About Joseph A. Garcia

Nature and the science behind it amazes and inspires me in both art and research. I am fully qualified to be an Artist, Museum Curator, and Educator in both education and experience. I have a B.A. in Fine Art minors in Geology, a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies (Paleo-ecology, Geo-Chemistry, and Art) and Masters in Education - Teaching and Curriculum , all from the University of Montana, Missoula. This is a unique combination perhaps, but one that allows for my deep desire that nature and science should be shared and enjoyed by all. In all of my work I use my expertise to make museum quality pieces that bring the inspiration of nature inside.

Though I have made art for as long as I can remember what inspired me to pursue scientific art was a fluke. As a new father I was looking for ways to earn money with art commissions. I was directed to the Paleontology department and met Professor. George D. Stanley, who commissioned a pen and ink based on the stippling piece of a motorcycle I had in my portfolio. My wife and I started to take Professor Stanley's classes and when our son was born he was already steeped in science. When the diagnosis of Severe Autism came we decided that as our son loved museums, but did not behave in them, the best way we could support him was to work in them. We made the move to digital art very soon, learning every lesson the hard way as the University of Montana did not have digital art classes yet. I was on the committee to include them, and had to obediently take the 100 level courses when I went back for my Masters of Education, Teaching and Curriculum because they were now required courses. Art, Science, and history are part of the core of my family, it is how we grew together, and what we in the Garcia Family want to share with the world.

CV of Joseph A. Garcia

Work in progress.

Had to make a digital painting to ascertain the most likely color and pattern of this ammonite. I have found it is best to use this method for my sculptures rather than paint and fail on multiple models. It still amazes me how color effects perception, one of my favorite things.

#ammonite, #prehistory, #digitalart, #color, #josephagarcia

Same ammonite, different pattern. Placenticeras ammonite from Bear Paw Shale. The shell dynamics suggest it was fast moving ammonite. As there are few shelled creatures that still fill this niche, the probability factors of likely pattern and color combinations. I usually try out several color and pattern possibilities, and see how they fit within the Environmental niche.

#ammonites, #ancient, #prehistory, #Reconstruction, #scientificillustration, #fossil, #art, #digitalart, #workinprogress, #beargulch, #sea, #color, #pattern, #josephagarcia, #garciastudiollc,

Early morning sketching. One of the factors I have to remember when doing a reconstruction of an underwater creature is what did it look like in its environment. Colors that may seem garish or too bold may look entirely different when water is added. I am still working on this piece, but thought I would share part of the process I do to check for accuracy. 1

#ammonite , #art ,#workinprogress,#ancient , #sketch, #fossil, #josephagarcia

Prehistoric Skate/Ray, from Bear Gulch Limestone, Montana, Missipian Age. Squatinactis caudispinatus (Chondrichthyes Cladodontia)
Reconstruction by Joseph A. Garcia.
#prehistory, #fossil, #reconstruction, #sea, #ancient, # sealife, #beargulch, #ray, #skate

Jaworski Ammonite model. Head and Opperculum removable. Based on fossil from the Prof. Royal Brunson collection I inherited years ago.

#ammonite, #Cretaceous, #model, #sea, #ancient, #prehistory, #fossil, #art, #model

Styxsosaurus, Work in progress, by Joseph A Garcia
I thought it would be a good educational idea to show the habitat range of these prehistoric creatures. So I am making two pictures of the same fossil, because twice the educational value is worth twice the work. When finished there will be fish and creatures within the near shore environment as the Styxsosarus uses the undersea channel to hide it's body and use its long neck to good advantage.
#fossil, #prehistoricart, #prehistoric, #sea, #illustration, #animals, #fauna, #garciastudiollc, #art, #artist, #digitalsketch, #ancient, #ocean, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #artoninstagram, #paleontologyart, #prehistoricanimals, #science, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #paleontologyart, #prehistoricanimals, #scientificillustration, #paleoart, #biology

