Osteology study

A labelled osteology plate of the emu skull.

Most existing reference material shows the lateral or dorsal aspect of the skull, where the vomer, palatine and pterygoid are hidden behind the beak and braincase. It was therefore essential to draw from an actual specimen, which I was fortunate enough to have at hand.

The skull was drawn 1:1, carefully measuring to get the proportions exactly right. After checking and double-checking all measurements, I created a value study. In this specific case it looks almost like a heat map, purely coincidental, based on the colours I chose that day. A value study is always good preparation before starting a final illustration or painting, but in this case I found it especially useful. The skull is such a delicate, light, and partially see-through structure that at first glance it's easy to think 'everything is light.' But there's always a range of values, and defining where the darkest darks and lightest lights fall, and everything in between, helps me capture the 3D shape when moving on to the final illustration.

Just like the studies, the final skull was drawn in graphite at actual size. It was then coloured digitally by overlaying a solid 'skull' colour on top of the graphite pencil drawing, darkening some areas and highlighting others.

Pencil construction drawing of the emu skull over a measured grid — Fig. 1Construction drawing. Proportions set against a measured grid.

Value study of the emu skull in reds, oranges and yellows — Fig. 2Value study. Colour used to map light and dark across the skull.

Scanned graphite drawing of the emu skull, before colouring — Fig. 3Scanned pencil drawing, unedited.

Finished plate: Dromaius novaehollandiae, ventral view of the skull with every bone labelled, a species table and notes on reading the skull — Fig. 4Finished plate. Ventral aspect, mandible not shown.