The most awesome piece of art EVER
August 23, 2011
Last month, over at Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs, David Orr wrote about the dinosaur conflicts he’d like to see, in place of the ubiquitous T. rex-vs.-Triceratops. Among the fights he wanted to see was:
2. Four strategically placed Incisivosaurus vs. Giraffatitan: Two words: beaver style.
I commented on that article, saying:
I hate to spoil your fun, but a single Giraffatitan individual could effortlessly destroy countless Incisivosaurus by sheer awesomeness alone.
To which David replied, saying:
Though when I think about it, Giraffatitan just being awesome while wave after wave of Incisivosaurus perish in its glorious presence is a totally acceptable outcome.
So true.
Now comes a follow-up post, in which professional illustrator Niroot Puttapipat has beautifully drawn both scenarios (and a bunch of other, less awesome, suggestions). So without futher ado, here is his interpretation of the first scenario:
And the much more credible second scenario:
Update (two days later)
The originals of the first picture and the second picture are both at DeviantArt, in higher resolution and with (very positive) comments. Thanks to Niroot for the links.
Also at DeviantArt: patriatyrannus’s version of the first scenario, which I’d not seen before:
Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week 
August 23, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Hm, can the little fokker even open its jaws far enough to graps the tough hide of a sauropod’s leg?
No?
well, then everybody, move on – nothing to see!
August 23, 2011 at 10:27 pm
This cannot be true. Mike Taylor has declared some nonsense of mine ‘The Most Awesome Piece of Art Ever’?!? *Collapses under enormity of honour*
August 24, 2011 at 12:28 am
Just so I’m clear, the Giraffatitan is not physically touching the Incisivosaurus, just radiating levels of awesomeness that are incompatible with survival? Because I am totally cool with that.
I would also be cool with seeing a big brachiosaur wading knee-deep in a scrabbling, seething mass of dromaeosaurs, completely unconcerned by the tingling sensation of their thousands of claws and teeth failing to penetrate its hide.
August 24, 2011 at 7:41 am
This would be something like “Aura of Impressiveness – defense +20”.
Fantastic work, Niroot!
August 24, 2011 at 8:21 am
That’s how I read it, yes. The stinkin’ theropods are simply not able to survive proximity with the radiant, glorious brachiosaur.
Indeed, that would also be awesome. The challenge for the artist in that case would be conveying that the brachiosaur is thinking, “Whatever, dudes”.
August 24, 2011 at 2:22 pm
The challenge for the artist in that case would be conveying that the brachiosaur is thinking, “Whatever, dudes”.
Hey, Paco achieved that for Brontomerus, so we know it’s possible.
August 24, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Yes, you are all perfectly right, those are indeed rays of pure awesomeness. If you’d care to at all, you can see it in a larger size together with a few explanatory notes on its page here:
http://himmapaan.deviantart.com/art/Postscript-to-D-Orr-s-List-253508063?q=gallery%3Ahimmapaan%2F27374124&qo=0
You’ll also see from my comments regarding the drawings for David Orr’s original list that I actually took little pleasure in drawing the first ‘beaver style’ version. ;)
Matt, you know I shall be unable to resist that challenge now, of course. Though please give me some time (by which I mean a few weeks), as I’m a little busy at the moment.
August 24, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Matt, you know I shall be unable to resist that challenge now, of course. Though please give me some time (by which I mean a few weeks), as I’m a little busy at the moment.
Dude, after the theropod-blasting rays of pure awesomeness you can write your own ticket here at SV-POW! No rush, though, we will be happy–nay, honored–to big up your next work of genius, whenever it appears.
August 31, 2011 at 4:57 pm
As a side note to this thread, I have recently finished a re-draw of the Mark Hallett sketch of Jobaria versus Afrovenator mentioned in your blog some time ago. Color pencil; 8X11 inches. If any of you on SV-POW would like to acquire an electronic copy (JPEG circa 2.5MB; large 24-bit BMP circa 45MB), please kindly let me know.
September 15, 2012 at 8:27 pm
[…] being awesome while wave after wave of Incisivosaurus perish in its glorious presence” as the most awesome piece of art EVER. That may have been true at the time. But now it’s been eclipsed by this Bob Nicholls […]
December 1, 2012 at 1:54 am
Niroot, you have such a gift..please use it for good, not evil. I love your work.
December 6, 2012 at 9:34 pm
So kind of you, Rob. Thank you.
February 27, 2013 at 1:31 am
[…] rad. And adorable. Brian Switek, whom we adore, commissioned a fuzzy juvenile sauropod from Niroot, whom we adore, for his (Brian’s) upcoming book, My Beloved Brontosaurus, which I am gearing up to adore. […]
March 27, 2017 at 8:41 pm
[…] sections I did, mostly on individual dinosaurs. This is the best one, of course, based on sheer taxon awesomeness, since it deals with […]