The Ordivician Sea, 485.4 - 443.8 m.y.a, Missouri, by Joseph A Garcia
I have been hyper - concentrated on this particular piece all week, as the virus the kids generously shared with their old man left me able to do little else. This particular piece is based on specimens I personally found or curated while in Missouri. The credit for the orthocone goes to my daughter though, a regular fossil finder. I prefer when we share fossils as a family instead of viruses.
#fossil, #prehistoricart, #art, #artist, #animals, #digitalart #naturalhistory, #artoninstagram, #paleontologyart, #prehistoricanimals, #science, #geology, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #artwork, #biology, #orthocone, #sciart, #orthocone, #kidfavorite, #illustration, #geologynerd

Distichomeandra, Coral, Wrangellia, Triassic, UMPC (University of Montana) specimen, reconstruction by Joseph A Garcia
Part of any good paleontology environment reconstruction is studying every portion of it. Corals are really helpful in indicating water temperature, depth, turbidity, and much more. Before I do a large scene I always do study sketches of everything found in the area. This allows for population counts, interactive relationships, and more precise placement within the final piece. What this coral, along with others tells us if of Alaska ' s tropical past during the Triassic.

#artwork, #science, #paleontology, #fossil, #prehistoric, #ocean, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #coral, #triassic, #alaska, #garciastudiollc, #digitalart, #naturalhistory, #artoninstagram, #paleontologyart, #art, #sketch, #universityofmontana

Mosasaurus missouriensis, Big Bend South Dakota, De Grey Formation, Pierre Shale, 72.32 Mya, Paleo Reconstruction by Joseph A Garcia
This species dwelt in photic zone, in the Cretaceous Interior Seaway. It wasn't the largest species at the time, under fourty feet at full length, largest teeth 2.45 inches. First North American specimen found in 1834.
#fossil, #prehistoricart, #prehistoric, #sea, #illustration, #animals, #fauna, #garciastudiollc, #art, #artist, #cretaceous, #ancient, #ocean, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #ammonite, #mosasaur, #digitalart, #naturalhistory, #artoninstagram, #paleontologyart, #prehistoricanimals, #science, #geologynerd, #digital, #geology, #garcia, #scientificillustration, #paleoart, #biology,

Orthocone vs shark (Falcatus falcatus), Bear Gulch Montana, by Joseph A Garcia
Happy Darwin Day! We are a fossil family. My kids play " my favorite prehistoric creature could eat your favorite prehistoric creature." My daughter loves orthocones, my son loves sharks. In response my son requested a Mosasaur eating ammonites (only through the basic sketch there.) #prehistoric, #sea, #ocean, #animals, #fauna, #fossil, #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #josephagarcia, #workinprogress, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #shell, #kidfavorite, #illustration, #digitalart, #darwinday, #art, #shark, #orthocone, #sciart, #artistsoninstagram, #paleoart, #paleobiology, #animalsketch , #prehistoricpets

Ammonite, Parkinsonia parkinsoni, by Joseph A Garcia
A peaceful spot in a Jurassic Ocean.
#geology, #paleontology, #fossil, #artwork, #science, #artist, #digitalsketch, #art, #ammonite, #digitalart, #jurassic, #ocean, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #shell, #garcia, #garciastudiollc, #paleontologyart, #prehistoric, #geologynerd, #digital, #naturalhistory, #peaceful

Mosasaur, Bear Paw Shale Montana, by Joseph A Garcia
Pierre Sea, 70mya
I am somewhere in the process with this piece. What I love about digital is I can keep this piece just as it is, plus go on to full realism. It is nice to not be constrained to only one style in the same piece.
#artwork, #science, #paleontology, #fossil, #prehistoric, #sea, #ocean, #animals, #fauna, #garciastudiollc, #art, #inlandsea, #ammonite, #mosasaur, #digitalart, #digitalsketch, #garcia, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #shell, #sea, #illustration, #geologynerd, #digital, #naturalhistory, #artoninstagram, #paleontologyart, #prehistoricanimals, #scientificillustration

Ammonite, Parkasonia, by Joseph A Garcia
While big toothy dinosaurs roamed the land, these guys were in the ocean. There were big toothy creatures in the ocean too. Gotta admire the non toothy predators who found their niche, like this ammonite.

