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Post by DinoLord on May 25, 2011 18:16:08 GMT
I don't think it looks that much like a crow. And I guess that perhaps the toothlessness could be an analogy to human evolution. An apparent trend amongst fossil hominids is the relation between mandible and cranium size. As the cranium's size increases, the size of the mandible tends to get smaller. In addition, there has been a slight reduction in tooth size relative to skull size in hominids over time. However, my best guess is that this change in tooth size is an adaptation to a diet that is gradually decreasing in plant content, so it wouldn't be too relevant to hypothetical dromaeosaur evolution. I know that the reconstruction is not perfect, but I feel that it is somewhat accurate. Also interesting is the similarities in the evolutionary history of ground hornbills compared to that of hominids. I think that it is mentioned in the second article I linked.
Also, there is another theory that intelligent dromaeosaurs had already evolved by the late Cretaceous, and were the cause for the declining diversity and extinction of the dinosaurs. Apparently, the supporters of this theory believe that the complex crest structures of hadrosaurs are mechanisms for dealing with the pollution created by this civilization, and that a nuclear war brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs. They argue that since evidence of civilization, such as buildings and tools, are quick to disappear, it is possible that any evidence of such a civilization would be long gone by now.
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Post by arioch on May 25, 2011 19:05:54 GMT
There´s also a direct connection between arms lenght and snout size, in dromaeosaurids and theropods in general (and in a lot of non reptilian animals too, I believe ). You can have either a big skull and jaws or a big usable arms, but not both . When one increase its size , the other get atrophied. Is sort of a compensation law. We can observe this comparing Unelanginae with the rest of dromaeosaurids, for example. Thats why I´m not entirely sold with this dinosauroid with a long beak and long, usable arms (which should have vestigial feathers up to the second finger if they truly come from a troodontid lineage). Theoretically, the long beak is meant to pick up food and use tools, and having one there would be no point in the usable arms with long fingers and viceversa. I would change that beak for a shorter snout with some small teeth, and maybe, a half beak in the tip, suited for an omnivorous diet. I also think the creature could be a bit more stylized as a whole, but well, that´s up to everyone personal taste. Just my two cents here.  About the dromaeosaur civilization theory, sounds cool and exciting as a concept but a bit too fantasy like. I believe we would have some remnants of such a civilization by now if it really existed ... Nice work! I think I recently added you to my dA. Yes I remember you, I think I left some comment in your gallery, which is quite nice by the way. |
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Post by arioch on May 25, 2011 22:40:42 GMT
Kosmoceratops and Tianyulong finished. I´m running out of ideas so I accept any request...    By the way this is my DA page if you want to keep an eye on my work: durbed.deviantart.com/
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Post by Radman on May 26, 2011 0:14:47 GMT
A herd of hypsilophodons Above herd chased by a theropod of your choice (not Deinonychus)! Batrachatomus hunting frogs Dueling Indricotheres Koolasuchus sneaking up on Leallynasaurs Edaphasaurus facing a storm Fruitachampsa hunting lizards or small mammals ;D |
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on May 26, 2011 3:05:05 GMT
A young Suchomimus male performs a mating dance to impress two watching females which are sitting...one a younger more interested individual the other older and less impressed.  Added you to my DA watch list too.. ;D |
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Post by arioch on May 26, 2011 7:33:50 GMT
Wow slow down! ;D
I specially like the Koolasuchus and Suchomimus one. Maybe today I will have something to show, apart from the unfinished sketches (The swimming allosaurus and a dromaeosaurus with her offsprings)
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on May 26, 2011 18:56:51 GMT
Ask and ye shall receive I guess.. lol I did a sketch of the Sucho piece myself years ago..it was an appealing idea..just got far off the ground.. I did put some thought in it though..lol
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Post by arioch on May 26, 2011 19:38:04 GMT
Well I have something new, a Dromaeosaurus albertensis taking care of the chickens....  An allosaurus is about to get a nasty surprise while crossing a river from the giant crocodilian Machimosaurus, in Late Jurassic Germany.  And the first pencil conceptual sketches of the Koolasuchus and the dancing Suchomimus...If you have any suggestion, speak now!  Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us |
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on May 27, 2011 1:24:26 GMT
It's amazing how close my sketch was to your interpretation ! Especially in the male.. ;D
On the other hand you did the male in front and I did him in the background..it actually makes more sense and brings the attention to him.
I think Sucho's ridge or sail might be slightly higher than what you have so far...especially over the hips.
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Post by Griffin on May 27, 2011 6:14:12 GMT
Lovely stuff! I especially like the mating Carnotaurus.
I looked at the smilodon. Might wanna re-work the head a little. There are some great references out there for drawing big cats you could check out.
