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axcho — Leaping Velociraptor
Published: 2009-05-05 22:47:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 19137; Favourites: 231; Downloads: 5536
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RAPTOR ATTACK!!An experiment from a year ago, trying to draw a realistic design using the visual elements of an art style traditional to many native groups along the Northwest Coast of North America, such as the Tlingit and the Haida. Obviously, this velociraptor is not traditional.
I've been reluctant to post this drawing, for that very reason. I know there are a lot of people with strong feelings about outsiders using this art style outside of its traditional context. It is a complicated situation. I've had a number of conversations with people who are as close to the 'inside' as I could find, some of which you may read here: [link] [link]
At this point, I am ready to put this out there, as a humble experiment, simply to see how people react and what people think of my approach. If this turns out to be a mistake, I will welcome the suffering brought down upon myself and do my best to learn from the experience. Let's see what happens.
Pen and colored pencil.
This is an example of a naturalistic formline design, where the silhouette more or less matches that of the actual animal.
If you like this artwork, and you want to learn more about the cultural context in which the style was developed, please see the excellent book A Story as Sharp as Knife : The Classical Haida Mythtellers and Their World by Robert Bringhurst. I've written a review of it, which you can read here: [link]
Enjoy!
Naturalistic: Leaping Velociraptor
Configurative: Baby Turtle
Expansive: Future of Frog
Distributed: Salmon Box
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Comments: 68
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I've always loved the look of the art of the PNW (Pacific Northwest) First Nations, but depicting one of the most iconic dinosaurs in this style makes it even cooler!
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OMG i love this !! i did this Haida for my school project, omg that brings back memories XD i love how you did the raptor its awsome
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One thing you got the Velociraptor wrong on several levels which are a blunt snout, pronated hands and no feathers.
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Ha, my mistake then. Sorry about that!
I guess I was going by the Jurassic Park depiction from my childhood.
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I really enjoy how you thought outside the box while inside the box
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COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I thought this was an exceptional concept! the traditional colors had caught my eye and being both a dinosaur fanatic and an early American history buff, i was really pleased! of course, it would also make a sick tattoo
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Thank you! Glad you liked the traditional colors. What sort of early American history are you into?
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mostly pre-Revolutionary War, 1800-65, but i also enjoy world war histories too 
earlier today i thought this velociraptor design would be really interesting if you did it like a Navajo sand painting, but you'd have to be reallyyy patient! its very tedious work!
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Ha, I'm pretty patient, but what with working all day at my job, I'm not sure I'd be *that* patient...
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I love this! Not only by its native style but also its of an animal that I havent seen created by this art until now. usually from what i simple know, the north coast mainly designs animals originally coming from their own folklore and traditions such as the raven, thunderbird, wolf, bear,etc. This is the first time Ive seen a dinosaur. I myself am trying to study art from the north coast. The design is geniusly inventive and the idea is very creative. You said that you were reluctant showing this because it is outside of its traditional context. I dont know whether or not if it is an offense because from what you said above you got me thinking too based on my own research. It seems that you must know more about this art than me. I've been trying to create my very own tattoo through this art. I've been longing for this tattoo for over 7-8 years. I am very much into nature and the native american ways. Perhaps you can give me some good advice.
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Thank you.
In an area like this, there will of course be many opinions. To some people, using the formline style to draw a nontraditional subject (such as a velociraptor) is essentially blasphemy, kind of like how a Christian might view, say, Raptor Jesus: [link]
I mean no disrespect, of course - I created this drawing out of reverence, admiration, and love of both velociraptors and this art style - but as someone who has no native ancestry, I can certainly understand why some people would be upset.
And on the other hand, some people will think it's awesome, just like some Christians might think Raptor Jesus is hilarious.
Anyway, if you would like to learn more about the formline art style yourself, send me a note and we can talk more about it in private.
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From what I've briefly researched about native americans and there religious views, the difference is that they view animals as if they were equal in value and spirit to man. Unlike traditional christian views of a Hiarchy peramid with man at the very top. Native americans cling to the own kind only because they were pursicuted in the past.
I read the entire link of the raptor jesus. To be very honest I didnt find either adknowledgable nor hilarious but, kind of conserning. I too am very religious and spiritual but that does not stop me from thinking logically with reality.
