Reconstruction of Oviraptorosaur in pencil and watercolor on Bristol board, by Mark A. Klingler/ Carnegie Museum of Natural History
MUSEUM ILLUSTRATOR MARK KLINGLER
BRINGS EXTINCT CREATURES TO 'LIFE'
Reception:
6:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday, June 30
Photos:
http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/photogallery.
htm#num=161Q051G3-1&id=161Q051G3-0
A new species that went extinct more than 65 million years ago is brought to "life" by artist Mark Klingler at his solo art exhibition throughout June in the Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery.
Klingler, scientific illustrator for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, reconstructed Oviraptorosaur from fossils that were found in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota. The dinosaur-era creature is the featured work in Klingler's 45-piece multi-media show, "Fur, Feathers and Fossils," that runs until June 30.
"The show covers a range of topics, from modern nature and wildlife to paleontology and scientific illustration," said Klingler, whose work had been published in magazines such as National Geographic, Discover, and Newsweek. "The subjects depicted range from Fedexia, a prehistoric reptile that is 300 million years old, to tiger swallowtail butterflies, a few of which we have seen passing through my yard in the last couple of days."
In his position as scientific illustrator, Klingler reconstructs extinct creatures from fossil organisms. To recreate an entire animal from fossil information, he works closely with scientists to compare the characteristics of the fossil to those of both modern and primitive animals. Then he researches mammal anatomy.
The research helps Klingler to develop a watercolor image of the once-lost creatures. The artist often produces a clay model to better visualize the animal's mass and body form. After an initial drawing of the primitive species, Klingler uses computer software to manipulate the images that are used for research papers and publications. In addition, the images are distributed world-wide by the news organizations to inform the public of new scientific findings.
The recipient of numerous art awards, Klingler earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon and completed post-baccalaaureate studies in painting and sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He is an instructor for several local illustration programs and presents technique workshops nationally.
A native of Whippany, New Jersey, Klingler currently resides in Lower Burrell with his wife, Cathy, and their daughter, Olivia.
A reception for the artist is set for the closing night, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday, June 30 in the gallery. The exhibit and reception are free to the public. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. weekends.
For more on the Carnegie Museum, visit http://www.carnegiemnh.org/index.html
Fedexia striegeli hunting for food in western Pennsylvania about 300 million years ago.
Mark Klingler's distal composite. (Original: Pencil and colored pencil on vellum),
credit: by Mark A. Klingler/ Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Reconstruction, Eomaia scansoria; Digital composite, Epson print
(Original: Mixed media on vellum)
Published in Nature Associated research by Dr. Zhe-Xi Luo/Carnegie Museum of Natural History