Scientific Illustrator Reacts to Old Paleo Art

Danielle, a scientific illustrator at one of Canada's largest museums, reacts to vintage paleo art.
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CREDITS
Created by Dylan Dubeau
Executive Producer, Director, and Director of Photography: Dylan Dubeau
Host, Associate Producer: Danielle Dufault
Editor: Cat Senior
Producer, Camera Operator: Andres Salazar
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Taking a deep look at the past and the animals that lived in it.

[@Mini_Squatch]

its funny how we went from fuzzy because mammalian to scaly like reptiles, then back to fuzzy but in a more birdlike way.

[@bensoncheung2801]

555 👍

[@adeptgirl3454]

It's also funny that the Iguanodon went from quadrupedal with splayed limbs in this art to bipedal when people figured out the thumb spike, and now evidence points to it being quadrupedal after all but with upright limbs. Sometimes a shot in the dark gets it right!

[@suzaynnschick158]

It's nice to hear your perceptions as an artist, and not just a zoologist. Your illustrations have always brought me pleasure.

[@bensoncheung2801]

144p-th 👍

[@danielm5535]

I love that modern peeps are quick to assert “the best we know how”, “with what we may learn in the further”, “best current information” because we are continually learning and stuff. Twenty years ago, so much information was presented to the public because “this is fact”, “questioning this means questioning ME!”… Keeps the sciencey people humble to learn new information and keeps the public open to the idea that science grows and changes. 😊

[@smiling_boi2595]

I love vintage paleoart especially because of the weird and funky reconstructions of the prehistoric animals :>

[@johnmcnally7812]

Some of them almost have a William Blake quality to them.

[@smiling_boi2595]

@@johnmcnally7812 indeed

[@e.s.lavall9219]

I had no idea the Possumdactyl was an actual attempt at interpreting what they looked like, I though a modern artist had drawn a possum/pterodactyl hybrid for fun

[@billys.3258]

That is 100% an Edward Gorey creature. lol

[@DanGamingFan2406]

It's interesting how wrong some of these were and how pretty close others were. It really is like a snapshot of what we knew at the time. Who knows how wrong our current understanding will prove to be.

[@Lucky13Ravens]

I feel that viewpoint is labouring under the same delusion as the people who drew the old art. They were filling in gaps with assumptions based of living animals, they were forward thinking, they were scientifically accurate... at the time. Just like now. The Mammoth not having ears in the picture is the example of why laughing at pterosaurs having large ears silly. Because saying they did, or didn't is completely inference and guesswork.

[@trilobite3120]

​​@@Lucky13RavensWe have well preserved mammoths clearly showing ears.

[@TuberoseKisser]

The last sentence, we literally have well preserved evidence and are continuing to discover well preserved specimens. We're currently not wrong, we're building on top of what is already known.

[@Lucky13Ravens]

@@trilobite3120 Have you ever looked at a Columbian Mammoth? It's ears are more like those in the old image than a modern elephant.

[@trilobite3120]

​@@Lucky13RavensThey have ears. I know they're small ears. They're still ears.

[@Beryllahawk]

That painting of the mosasaur and ichthyosaurs just about made me cry it was so beautiful. When I was a child, that was the art that made me want to learn how to create my own art. I wanted to make pictures of dinosaurs and horses (and prehistoric horses of course), that were THAT kind of lovely.

[@corvid...]

What a great idea having Danielle talk about art... i absolutely love her work, and now getting her insight is just perfect

[@larzvanhellsing2048]

That moment she mentioned forming a Metal band called Dinotherium is enough to love her even more! She's definitely METAL!!!! 🤘🤘

[@gitfiddlio]

Van Halen did an instrumental called baluchertherium

[@Sludgeyriffs]

Mastodon

[@Albinojackrussel]

A soft tissue preserved helicoprion is my dream fossil

[@thegreatgoldfilms6311]

This video was fascinating, please do a part 2

[@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499]

As an artist, myself, this is probably my most favorite video you've done, Danielle. Love it.

[@fuferito]

I misunderstood the title to mean art from humans who lived in the Paleolithic, but this was just as fascinating.

[@monicarenee7949]

Yeah that’s what made me click, I was like I had no idea their drawings could be that good back then lol

[@leekestner1554]

About 20 years ago their was a beautiful coffee table book made that took fantasy creatures and illustrated them like they were scientifically real. You had the drawings of the bones and then the muscles in a second drawing and then you had the skin on version. It was incredibly rendered by someone in your field. It was out of my price range then and now I can't remember who wrote/illustrated it. As an artist who draws fantasy subjects I would love to find it again and share it with others.

[@M50A1]

Is it one of those dragonology books? I have one of those and it's kinda similar to what you're saying

[@leekestner1554]

@@M50A1 It covered dragons but it also covered Pegasus, Unicorns, Cerebrus, Griffons and was completely in the format of a Paleoartist from bones to muscles to full in skin cover. It could have only been produced by a paleoartist it was so precise. I saw it at BooksAMillion.