#geology, #paleontology, #fossil, #prehistoric, #ancientocean, #ammonite, #art, #science, #shell, #ocean, #oceanlife, #animals, #digital, #digitalart, #digitalsketch, #garcia, #garciastudiollc, #artwork, #color, #paleoart, #cephalopod, #jurassic

Time to replace the nib... I am maybe a little hard on them, as digital was just a dream when I was first learning, and I still stimple like it apparently.

#digitalart, #artsupplies, #bamboopen, #wacom, #timefornew, #digital, #traditionalart, #stimple

Orthocone, Mississippian, by Joseph A Garcia
My daughter prefers Orthocones to sharks. This particular orthocone was been recorded as having eaten small sharks, so that both children may rest in the knowledge that all of prehistory is pretty cool.
I am having to repost this one I made for her because the orginal post now shows two guys fishing in a car. A picture I don't have on any of my computers, or tablets... #fossil, #prehistoric, #paleontology, #blackandwhite, #ocean, #animals, #ancient, #shell, #mississippian, #artwork, #science, #geology, #geologynerd, #ancientocean, #kidfavorite, #garciastudiollc

Dunkleosteus, by Joseph A Garcia, digital sketch
By far my son's favorite prehistoric fish since he was a toddler. He would have a tank full of them if he could. At least I can make him a picture (I don't think I would be too keen on cleaning up after a tank full of them anyway....)
#prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #geologynerd, #geology, #fossil, #fish, #fossilfish, #dunkleosteus, #garciastudiollc, #ocean, #oceanlife, #ancientocean, #kidfavorite, #illustration,#animals, #smile, #artforkids, #art, #digitalart, #naturalhistory

Hetera elegantus, Bear Gulch Montana, by Joseph A Garcia
In the fossil shark, autism speech therapy project, with my son I found it is easier to have premade backgrounds. Then we select what shark fits each environment, shallow water, open ocean, murky water etc. These are the picks he has made for this piece with the information about the environment niche these sharks would have occupied. Next I will add in more details, like plants from that era, bit more realism etc.
#fossil, #prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #josephagarcia, #workinprogress, #oceanlife, #autism, #education, #shark, #digitalart, #oceanlife, #ocean, #animalsketch

Mosasaur in the Cretaceous interior seaway, by Joseph A Garcia
New research changed the tail, so I am updating accordingly. This is the piece so far.
As a dad who has seen Finding Nemo many times the "you inked' line of the young sea creatures did run through my mind. Think I would "ink"too if faced with those teeth.

#fossil , #prehistoricart, #prehistoric , #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #geologynerd, #garciastudiollc, #art , #cretaceous, #ancient, #ocean, #oceanlife , #shell , #sea, #illustration, #illustrations, #animals, #digitalart, #cretaceous, #workinprogress, #predator, #prey, #nature, #ammonite, #mosasaur

Stethacanthus, Bear Gulch, Carboniferous, by Joseph A Garcia
My son has picked out the next shark he wants as a picture project. This is based on a specimen from the University of Montana Paleontology collection. Males have the large ironing board in the species.
#fossil, #prehistoric, #prehistoricart, #art, #science, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #artwork, #shark, #oceanlife, #project, #digitalart, #stoneonpaper, #stethacanthus

Falcatus falcatus, by Joseph A Garcia,
Still working on this one, as it is just as much about helping my son talk as it is about art. My son decided he liked the blue eyes better, so I changed them again. Background is still in Flux, so this is what we have so far. He really likes sharks so this has been a good project for us.
#fossil, #prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #shark, #oceanlife, #speechtherapy, #autism, #fatherandson, #falcatus

Chapiquipio Peru Triassic limpid, digital sketch by Joseph A Garcia
Part of a larger study of mine. Why leave a good topic alone....
#fossil, #prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #art, #shell, #triassic, #seashell

Falcatus Falcatus update, still not finished, but closer. My son loves sharks, so I am using this to help language interaction (autism). We may have watched more shark documentaries than strictly necessary, but then it's always good to be through.
#fossil, #science, #paleontology, #shark, #digitalart, #digitalsketch, #art, #artist, #animals, #ancient, #ocean, #oceanlife, #prehistoric, #autism, #education, #falcatus

