned and enlarged the eye. Added some detail to the facial bones including branchiostegals. 

 

@Fossildude19 and everyone else, any more advice you could give would be much appreciated! 

[ynot]

Looks to be coming along well.

[Fossildude19]

You are certainly getting there. 

 

I think you went a bit too far with the lower jaw.  My bad - see this picture of a pike. 

The lower jaw is just a bit, ... a tiny bit longer than the upper maxilla. 

 

The snout should be a bit thinner at the tip the end. 

The eye should be almost perfectly round. 

 

You're getting there, Bone guy.  

[Bone guy]

33 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

You're getting there, Bone guy.

Cool! I'm loving how this is coming out. The specimen I was going to acquire to go along with this picture is no longer for sale.....which is a bummer. But overall I've learned a lot about fish anatomy and fish sketching. Can't wait to do more.

 

Im considering doing a Mioplosus next

[ynot]

17 minutes ago, Bone guy said:

Im considering doing a Mioplosus next

[Bone guy]

11 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

You're getting there, Bone guy.

Loving it! Really coming to life. Sharpened the nose a bit. Rounded off lower jaw. Adjusted pectoral fins. 

[Fossildude19]

Very nice. 

Something is still a bit off about the lower jaw. I think the perspective might be off some.

I think it might be because if you are seeing the interior of the upper mouth, you should probably be seeing some of the bottom of the lower jaw, rather than inside of it. 

Kind of looks like the lower jaw is broken, I guess. Sort of like the jaw is twisted toward the viewer, rather than set straight.

 

Maybe something more like this? - 

 

 

Sorry, mine looks more like a Moray eel, but I think it looks more in perspective. 

  

[Bone guy]

On 7/27/2018 at 9:50 AM, Fossildude19 said:

Very nice. 

Something is still a bit off about the lower jaw. I think the perspective might be off some.

I think it might be because if you are seeing the interior of the upper mouth, you should probably be seeing some of the bottom of the lower jaw, rather than inside of it. 

Kind of looks like the lower jaw is broken, I guess. Sort of like the jaw is twisted toward the viewer, rather than set straight.

 

Maybe something more like this? - 

 

I see what's you're saying. I tweaked the jaws a bit so they look less contorted. How's it look? 

[Fossildude19]

The lower jaw is still off. 

Too long still.

And if you are seeing the fish from below,  you wouldn't see inside the lower jaw.

You'll get it.

[Bone guy]

I think this looks better. The eye was what was throwing me off, so I repositioned it. @Fossildude19 what's your verdict? 

[ynot]

16 minutes ago, Bone guy said:

I think this looks better.

So do I.

Looks much improved.

[Wolf89]

3 hours ago, Bone guy said:

I think this looks better. The eye was what was throwing me off, so I repositioned it. @Fossildude19 what's your verdict? 

That looks so much better! I really like how fossildude, kept giving you suggestions and improvements and how you worked with him, instead of getting mad or not making improvements. Looking forward to another one.

[Bone guy]

1 hour ago, Wolf52893 said:

That looks so much better! I really like how fossildude, kept giving you suggestions and improvements and how you worked with him, instead of getting mad or not making improvements. Looking forward to another one.

Thanks! Yeah I'm very greatful for fossildude's advice. Came a long way from the first attempt. 

[Pagurus]

I want to enroll in Tim's (fossildude extraordinaire) fish-drawing class! I really like the improvements you've made, bone guy. I liked your first sketch and they keep getting better. Nice job. I think another improvement you might make would be to work on the perspective of the lower jaw just a little more. I think we should be seeing a little more of the front of the jaw, maybe by eliminating a few teeth from the front of the jaw? Also, I think the distal (rear) edge of the operculum should be just a little further forward, and the pectoral fins just a little further to the rear, just behind the operculum. I think just about everything behind the head looks really good!  Maybe the dip in the lateral line is a little too pronounced?  Thanks for sharing your art project, I'm enjoying the process. Thanks to Tim, too! TFF rocks!   

P.S. The movement of the tail in that animation still bothers me. 

[Fossildude19]

7 hours ago, Bone guy said:

I think this looks better. The eye was what was throwing me off, so I repositioned it. @Fossildude19 what's your verdict?

Sorry for the late reply, am away, with spotty internet.

 

You have come quite a way from where you were.  

You're about 93% there.

 

A few more tweaks, and it will be fantastic.

The eye needs to be larger. A bit more forward, as well. Also, completely round.

Compare your drawing with the fossils.

 

Last item is the jaw.

Perspective is better,  (good job) but I think your dimensions are off.

The ventral portion of the body should attach to the lower jaw  about in the center.

If you cover the lower jaw with paper, to where the upper jaw meets the body, that should be the entire size of the head, jaw closed.

 

As it stands now, the lower jaw looks too thin, and weirdly attached to the body.

It should look more like how your first drawing is. 

Just be sure to add the bones on the lower jaw.

Looking good. Thanks for taking the constructive criticism in the spirit it is intended... 

To make your art more realistic looking.