[@M50A1]

@@leekestner1554 now i really wanna see this 👀

[@MichelVuijlstekeAKZ]

"The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black" by E. B. Hudspeth!

[@TheAntichrist84]

I love these videos but every time one of the hosts says "Hi I'm ___ and you're watching ___logic" i always expect them to air draw a Disney logo afterwards

[@Fede_99]

I recently visited the ROM in Toronto and knowing some of your works were there it was really cool to see them in person

[@animalogic]

Love this!

[@MarieWest-tbic]

Girl, you rock! That was awesome! So you draw all the animals! OMG, I would love to draw that well! I tend to turn everything into a cartoon. Detailed but a cartoon. Brilliant to have a scientific and art mind!

[@MermaidMakes]

Danielle is the friend I wish I had. Fellow T1 diabetic and artist and studier of zoology. She’s like my Canadian doppelgänger, but actually successful haha

[@MarieWest-tbic]

@@MermaidMakes wow you also sound like a very kindred spirit! Thankful for this community.

[@MermaidMakes]

@@MarieWest-tbic it is definitely one of my favorite KZbin communities for sure! You’re all awesome! ❤️

[@fallingasleepaswespeak]

@@MermaidMakesshe has t1d?? thats actually so fucjing cool (as a t1d myself)

[@kodomotachi1]

What strikes me is the ingenuity the artists demonstrate despite the very limited knowledge at their disposal. Impressive!

[@Asterite100]

Danielle is a paleoartist too?? I knew she drew for the animal videos but I didn't know that tidbit. I'm too much of a casual viewer I guess. Loved this video! EDIT: Oh LMAO that is THE thing she is known for when you google her. Might have to do the same with the others featured on this channel, TIL. You lot are goals.

[@diegovillaruiz2431]

In a London museum I once saw an illustration of what appeared to be a hippopotamus or a rhinoceros, and I wondered why this depiction of a well-known animal was so strange. Then my much more informed and educated friend in plastic arts told me that the illustrator drew that animal based on an oral description from an explorer, that's when I realized what an absolutely fabulous artist he must have been for me to be able to recognize it 200 years later. to the animal that he had drawn and that the artist himself had never seen. Sorry for the awkward narration, English is not my first language

[@jackg.3187]

This is such a BRILLIANT idea. I love Danielle's art commentary. Reminds me of watching Sister Wendy back in the day, so informative. I'd watch this all day.

[@wynstunsuk]

I could watch these types of episodes forever. Thank you Danielle❤.

[@patrickgragg5602]

ONE OF THE BEST ARTISTS I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING YOUR WORK!

[@LordAllo]

Awesome! Please do a second part! 👍👍👍

[@Death2010]

I will continue to ask for a Drawfee collab until it happens! Just be so fun to see a bunch of just really nice fun artists having a grand time.

[@Ahopek]

I love how you enjoy a giggle about features you don't understand while still giving gracious credit to the artists for how well they did with what information they had!

[@MossyMozart]

I like that Md Danielle commented on the artistic technique as well as the portrayal of the specimens. It was good to see her take into account what was understood at the time instead of just laughing her way through the examples.

[@lavolka]

Please keep this series going. It's wonderful!

[@maillardsbearcat]

Danielle is so cool I can't deal

[@Mini_Squatch]

3:54 thats just mamoswine, the pokemon lol

[@quisnessness]

I love these. These drawings are like trying to figure out what an image is when you only have a handful of pieces from a large puzzle. Based on how many puzzle pieces they had back then, these guesses are really good. Over time we're getting more pieces of that puzzle as we find more fossils, gain a deeper understanding of evolution and taxonomy, and use modern technology, so the guesses at the full picture become closer and closer.

[@yeesus88]

Love this new format, you should totally do more like this

[@lafcursiax]

Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing a second set of vintage art reactions next. Your explanations are expert without going over people's heads, and just plain entertaining!

[@Dana_Ruiz]

Wonderful video, I would love to see more content like this.

[@samsparks7239]

I love your artwork. I'm definitely hooked on this series. Could we perhaps, see you explore the Gigantopithecus?

[@OrgusDin]

Imagine being a paleo artist millions of years from now trying to recreate the appearance of youtubers commenting on scuffed paleo art.

[@Scarlet_Soul]

They're truly beautiful

[@tuxuhds6955]

The most beautiful thing I see here is Danielle's enthusiasm when she talks about a subject that's really close to her heart. Well done!

[@UnwrittenSpade]

You guys just HAVE to make this a semi regular series too! This was so cool to see the old interpretations of past life!!!!

[@kevinlobos5519]

The angy deinotherium beats them all. It's just perfect.

