DRAWING FOSSIL MAPS FOR THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA

The process of producing original pen and ink drawings containing graphically engaging iconography representing significant fossil finds poses unique challenges in cross disciplinary collaborations between visual artists and scientists. The collaborative research leading up to the final renderings can produce surprising results that sometimes lead to new paleontological insights and “discoveries” in museum collections or in the field. State and regional fossil maps can act as effective communication tools ideal for public outreach and scientific education.

Artist Ray Troll will show newly produced maps for California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska done in collaboration with Dr. Kirk Johnson and a number of paleontologists and geologists from throughout the regions depicted. The maps are being produced to accompany Troll and Johnson’s second book “Cruisin’ the Eternal Coastline: the Best of the Fossil West from Baja to Barrow”.

Troll will share the step-by-step process from following a line of investigation to penciling-in, inking, digitization and colorization.

He will also discuss the challenges of creating a finished piece of art that strives to balance science, creativity, and whimsy. Troll’s premise is that curiosity based research feeds the intellectual inquiry of both art and science. The two disciplines can overlap successfully in many unexpected and mutually inspiring ways.