Visual Forensic

"Visual forensic" is a method of 3D facial reconstruction used by Phillipe Froesch.

Starting with a CT scan of a person known only from a skull, Mr. Froesch digitally reconstructs the layers of muscle, skin and hair until he achieves the living appearance of the person.

These images show Mr. Froesch's reconstruction of the face of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).

Fortunately, Bolívar is known from contemporary portraits, which helps a great deal.

This video shows some of the other faces he has reconstructed from skulls. (Video link) When it comes to prehistoric humans, reconstructions are more speculative, especially when it comes to soft morphology, such as ears, lips, and noses. Like a lot of other kinds of digital graphics, these images suggest a greater level of certainty than anthropologists really have.

Images of Bolivar from Clustr.com

Thanks CG Bros

More at Visual Forensic.com

Lamaze Coach

More than 27 years ago, when my wife and I were expecting our first child, we took a class in the Lamaze method at our local hospital.


I was impressed with the teacher's poses as she talked to us about breathing, pain, massage, empowerment, and confidence.

She hadn't had a baby yet herself, but she was very emphatic about what the experience was going to be like. As she talked, I tried to lock some of her keyframe poses in my short term memory, and note them down in ballpoint pen.

Longer preview of stamp video

The latest issue of International Artist magazine has a feature about the making of the Australian dinosaur stamps. If you pick up a copy, you can see the various preliminary stages that the art went through.















I've also just uploaded this longer video preview about the making of those stamps. (Direct video link)

You can travel with me to Museum Victoria to study original fossils with paleontologist Tom Rich. Then we head into the Australian bush to study ancient plants. The full video shows every part of the creative process, from the unique design challenges of philatelic art to the construction of 3D reference maquettes, then the comprehensive drawing, the color planning, and the oil painting.


The DVD version also includes 10 minutes of additional interview material with Dr. Tom Rich, plus an eight minute narrated slideshow of development artwork and philatelic products, and a 13.5 minute documentary on the making of Dinotopia, called "Dinotopia: Art, Science, and Imagination."

This is a great resource for art teachers or parents wishing to inspire a young person who wants to find a way to do imaginative or science-based artwork.

Stan Prokopenko says: "Saw the DVD and loved it. He takes you through his whole process from concept to final. I liked seeing how he built his maquette and used it as part of the creative process. Great to see how free he is in every stage to experiment with ideas and make changes. Makes me want to go paint dinosaurs."

Learn more about the full-length art instruction video:
Digital download  via credit card Australia's Age of Dinosaurs: Art of the Stamps
Digital download via Paypal 
DVD with 32 minutes of additional content available now here
or preorder with Amazon 
More info at James Gurney.com 

Pinchcliffe Grand Prix

"Flåklypa Grand Prix," also known as "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix" is a Norwegian animated film from 1975. The hero is an eccentric inventor who builds an ingenious racing automobile. He is aided by his animal sidekicks, a mopey hedgehog and a perky magpie. Above is a short excerpt. 

It is one of the most beloved and commercially successful films of all time in Norway, but it isn't as well known in other parts of the world.  

Here's a trailer / teaser. It took Mario Caprino and his team of five artists almost 3.5 years to make the entire 88 minute film.

The animation technique was kept as a bit of a mystery to the audience and fellow artists. Some of the films that Mr. Caprino did leading up to Pinchcliffe were primarily accomplished with clever puppetry and animatronics. By the time Mr. Caprino did Pinchcliffe, he apparently relied more on stop motion. Some sequences of Caprino's films appear to have used blue-screen compositing, but otherwise it's all shot in camera. To modern audiences accustomed to digital effects, the results appear remarkably sophisticated. 

A full size replica of the car, known as Il Tempo Gigante was built to promote the film. The car has 550 horsepower and a real jet engine, but it can't be driven much because of EU restrictions.

Wikipedia on Pinchcliffe Grand Prix 

Here's a link where you can purchase a DVD in PAL or NTSC format.

Frank at the Diner

Sunday at 3:30 in the afternoon is a relatively quiet time at our little diner, so it's a good time to sketch people.


After I ordered my turkey reuben sandwich and leek-and-potato soup yesterday, I noticed a tall man sitting alone at the far end of the counter. He ate quietly and stayed more or less in the same pose while I drew this picture.

I used water-soluble colored pencils, watercolor, and a little white gouache. My soup and sandwich arrived sooner than I expected, so I had to shove the art stuff to one side to make room. I ate with my left hand while I painted with my right.

The server stopped to refill my coffee and check out the sketch. "Frank is one of our regulars," she said. "He's a real nice gentleman."
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Read a similar post about another man at the same counter: War Jitters

Roundhand Pinstriping

Pinstriping wizard Bob Weisgerber demonstrates the relaxed looping strokes needed for a roundhand font. His right hand is resting on a mahl stick most of the time. (Direct link to YouTube)

Related posts: 

Mahl stick

Documentary on sign painters

Oblique pen holder for roundhand pen lettering

Posture and Penwork

Hand lettering — or "practical writing" as it once was called — demands good posture. The same is true of flourishing, which is the art of making even loops in one continuous motion.

Daniel Ames, one of the early masters, says "It is only when in a correct position that the pen, even in the hand of its skillful master, is capable of producing the smooth, graceful line, shade, and curve so essential to good writing."

It's true. You really need to have a straight back, an erect head, a rear end square in the chair, and both feet flat on the floor.

Winners of Plein Air Persistence

Congratulations to the winners of the "Plein Air Persistence" Video Contest.


The winner in the Live Action category, and the overall highest vote-getter (672 votes) was Frank Hegyi and Shane Kier.  They will win:
1. A signed copy of any one of my in-print Dinotopia or art instruction books or DVDs.
2. A certificate of $250 worth of Richeson Art Products
3. A gift certificate from Liliedahl art videos.

Meghan N. Sours received the second highest number of votes overall, which entitles her to a $150.00 certificate from Richeson and a gift certificate from Liliedahl art videos. Here's the link to her video.

The winner in the Animation category was Dominik Litwiniak. He receives his choice of my in-print Dinotopia or art instruction books or DVDs and a certificate for Liliedahl videos. Here's the link to his video.

And Nathaniel Gold, who did a great entry but was barred from voting because his entry landed in my spam folder, gets a Special Awesomeness prize of one of my signed books or DVDs of his choice.

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and voted in the poll, and we'll all keep on persisting as we paint en plein air.

Illustration 42: Rader, Lewin & Prittie

The new issue of Illustration 42 is available. It includes the paperback art of Paul Rader, the life work and story of Children’s Book illustrator Ted Lewin, told by himself, and a profile of Edwin John Prittie, known for the Horrors of War bubblegum cards. You can preview the whole issue at the Illustration website.

Tom Bunk Interview

Eric Millen of the fantasy art blog Massive Fantastic has just uploaded an interview with Tom Bunk, illustrator for Mad Magazine and Cabbage Patch Garbage Pail Kids (Direct link to video).