A big part of what a paleoartist does is use the latest research regarding extinct life to create the most up to date and accurate depictions of prehistoric life. They observe fossils, talk with scientists, and then add in a bit of their own imagination to bring prehistoric animals back to life.
That is what I have done with my latest artwork, a pen drawing of a Dilophosaurus wetherilli. This artwork is based on the most recent research done on this dinosaur species, which gained great fame after appearing in the film Jurassic Park. In this movie, Dilophosaurus was depicted as having a large frill on its neck, as well as being a vicious venom sprayer. But there is no evidence it possessed either of these attributes. Instead, its defining feature was the crest on top of its head. Recent studies have shown the crest most likely would have been covered in keratin, the same substance that makes up our hair and fingernails. This means it would have gotten a lot larger then previously thought, but due to the fragmentary nature of the skull remains, it is impossible to say just how big it may have gotten. This is a place where it is necessary to apply speculation.
This drawing was rather time consuming, as well as being the most detailed pen drawing I have done in my life.