[@youngmasterzhi]

You forgot to include the flying stegosaurs (early paleotonologists thought the scales on the ridged back were sails that allows them to fly)

[@takenname8053]

Love the positive take on old paleoart!

[@Ave_Echidna]

I will never unsee the dingleberries on that pterodactylus

[@ThatFreeWilliam]

Did that guy draw the long fingerbone of the pterodactylus so that it was connected to the foot? If so that's such a wild thought!

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

You're such a natural in front of the camera. Thanks for the animal knowledge, love anipals

[@Mystrich]

Im surprised she didnt comment but on the angler fish, I find it so interesting the lantern part is a smoking candle.

[@germanomagnone]

when I see these old paleoarts, it strikes me how prehistoric animals were imagined, I have couple of examples that would be worthy to mention: the "stego-zilla" by A. Jobin 1884 and "ankylo-stego" by frank bond in 1899,Torosaurus and Monoclonius by Francis John, published in 1900.

[@TheWuschi]

I love this video so much! It is so refreshing to hear you talk about those beautiful old illustration with a deep understanding for the art, the depicted animals and the artists, who gave so much effort and all the knowledge they had to create their pictures. I am always kind of depressed, when on other channels with paleontological themes I hear phrases like "they didn't know shit" and "ridiculous"... You probably know, whom I mean (and yes, he is one of my favorite creators...). - Please, make another one of these, there are so many great old pictures to review! On my special wishlist, there would be the development of depictions of Neandertals or the development of "whales" from ancient world-maps to realistic pictures. Thank you for all your work!

[@Poisonjam7]

There’s isn’t enough attention being given on most Animalogic videos that Danielle does the illustrations you see in the intro and for the subject of most videos. Most people just think she’s the presenter and that’s it. But she’s an incredibly talented artist. More people need to know!!

[@puttiplush]

Possumdactyl gives me joy. Every part of the Possumdactyl is evocative. Also appreciate friendly lil' Helicoprion Ris-73.

[@kellymills7346]

Truly enjoyed! Great job!

[@grillninja6492]

I have watched your animalogic shenanigans for years and I want you to know that you are wonderful and it's good to see you. I am an artist too and I am smiling in my heart right now :D

[@Ag5585swampdonkeyAG]

the thing that impresses me the most was how beautiful Danielle is ,the drawings are cool but she steals the show for me . Animalogic is awesome .

[@TheWampam]

For some reason older art likes to show Deinotherium angry. It is probably the name.

[@sohopedeco]

I had no idea about how much knowledge goes on about the making of paleoart. This video shows us a side of Danielle I didn't imagine.

[@burntcinnabun5232]

Love her as a zoologist and host, though I've always been curious of Danielle as an artist. So this is such a good opportunity for that part of her knowledge to shine!

[@natashadawe6051]

Fun fact: no pterosaurs had 'proto-feathers' they had something else know as pycnofibres(sorry if I misspelled it)

[@lumis5896]

12:02 this is such a beautiful paining. The artist might not have known much about what these animals looked like, and he lived before filming underwater was possible. But still he has created such a lively, detailed underwater scene with prehistoric animals in beautiful movement.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

The mammoth reminds me of the wonderfully weird medieval drawings of elephants, ditto for the fish. Great fun! The Tiger-cat was also wonderful…

[@logandavis6206]

I absolutely love how yall see the art within the context of what science/ knowledge was available at the time. Sometimes people judge the actions of the past through a modern lens. Which isn't realistic. All of us are bound by the perspective of our time. Very well done!

[@animalogic]

Danielle was the true genius behind the episode! We are so lucky to have her and her knowledge!! Glad you liked it.

[@bewilderbeastie8899]

"Nowadays we know Megalosaurus to be bipedal with small arms" and then the video proceeds to show another horrendously outdated Megalosaurus reconstruction

[@blingviera7925]

She's such an amazing artist.

[@EquuZombie]

One of the reasons I started collecting vintage natural history books was illustration art such as this. Charming and hilarious in turns. Although I will have to say that some of the most sporfle-inducing paleoart can be found in the Wildlife Treasury subscription collector cards, that green-cased staple of Gen Xers everywhere. The dinosaurs art is certainly...something.

[@cookingwithtabitha]

Wow, you just brought back a memory. 😅 Although, the ones we had were in binder form.

[@petebyrdie4799]

Mid to late 19th century is my favourite period for natural history art. I've got some lovely examples from debound books. But I'd love some paleoart from that period; dinosaurs that look like big lizards fighting, plesiosaurs with snakey necks, weird pterosaurs, I love that stuff.

[@Tser]

I love funny, old, outdated paleo art, and I love modern paleo art, and I love that a lot of modern paleo art will some day be amusing outdated paleoart! The fact that stuff we used to know is wrong shows how much we're learning.

