Paleoart of the Month: January 2024

While it may seem challenging to find quality illustrations of prehistoric life, I am overjoyed to tell you, dear viewer, that paleoart has not gone extinct like the animals it portrays. Not by a long shot!

Whether it be Charles R. Knight or Mark Witton, Greg Paul or Danielle Dufault, the work of talented artists has brought life to the beings of long-lost worlds. Paleoart has a unique ability to make its subject matter seem both larger-than-life and perfectly ordinary, using scientific research to generate a framework that enables the creativity of each artist to shine. It’s safe to say that many people who have fallen in love with prehistory were strongly influenced by paleoart along the way. After all, what is Speilberg’s Jurassic Park if not an artistic depiction of dinosaurs?

As generative AI has become more widespread in paleontology, it has become increasingly important to celebrate paleoart in all of its facets. Enter today’s article. Below, you will find a deep dive into some of my favourite paleoart published in January 2024. From giant ground sloths to the newest species of Tyrannosaurus, the start of the new year has featured plenty of fascinating artwork that I am thrilled to exhibit here. Accompanying each piece will be information about the artist and a short writeup about their work or the subjects featured. All pieces featured are my personal choices; if you think there are any I missed (which is probably the case), let me know in the comments!

Two (Different) Kinds of Dinosaurs

Subject(s): Triceratops & Avisaurus

Artist: Bonpland Art (@Bonpland)

The size, appearance, and body plan of dinosaurs varied tremendously. Look no further than this illustration, which features two different species of dinosaurs: the elephant-sized ceratopsian Triceratops and the bird Avisaurus. One thing that stands out in this piece from Bondpland Art is the emphasis on the birds in the foreground, drawing the observer’s attention to the lineage that would persist following the KPG extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Another thing to note – check out the frills of the adult Triceratops and how their patterning varies by individual. It’s the little things that count!

An Unusual – and Frightening – Perspective

Subject: Thylacoleo carnifex

Artist: The Paleoplace (@astrapionte)

One goal of paleoart is to create a sense of immersion in the world of prehistory, which this point of view (POV) shot of Thylacoleo carnifex excels at. Whether you interpret the POV as being from an ancient kangaroo, wombat, or other megafauna, the striking pose of this ancient predator generates a sense of shock and awe for the viewer as it would have for the prey of Thylacoleo. An ambush predator, this ancient marsupial would have posed a danger to any animal unlucky enough to wander beneath its home in the forests of Pleistocene Australia.

The Angry Mother Knows no Bounds.

Subjects: Paramylodon (and calf) & Stegomastodon

Artist: Joschua Knüppe (@JoschuaKnuppe)

While we may often think of herbivores as docile animals, they can often be more aggressive than predators – especially when caring for their young. In this piece, Joschua Knüppe portrays an attack from the ground sloth Paramylodon in response to the Gomphothere Stegomastodon coming too close to her young. With long claws and armour embedded in its skin, Paramylodon was well-equipped to inflict damage on other animals – even fellow herbivores.  

The Tyrant Lizard King of Mcrae

Subject: Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis & Sierraceratops

Artist: Sergey Krasovskiy (@SergeyAtrox1)

Tyrannosaurus is perhaps the most frequently illustrated genus of extinct animal, so it shouldn’t be surprising that news of a new species – Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis – captured the imagination of many paleoartists. Amongst these artists was Sergey Krasovskiy, whose piece featured below accompanied the initial press release for T. mcraeensis. Krasovskiy is perhaps one of the most underrated paleoartists in the field, whose love for earth-toned dinosaurs brings consistency and realism to each of his subjects (as can be seen here). His dinosaur calendars were a staple of my childhood bedroom!

A Tale of Extinction in Deep vs Recent Time

Subjects: The Great Auk, Ammonite

Artist: caxela (@caxela1)

One of my favourite tropes in paleoart is when extinct animals encounter fossils of even older animals. Unfortunately, few such pieces exist, making works like this one courtesy of caxela even more special. In this piece, a Great Auk – a flightless bird that once lived throughout the coasts of the North Atlantic – observes the fossil of an ammonite, a shelled cephalopod extinct since the end of the Mesozoic. Unbeknownst to the Auk, it will soon join the ammonite as a relic of the past due to human exploitation.

The Smallest Apex Predator You’ve Ever Seen

Subjects: Timorebestia koprii

Artist: Bob Nicholls (@BobNichollsArt)

Life during the Cambrian epoch was quite bizarre, highlighted by unique animals like the ancient worm relative Timorebestia. At just 20 centimetres (7.87 inches) long, Timorebestia would likely go unnoticed in many modern ecosystems but was amongst the largest animals present in the Cambrian. I love the surreal feeling produced by Bob Nicholls’ use of blue tones, creating a seemingly alien world that reflects the unique nature of this period in Earth’s history.

Paleo Portraits: Baurusuchus

Subject: Baurusuchus salgadoensis

Artist: Juan Nobre (@NobreJuanArt)

I’ll admit that I am something of a sucker for portrait-style depictions of paleoart. Look no further than this rendition of the terrestrial crocodile Baurusuchus courtesy of Juan Nobre. The black background accentuates the visage of this ancient predator, and it’s many scars add a level of realism to set this piece apart.

Thank you for reading this article! If you are looking to get into the world of modern paleoart, I recommend reading All Yesterdays by Darren Naish, John Conway, and C.M. Kösemen. A fantastic and often surreal book, All Yesterdays has helped usher in the modern era of paleoart featured in many of the pieces found in this article. To read more, click on the link found here.

I do not take credit for any image found in this article. All images come courtesy of the artists noted alongside each image.