Posts by markwitton@sauropods.win
(DIR) Post #AmYjV6UchTl0VcMNDk by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-10-01T10:13:37Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
More new #paleoart at #Patreon: a group of unemployed Ichthyovenator spending their Tuesday morning lounging around, sponging off the government. They haven't even taken their kids to school. Tsk. Hi-res and (sensible) discussion at https://www.patreon.com/posts/reclino-spino-113068516. #Sciart #dinosaurs #paleontology
(DIR) Post #AmYktBWxinmR2NV6KO by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-10-01T10:29:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@inqbiol @princetonupress That would be superb, thanks! There are surprisingly few books on T. rex itself – this was one of the major catalysts for putting this book together. The last dedicated book for adults on Tyrannosaurus was published in 1993, which seems amazing, especially given how many talented scicomm folks work on tyrannosaurs.
(DIR) Post #AmephTHvXUWjM6Sfp2 by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-10-04T08:51:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
For #FossilFriday, #paleoart of a hatchling Ankylosaurus that has yet to develop bony body armour. Fossils show that armoured dinosaurs lacked bony scutes in early life, implying that their toughened hides may not have been primarily adapted to deter predators. #dinosaur #paleontology #sciart #naturalhistory #digitalart #ankylosaurus
(DIR) Post #An7vFs7WDTpAE6egWu by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-10-18T09:40:13Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Some superpink #pterosaurs for #FossilFriday: these are Pterodaustro of varying ages, drawn to promote a 2021 study on hatchling #pterosaur flight I worked on with @TetZoo and @gimpasaura. Link to the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92499-zI recall having a single day to work on this image because of crazy time constraints when our paper was due for publication. Given the complexity, I think it came out OK.#paleontology #naturalhistory #digitalart #flight
(DIR) Post #AnZUTle3W01vo8m2Uq by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-10-31T16:52:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I've posted several new #paleoart works at #Patreon today, and also kicked off my book and print reward season. Sign up today to get involved! https://www.patreon.com/c/markwittonHere's one of the new artworks: Dromaeosaurus and a juvenile Chasmosaurus. This was a fun reconstruction to execute as Dromaeosaurus is not a "typical" dromaeosaur. The final result is a little creepy, too, which seems apt for today. #sciart #paleontology #dinosaurs #raptor #naturalhistory #dromaeosaur #digitalart #halloween
(DIR) Post #AnbJ7akocHg4Tn4waG by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-01T13:54:17Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
For #FossilFriday, more new #paleoart recently posted to #Patreon. This is the poster child of dinosaur palaeocolour reconstruction, Anchiornis huxleyi, belting out some sort of tune. Anchiornis specimens have received especially comprehensive assessments for fossilised pigments, meaning that the primary colours and patterns of their entire bodies can be reconstructed with some certainty. More details at https://www.patreon.com/c/markwitton#paleontology #sciart #dinosaur #naturalhistory #digitalart
(DIR) Post #AnbJGs2lhgh2hytttg by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-01T13:55:58Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
For #FossilFriday, more new #paleoart recently posted to #Patreon. This is the poster child of dinosaur palaeocolour reconstruction, Anchiornis huxleyi, belting out some sort of tune. Anchiornis specimens have received especially comprehensive assessments for fossilised pigments, meaning that the primary colours and patterns of their entire bodies can be reconstructed with some certainty. More details at https://www.patreon.com/c/markwitton#paleontology #sciart #dinosaur #naturalhistory #digitalart
(DIR) Post #AnhHuvdu7QX3CCx59M by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-04T11:09:02Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I'm wondering if my time at Mastodon is coming to an end. Alongside issues with engagement (which is pretty essential for what I do, I'm not just after a dopamine fix!), most of the notifications I get here are spam posts, sometimes numbering dozens within a few hours. Reporting and blocking them has done little to stem the feed, and it's a tedious job.I'm more active on Bluesky, which is growing a good palaeo and palaeoart community. Find me at https://bsky.app/profile/markwitton.bsky.social.