[@embroiledalive5232]

I really enjoy your narratives because your enthusiasm is so apparent. And often, i enjoy someone's show but don't think i would like the person 'in person' but I'm sure you're a really nice person. Keep going.

[@honeybunnyj7]

This presenter is so charming!! I want to watch more content with Danielle!!!

[@lauxmyth]

Another day you can look to the Bestiary drawings from a bit earlier. Artists drew from text from others and you got some wild elephants and even mythical animals.

[@losingmymind611]

The Field Museum in Chicago reworked outdated paleoart in their collection into benches and other asides in the dinosaur/extinction exhibit that ends with our era now. It's really cool that they recognize the merit of keeping it and even make sure to call attention to and explain them.

[@korosuke1788]

11:00 it probably was straight but had muscles on top. During decay, those muscles could dry up faster and curl the entire structure. A similar thing happens, when you cook "entraña" and other cuts of meat.

[@RafaCB0987]

Sucha good video, loved how you not only explained the detais about how the art come to be but rated it for their quality instead of only the inaccuracies

[@bensperez]

One of my favorite videos of yours

[@tessat338]

I envy very little in this world but the one thing that I do envy is the ability to draw accurately from life or from the imagination. I would love to be able to do what you do.

[@ljtb]

More Danielle please, we love Danielle ❤

[@Ihwaz13]

The two taxidermies of ocelots at 9:35 are on display at the museum of natural history in Berlin, Germany as an example for how far taxidermy has come.

[@user-ft4jo8ev1v]

First time on this channel, so cool to see all these, and Danielle seems so nice! Subscribed

[@laurenthomas7074]

This was an unexpectedly wholesome video, really enjoyed the discussion! Very interesting

[@cyrilio]

Please do a video about the paleontology of ‘All Tomorrows’.

[@PierpaoloLucidi]

Loved it, please more of this!!

[@scarletcrusader5431]

I LOVE Danielle, she's so talented and is a wealth of knowledge!

[@AlienBemular]

You should do a video about the art of all tomorrows or all yesterday or all todays.

[@hyliano]

Even though the drawings are not accurate, they are in their own way beautiful, modern Paleo art is pretty nice and the animals look alive, but old Paleo art has that "old painting" style that's so beautiful, I love the ictiosaur painting

[@bentoaican]

I could watch this all day

[@LenaFerrari]

Really fun to watch. I really liked that our host wasn't conceited about inaccurate art based on what we know now. I find it a really common posture to act superior to people working with less information, and this was a breath of fresh air

[@jessesmith4541]

3:00 Possumdactylis wouldn't look out of place in a Hieronymus Bosch piece.

[@infowarriorone]

I like to think of what amazing fossils have yet to be unearthed which will fill in the gaps of our knowledge of how these creatures really looked when they were alive. An example would be the Suncor Nodosaur fossil which was so well preserved that its natural colour and shading was observable.

[@madddog7]

that was a great episode, thanks* *more please

[@davidhanson4909]

Now I want a series or podcast or something where you and Emily from The Brain Scoop critique scientific art and taxidermy.😀

[@pbp6741]

Makes one wonder how future generations on UsTube will reflect on Danielle’s quaint, though naïve, art.

[@maskraider6240]

Really love ya Danielle! I could watch your content back to back. Stay beautiful

[@shadowscribe]

Fascinating how old paleo art went from "here's what it looks like" to respectful study of period headspace and references. You wanna talk mozasaurs, today we'd say lizard whale, but at the time they would lean full sea serpent.

[@diegovillaruiz2431]

More of this, please!!!

[@MrPossumAdventures]

Possumdactilus - I feel seen AND inspired. That's my true form - a flying, screaming terror of the skies!!

[@natashadawe6051]

Possum bat.. That's a good creature idea now that I think about it

[@tonydeluna8095]

These would be an interesting painting to make. The animals of our world! Very cool creatures. I really like the Tiger Cat

[@GardenofYden0]

such a wonder video format switch up! i love it!!

[@Navy.Archangel]

I hope you continue these :)

[@Echo_the_half_glitch]

Old Paleo art is great for monster design inspiration, especially for lizard or dragon designs

[@jameswright4640]

I like all of the stuff on Animalogic! This video is now one of my favorites. Danielle did a great job! Angry Deinotherium (sp?) is now my computer wallpaper. Great episode!

[@thomasrdiehl]

Okay, one gripe: By 1843 we DID have a concept of evolution, it's just we hadn't yet figured out how it worked. It was already pretty evident it was happening, though. Lamarck had published his theory 40 years earlier than when the possumdactylus image was made. Darwin just ended up the one who got the actual mechanics of it right. Taxonomy meanwhile was already 90 years old by 1849.

[@lukemarfim]

Love your voice, so calming and clear! And also loved the content! Your drawings are beautiful and the historic arts are awesome! Keep it up, Dani!