Chartroniella Pacifica, AMNH F1, 2653OC, TRIASSIC, upper, Peru, Cerro de Pasco, by Joseph A Garcia
Study sketch of triassic gastropod. Before any large piece to really know the subject, and be able to draw it at any angle, I like to be able to do study sketches. Plus I am experienced enough to have already done the projects full of hubris, and learned not to do that anymore.
#geology, #paleontology, #fossil, #prehistoric, #ancient, #ocean, #oceanlife, #shell, #triassic, #seashell, #gastropod, #blackandwhite, #color, #artwork, #art, #digitalart, #digitalsketch, #science

Triassic Coral, study sketch by Joseph A Garcia
Before any large art piece, comes all the itty bitty pieces. This study is based on specimen collected by Andrew Caruthers, in Wrangellia Terrain, back in my undergrad days.
#geology, #paleontology, #fossil, #prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #artist, #digitalsketch, #art, #coral, #triassic, #blackandwhite, #ocean #color

Orthocone, by Joseph A Garcia
I like doing these because my daughter likes orthocones best, as she is the first one in the family to have found one. It was the cutest moment right after I had lamented that despite all my looking I had never found one, she asked me what they looked like, I answered. Then she picks up one that was right next to her foot and say 'Like this daddy?' This is based on her find, which I of course have sculpted too. Bit of a proud dad.
#fossil, #prehistoric, #ocean, #oceanlife, #shell, #ordivician, #science, #sketch, #digitalart, #digitalsketch, #art, #fossilfinder, #garciastudiollc, #orthocone

Nerita, Triassic, Peru, Cerro de Pasco UMPC collections, reconstruction by Joseph A Garcia
Beginning sketches for a larger study. These are amazing specimens where the color pattern preserved. This means the place where color was remained colorized, but not necessarily the orginal color. That has to be assessed with an SEM. It's a fun study.

#fossil, #prehistoric, #ancient, #color, #artwork, #art, #science, #paleontology, #garciastudiollc, #study, #shell

Omphlapatcha jarwaski, triassic, peru, cerro de pasco, by Joseph A Garcia
Starting up a redo on old research, I concluded awhile back an area was a lagoon, but am now thinking it might have been more of a salt marsh. There is aggravatingly no stats measured for the area I can find, which would really help asertaining the rate and type of sediment deposition. Wish I had a TARDIS..... #fossil, #prehistoricart, #prehistoric, #past, #ocean, #oceanlife, #shell, #triassic, #nature, #garcia, #garciastudiollc, #artwork, #art, #science, #paleontology, #josephagarcia, #workinprogress, #blackandwhite

Silurian jellyfish reconstruction, by Joseph A Garcia,
Photoshopped an old airbrush piece I did in 2006. At the time I only had a small partial sheet of illustration board, and the airbrush couldn't make fine enough lines, resulting in tenticles being cut off. It was nice to finely make the piece look like I wanted.
#fossil, #prehistoric, #artwork, #science, #artist, #jellyfish, #silurian, #airbrush, #photoshop, #garciastudiollc, #oldproject, #starvingartist, #digitalart, #paleontologyart

Falcatus Falcatus, Bear Gulch Montana, based on specimen from University of Montana collection specimen, by Joseph A Garcia
About done with this piece, but at the point where it needs to mull in my mind and put the "brush" down before it gets mucked up. Tiny little sharks, that remind me of the iridescent shark my son had as one of his first fish.
#nature, #past, #longago, #fossil, #prehistoric, #ancient, #sea, #ocean, #oceanlife, #shark, #digitalart, #art, #artist, #animals, #garciastudiollc, #universityofmontana, #paleontology, #paleontologyart

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At Garcia Studio LLC, there is always projects going on. New birds to sculpt. Paleontological pasts to reconstruct and illustrate. From early invertebrates to the modern world, everything is inspiring.

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About Joseph A. Garcia

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