I always feel conflicted with painting plaster on fossils. Yes it makes the specimen look better but it’s not actually part of the specimen. So not just does it conceal a small portion of the actual animal but it’s not really real. But considering it’s so widespread it must have some scientific value that I’m missing.
We know what you mean, and in cases like a T-Rex specimen you'll have a 30% complete animal that becomes a complete skeleton. We are very fortunate that this skull is complete and Tracey's painting was reserved for the teeth, the few cast neural arches (some of the real ones were too damaged to reconstruct, although we still have them) and the glue joints. Which was a decision made to allow people to enjoy the skull to it's fullest. :) nothing that we have done will Impeed any scientific study, and equally nothing we have done has made the specimen false, it has simply been made to look how it would have done. But like everything, it becomes a balance between science and aesthetic. Which is a complicated topic of audience response, artistic vision and more!
@@TheEtchesCollection yeah I know painting structures that hold up pieces of the actual fossil and glue is very important. And of course having the structures in the actual position gives us a better idea of the animals morphology. Thanks for clearing that up!
The specimen looks amazing. Great job by all.
Haha! One of the members of staff at my college is called Barclay and they loved that documentary! They’ll absolutely love this!
That`s very interesting. As an artist and a collector, i`ve done quite a lot of painted restoration on my own finds.
I always feel conflicted with painting plaster on fossils. Yes it makes the specimen look better but it’s not actually part of the specimen. So not just does it conceal a small portion of the actual animal but it’s not really real. But considering it’s so widespread it must have some scientific value that I’m missing.
We know what you mean, and in cases like a T-Rex specimen you'll have a 30% complete animal that becomes a complete skeleton. We are very fortunate that this skull is complete and Tracey's painting was reserved for the teeth, the few cast neural arches (some of the real ones were too damaged to reconstruct, although we still have them) and the glue joints. Which was a decision made to allow people to enjoy the skull to it's fullest. :) nothing that we have done will Impeed any scientific study, and equally nothing we have done has made the specimen false, it has simply been made to look how it would have done. But like everything, it becomes a balance between science and aesthetic. Which is a complicated topic of audience response, artistic vision and more!
It’s necessary in fossils like this.
@@TheEtchesCollection yeah I know painting structures that hold up pieces of the actual fossil and glue is very important. And of course having the structures in the actual position gives us a better idea of the animals morphology. Thanks for clearing that up!
Giving an extinct marine reptile a makeup.