Zach – nope, this isn’t a symposium volume. I’d characterize it as more of a one-volume overview or reference for those interested in the field and area.

Peter – there are a lot of my pieces floating around this site–anything that isn’t clearly credited to another artist ought to be something I’ve done. I definitely need to compile more into the ‘galleries’ section of the site.

Another place that has a fair amount of my work is the NM Museum of Natural History and Science website, where I work during the day. I don’t have the luxury of illustrating full-time there, but over the years I’ve done quite a bit of drawing and painting for that institution.

About half the pieces on these two pages are ones I did for the Triassic exhibit that opened last year. Generally speaking, the more brightly-colored restorations are mine, and the others are by artist Mary Sundstrom (a couple are actually collaborations that we both worked on). I’m generally happy with these, but there are some that I’d definitely like to revisit at some point, as new interpretations for several of these animals are out there and my understanding of the anatomy is undergoing refinement.

One of my favourite dinosaurs of all time. I can remember visiting the holotype at the Royal Ontario Museum since I was a lad.

Excellent illustration, congratulations!

So this isn’t a symposium-type book? I’ll probably pick it up either way, but it hasn’t made it to our B&N yet, so I haven’t gotten a chance to check it out.

Scott – yep, this is my first full-fledged book cover, though I don’t plan on it being the last!

Matt – having focused a lot on the anatomy of animals in much of my prior work, I’m glad you feel the environment works in this piece! Dr. Kues gave me some good pointers regarding the appropriate flora in this scene; the tree is a magnolia, with conifers and palms in the background, and the mudplantain Heteranthera in the foreground. For the Parasaurolophus anatomy, I was heavily influenced by recent reconstructions of the brachylophosaur “Leonardo”–there’s a modest nuchal ligament there, from the shoulders to the back of the skull, keeping it from being too swan-necked–but I agree, it’s hard to envision a crest that long directly connected to the shoulders!

Thanks for the kudos, but it’s easy to do a book cover with great artwork! And I’ll confirm as a paleontology lay person that this is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about New Mexico’s fascinating origins.

Mina