NORTHERN TYRANT KING
No. 6 | Alaskan Natural History series
James L. Havens • March 2020 • Anchorage, Alaska
Oil on canvas • 6.5 × 8.5 feet
Original sold • Listed value: $38,000
An interpretation of Nanuqsaurus and Alaska’s prehistoric landscape, developed through the artist’s research and scientific collaboration.
Learn More
For more on this amazing project visit the Alaska Paleo-Project page and explore the WHOLE Northern Tyrant King story and the other ongoing Nanuqsaurus projects underway!
ORIGINAL WORKS
About the Original Works
The original "Northern Tyrant King," a remarkable piece of Alaskan dinosaur art by James L. Havens, is a hand-painted oil on canvas. Additionally, an original hand-sculpted maquette was created as a reference for both the oil painting and the upcoming full-scale, life-sized project, which will be a unique blend of half sculpture and half painting. This original work, along with public outreach, is slated for summer 2023.
THE FULL-SCALE RECONSTRUCTION
The full-scale sculpture will beautifully blend traditional arts like oil painting and sculpture with innovative 3D digital skull reconstruction, expertly recreated by Jesse Pruitt of Buzzsaw Studio. The artist will then meticulously hand sculpt over the digital skull print in clay to achieve the utmost accuracy.
Serving as the scientific adviser for this project is the dedicated Dr. Pat Druckenmiller from the UAF Museum of the North. Once completed, the dioramic painting will merge with the sculptural components, creating the impression of a full-sized Alaskan dinosaur art piece while occupying significantly less exhibition space. In addition, other new species of smaller Arctic dinosaurs, including the fascinating Northern Tyrant King, will also be sculpted and featured in the dioramic foreground, enhancing the overall representation of these remarkable creatures, as envisioned by James L. Havens.
NEW DISCOVERIES
Top 10 Dinosaur Discoveries 2021
Congratulations to the UAF team for their recent amazing discoveries on the North Slope of Alaska! We are thrilled to see the Northern Tyrant King, an original oil painting by James L. Havens, featured as discovery news that has captivated audiences worldwide. Amazingly, we secured a spot in Smithsonian Magazine's top ten dinosaur discoveries for 2021—cheers to that!
Be sure to catch the upcoming process video showcasing how we created the Alaskan dinosaur art from start to finish!
Learn more & read the article here.
NEW! Baby nanuqsaurus bones
Read more here!
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM | ARTIST INTERPRETATION
Female
Female
Female
In James L. Havens' Alaskan dinosaur art, the female Nanuqsaurus is envisioned with a drab color palette that helps it blend into the background, similar to today’s waterfowl like ducks. This adaptation serves to protect the nesting site and its young, reflecting the characteristics of the Northern Tyrant King.
Male
Female
Female
For the male, the artist James L. Havens chose an overall black coloration, which would not only provide a stealthy camouflage in the dense forest but also absorb sunlight during the colder winter months, similar to today's ravens. This design for the Northern Tyrant King was further enhanced with a bright cassowary-like facial display to attract a female, just as many bird species do today in the realm of Alaskan dinosaur art.
PACHYRHINOSAURUS SKULL
Also included in the painting is the skull of another unique Alaskan dinosaur - Pachyrhinosaurus p. - a distant relative of the legendary Triceratops, showcasing the artistry of James L. Havens and highlighting the Northern Tyrant King of the prehistoric era.
FIELD STUDIES | DENALI NATIONAL PARK
On Location in Denali National Park
Artist James L. Havens ventured into the backcountry of Denali National Park to explore the new discoveries there, connect with the ancient mystical landscape, and gather references for his latest Alaskan dinosaur art project. This includes his final painting in the series, titled 'Return of the King,' featuring the majestic Northern Tyrant King.
RETURN OF THE KING
NEW W.I.P. conclusion of the Northern Tyrant King story, created by James L. Havens, is currently underway, showcasing remarkable Alaskan dinosaur art!
SPECIAL THANKS
THANK YOU!
JESSE PRUITT / Buzzsaw Studio - Special thanks to Jesse Pruitt for his brilliant skull reconstructions and digital printing, making him the best in the business for Alaskan dinosaur art. He is a must for this type of project. Check out his world-famous 'Buzzsaw Studio!'
DAVE CAVITT / FURNATURE ENTERPRISES of ALASKA Inc. - Special thanks to Dave Cavitt and the entire mall crew for their support and for providing exceptional exhibit spaces for the Alaska Paleo-Project pop-up educational exhibitions over these many seasons.
PAT DRUCKENMILLER / UAF Museum of the North - Special thanks to Pat for being our scientific advisor over these years and for providing many of the hands-on exhibit items within Alaska Paleo-Project exhibits, including those related to the Northern Tyrant King.
THANK YOU - to all the contributors (too many to list) over these many years - you know who you are and are very much appreciated - thank you!
AND TO YOU OUR SUPPORTERS AND FOLLOWERS: THANK YOU!