(DIR) Post #AnjLIXzSOiQEy4uHTs by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T10:56:19Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mike @AdamStuartSmith Yes, this is a complicated decision. I wish I were in a position where I could be more idealistic about social media. Alas, if I don't get word out about books, Patreon etc, I don't get to eat!I'm envious that you don't get spam here! I had ten posts overnight - random QR codes posted from Japanese users. They're all from different servers and accounts, so I can't universally block them. Instead, I have to tediously report each one.
(DIR) Post #AnjLoge5kiXP4xErNQ by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:02:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@dinogami They're mostly just links or QR codes. I've started blocking the servers they use as I have read that spammers use poorly regulated ones for their attacks, but it doesn't feel great doing so. Cutting off big chunks of users on a social media site doesn't feel right!
(DIR) Post #AnjMGRCclM9dI8cizw by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:07:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mike @AdamStuartSmith There's not much on it so far as I can tell, but I'm not alone: https://community.nodebb.org/topic/10efff28-d6c6-44b7-b4e6-a3f97687d76b/this-latest-wave-of-spam-here-on-mastodon-is-seriously-getting-to-be-very-frustrating-to-say-the-least.Solutions are few, though. At times it can be one new post every 30 minutes, so it's pretty annoying!
(DIR) Post #AnjMWKro5RMmH6T1RQ by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:10:03Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@theadhocracy Several folks have suggested some sort of "bridge", I'll look into it. Reminds me to the good ol' days when social media sites allowed automatic cross-posting, before everything got siloed and megacorporate.
(DIR) Post #AnjMjnpBjYPjqmfDmq by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:12:29Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@llewelly Thanks - given the suggestions that I might be missed, maybe I'll keep posting updates here, even if it's unlikely to be my social media "home". I wish we weren't so fragmented now.
(DIR) Post #AnjMpeq83Hr3iotb9M by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:13:34Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@Looming That might be something to look into!
(DIR) Post #AnjNLlqfWsIuj3Sdua by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:19:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@idoubtit I'm sure it won't remain a utopia forever, but - as a freelancer - I have to throw my lot in with the guys who provide bigger platforms. Spreading word about my work is how I make a living. I've taken something of a stand, leaving Twitter (where I had >30K followers) after Musk took over, but I can't only be idealistic about where I pitch my tent. I have to focus on where my stuff is seen and shared: Mastodon, sadly, isn't that place.
(DIR) Post #AnjNa80hvd9lVv0E7c by markwitton@sauropods.win
2024-11-05T11:21:57Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@AmyIsCoolz I've certainly not seen much of a palaeoart community here. It's a catch-22, obviously: folks like me leave because the community isn't here, but without folks like me, there is no community!
(DIR) Post #AqPhmPAmSUtMzyU0S8 by markwitton@sauropods.win
2025-01-24T17:10:19Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I can't NOT post this to sauropds.win: New #paleoart for #FossilFriday: BRONTOSMASH! II: the BRONTOSMASHENING. High-resolution version just posted to #patreon along with lots of discussion about the apatosaur neck combat hypothesis: https://www.patreon.com/posts/120678428HT to @mike, because I believe he likes this sort of thing.#sciart #palaeontology #fossil #dinosaur #sauropod #naturalhistory #illustration #art #digitalart #brontosaurus
(DIR) Post #AqPiIU2NuL0NLuqt0a by markwitton@sauropods.win
2025-01-24T17:16:06Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mike Thanks Mike! This benefitted from visiting a number of apatosaur skeletons in US museums a few years back. Such awesome animals, I don't think print media does them justice.
(DIR) Post #AqPjMo2vYciYWMjNk8 by markwitton@sauropods.win
2025-01-24T17:28:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mike I've actually been meaning to email you about apatosaur cervical rib textures anyway! Also about the replica "Dippy" skull models the NHM is selling. Have you seen them? I got one and think it's pretty good - only £30.
(DIR) Post #AqPpaSXoteKfc74fR2 by markwitton@sauropods.win
2025-01-24T18:37:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mike Hmm... I'm sure that's not a tease! In the meantime, here's a link if you feel you need a bit more Diplodocus on a shelf somewhere. https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/fern-the-diplodocus-replica-skull.html