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Post by arioch on May 27, 2011 8:42:35 GMT
Well...I guess there aren´t too many ways to draw a dancing dinosaur who looks like a giant heron! ;D We both must have watched the same bird documentaries... Yep the sail should probably go even higher...though I already have outlined the hip section a bit. I think I could finish it today. Lovely stuff! I especially like the mating Carnotaurus. I looked at the smilodon. Might wanna re-work the head a little. There are some great references out there for drawing big cats you could check out. Finally someone noticed. You might not believe me but I spent like 4 hours in photoshop redoing the whole head from the pen version, with a big cat book opened in front of me ! and yet the final version looked more like a short faced dog than a proper big cat  . Yep, I definitely have to look out for one of those tutorials and references... And pity the horny Carnotaurus unconsciously resemble a Luis Rey illustration -I swear it wasn´t my intention as I didn´t even know the picture-... hope the man doesn´t sue me! |
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on May 27, 2011 15:52:29 GMT
Yeah that's def a possible possibility..I recall checking out Japanese Cranes at the time I think..lol
If you do finish today it will be late tomorrow before I see it..I have to head out of town...unexpectedly... grrr.
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Post by paleoferroequine on May 27, 2011 16:49:10 GMT
Lovely stuff! I especially like the mating Carnotaurus. I looked at the smilodon. Might wanna re-work the head a little. There are some great references out there for drawing big cats you could check out. Finally someone noticed. You might not believe me but I spent like 4 hours in photoshop redoing the whole head from the pen version, with a big cat book opened in front of me ! and yet the final version looked more like a short faced dog than a proper big cat . Yep, I definitely have to look out for one of those tutorials and references... First of all I just want to say I've really enjoyed following your drawings from the beginning. You have really improved since the first drawings! But they are all great. ;D Now on the Smilodon. You can't just draw a big cat such as a lion and stick big canines on it. The head is proportioned differently, narrower in the rear and a longer muzzle(you have to make room for those huge canine roots!) Also there are 3 species, one is smaller than the other two, but even between Smilodon populator(from South America) and Smilodon fatalis(North America) there is a large size difference S.populator is a lot bigger and has longer front legs in comparison to the rear, the back slopes more. A good book is Alan Turner's "The Big Cats and their fossil relatives" Keep up the good work! |
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Post by Griffin on May 27, 2011 16:59:53 GMT
Get this book. Its pretty cheap too. Its good for references on proportions of modern mammals. Of course smilodon isn't in there itself but there are a lot of great reference pages for every other kind of cat that would make a good launching point. www.amazon.com/Draw-Animals-Perigee-Jack-Hamm/dp/0399508023 |
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Post by arioch on May 27, 2011 17:41:56 GMT
Thanks Griffin, I´ll look for it. My inability to draw correctly any non reptilian animal has always been quite frustrating... Finally someone noticed. You might not believe me but I spent like 4 hours in photoshop redoing the whole head from the pen version, with a big cat book opened in front of me ! and yet the final version looked more like a short faced dog than a proper big cat . Yep, I definitely have to look out for one of those tutorials and references... First of all I just want to say I've really enjoyed following your drawings from the beginning. You have really improved since the first drawings! But they are all great. ;D Now on the Smilodon. You can't just draw a big cat such as a lion and stick big canines on it. The head is proportioned differently, narrower in the rear and a longer muzzle(you have to make room for those huge canine roots!) Also there are 3 species, one is smaller than the other two, but even between Smilodon populator(from South America) and Smilodon fatalis(North America) there is a large size difference S.populator is a lot bigger and has longer front legs in comparison to the rear, the back slopes more. A good book is Alan Turner's "The Big Cats and their fossil relatives" Keep up the good work! Thanks! I always had the impression that smilodon skull was a bit flatter than big cat ones too (and the lower jaw is a lot smaller and weaker, but you can´t apreciate it here), but since I´m a bad judge regarding mammals in general I decided to make, as you say, a regular big cat with bigger fangs (I noticed most non professional paleo artitsts do the same with sabertooths, actually. I doesn´t mean it is right.) There´s no point in going in depth with the anathomy when my knowledge about felines is so superficial. This one was meant to be S. populator, by the way (I knew about both species). Hence the extra mass on the front legs muscles. I feel the body came out a bit less wrong. I might redo the head someday, but maybe not very soon. Next time I´ll draw a prehistoric mammal it would probably be something like Embolotherium, Indricotherium or Elamostherium. They look spectacular and there are less chances to get it wrong..! Regarding my evolution, I wouldn´t say it was much of a real improvement, just a change of style and focusing in more significant body details (more wrinkles and folds and less scales) , not to mention the digital shading which helps a lot. |
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Post by arioch on May 28, 2011 13:39:45 GMT
First request finished: Koolasuchus stalking two thirsty Leallynasaura. |
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Post by mnemosaurus on May 28, 2011 14:04:17 GMT
Very nice  I love the under-the-water-surface effect! |
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Post by Himmapaan on May 28, 2011 15:33:46 GMT
Run, Leaellyns! Run, for pity's sake!!  |
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Post by arioch on May 28, 2011 16:14:22 GMT
Ah, glad you liked it.... Later I´ll post the dancing suchomimus and something more I´ve been sketching secretly... |
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Post by Radman on May 28, 2011 17:21:08 GMT
Wow, great job buddy, truly awesome! You have a gift for this. Very realistic and scary scene. Love the water effects and Koola pattern, simple yet believable. Look forward to seeing more. |
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. Yep, I definitely have to look out for one of those tutorials and references...