Aside from all that I would sincerely like to hookup in order to learn more. I would first like to know about the laws rules and regulations of the art and culture that you warned about. I already have certain books that you suggest to others such as Northwest Coast Indian art: An Analysis Of Form by Bill Holms. Perhaps I should show you some of what I've made with the art. either I will post to my deviant or email it to you.
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All right then, let's proceed. Please do show me what you've made so far. Posting to your dA scraps would be fine.
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wow, you really did a great job melding the traditional artwork into the form of a still-life animal. This really inspires me to make some changes to a similar project of mine. Check it out if you want to: [link]
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Hey, nice shark - I really like the composition on it. Technically speaking, it doesn't exactly follow the traditional rules of the Haida formline style, but it's pretty close.
Have you read Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form ? It's a great explanation of the style.
If you want to learn, I can coach you on it.
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I really love the Northwest native art styles, and this seems true to the style and the animal. I particularly love the way you handled those back feet!
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Thank you. I've done my best to stay true to both the formline style and the spirit of the velociraptor, so I appreciate your confirmation. Glad you've enjoyed it.
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WOW! I have 3 kids who are Tlingit- [their dad is 3/4's] and I was an apprentice/journeyman for an artist Tresham Gregg in Juneau- www.tresham.com- you'll see what I learned from him- lol...
I LOVE THIS PIECE- I LOVE THE BIRD CLAWS!!! This piece is highly imaginative- great use of negative space, the ovoids and gooseye are perfectly used!!! Kudos to you! Kerin
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oh, forgot to mention the split u and v's...excellent!
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Thank you! 
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I want to do something like this myself, and now I am interested in reading the book you have listed. I am particularly enamored with the K'san style though.
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Cool, let me know what you think of the book if you get a chance to read it. I'm not too familiar with the K'san style, but I'm curious now - where might I see some examples of it?
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I looked it up and I spelled it a bit wrong. It's 'Ksan and its line art is clean lined and crisp. Here is a copy I did of the 'Ksan style: [link]
There are more examples of the style in the book Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast by Hilary Stewart. It's actually the only book I have on the Northwest so far as it was a travel gift. It's mostly in black and white, but there are many pictures and explanations of the stylistic differences between different villages.
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Just read the book.
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Yeah I just picked up Bill Holm's An Anaylsis on Pacific Northwest Art. It's got the formal art breakdown along with a little bit of history. It's way more academic than Stewart's book, but it's not dry reading if you're already familiar with the style. It's filling in a bit of the depth behind the style and has a color code key (which Stewart's book-even though examples are plentiful) does not.
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Yeah, that's a great book to learn from. I have a copy of it myself.
Are you planning on learning the style yourself? I'd be glad to critique, if you want help learning the formal rules.
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Yes, that'd be wonderful!
I attempted a grasshopper a few weeks back (but that was before Bill Holm's book, and I'm still waiting for "Learning By Design" by Jim Gilbert). It really was one of the hardest tasks I tried to undertake, not knowing quite where to start. I think the only thing I managed to get in the style are the wings. [link]
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Ha, okay, we'll start at the very beginning then.
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Hmm, I'll check it out, thanks. I've seen drawings like the one you linked to, so I think I might know about it.
I'll let you know when I've read the book.
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Awesome ilustration. This has been a great style hint for fauna comosition i'm thinking about, one about evolution. This velociraptor's its really cool, and the pose choosen aswell.
Your posts about that book really caught me up, i would love to read a book with such mature conception about myths.
They don't sell those books second hand to europe 
and the rest of books talking about haida looked like tipicall comercial design books.
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Heh, glad you like the pose.
I hope you get to read the book sometime, it's very interesting. Maybe I can help you get a copy.
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Oh thnxs for replying, i really dont use much my Deviant page, im saving it for my next project so wont chek it until i finish it. Now i should chek amazon again. but don't worry i got no phisical time to spend in ilustration now im working again, but i may ask for your help ^^ soemday if you can. I'll chek your blog again to see whats new from you ^^
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Haha, I love velociraptors!
This design caught my eye very quickly. I love it!
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Like this design~ Despite not being traditional it's still awesome work~
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