The Look of Thylacoleo

[JeffJ]

A couple of years back I sculpted a life-size thylacoleo carnifex bust, using a skull reproduction and modeling clay directly over it, building up the muscles first, then the skin/fur. Eventually, I made a mold and cast it in resin. Made slight changes before the second photo was taken. In my opinion, this is how the creature looked in life. I got high marks from Steve Wroe on it, and that is good enough for me. He now owns one! Finally got a picture service-so look out! Jeff

[craig]

OUTSTANDING !!!

[Deleted]

I still think you should have painted them black.

[JeffJ]

Hi Dennis! I will make a black one sometime, but in the meantime, I have these photos. I always start anything I paint with a black basecoat. I took a couple of pictures for comparative reasons(although I missed a few places with the black!)but you get the idea. Jeff (click on photos for larger image)

[youcantry]

Dennis - based on your post above, I recently commissioned an artwork for a black thylacoleo. An Australian couple in Tasmania are talented painters and illustrators. A blog of their work is at: australiananimalart.blogspot.com/

Here are the five works that I bought. Some already existed, others I requested. Unfortunately the thylacoleo didn't come back black, but that's okay.

Thylacoleo:


Thylacine:


Tasmanian devil:


Spotted-tailed quoll:


Eastern quoll:

[Deleted]

craig said:

OUTSTANDING !!!

I'll second that! SUPERB!

My 20c worth: I'd tend to give Tc round pupils, not elliptical. Elliptical pupils give a wider field of view in the directions that are of interest, namely "up" if you're a koala and an eagle's dinner. "Horizontal" if you're a horse on the lookout for a lion, but "round" if you're the lion or leopard and binocular vision is important for judging distance before you leap. Got an idea owls have round pupils for the same reason.

[youcantry]

And I'd keep the eyes brown, like in the first pic. That first pic is just a little bit lighter than possums and Tassie devils in eye colour.

[Deleted]

If you colour thylacoleo models/sketches black it becomes very obvious why people keep reporting "panthers" it is the first impression you get. The fact that there are large black felines around only serves to confuse the issue.

[JeffJ]

Hi Chris, Dennis, Craig and QFT! Thanks, Wroe said of the bottom photo(in the first post) he would make the eyes gold/brown(or something like that)instead of green, so when I made his, I installed the glass eyes seen in the top into his casting, seen here.



Dennis, you are correct. I bet that confusion happens between the animals themselves-for a short time! Jeff

[The Doc]

It is MOST EXCELLENT! I say hats off to JeffJ!

[youcantry]

Jeff - from the looks of the backgrounds in your photos, thylacoleos are not the only critters you model. Do you have a bit of a gallery online anywhere?

[JeffJ]

Thanks Guys! Chris-I do build and collect/trade a lot of models, besides all the things I sculpt/cast/sell. I generally do commissions, but when I have free time I build and paint stuff too. Generally though, my work is science based stuff. Notice the two thylacoleo skulls on the floor. I did have a site, but it went the way of the dinosaur when my internet provider was purchased by another company. Hope to have a new one soon. Jeff