paleoart

noun

pa·​leo·​art ˌpā-lē-ō-ˈärt 

especially British ˌpa-

variants or less commonly paleo-art

: art that depicts prehistoric life or environments and that is based on fossil evidence

While paleoart is a form of scientific art, its value doesn't always lie in its level of accuracy.

—Asher Elbein

Paleoart usually starts with a fossil. If the actual dinosaur fossil is unavailable, artists can use a 3-D rotatable digital model or photographs.

—Allen Fisher

paleoartist

ˌpā-lē-ō-ˈär-tist 

especially British ˌpa-

noun

or less commonly paleo-artist

plural paleoartists also paleo-artists

The illustrations by paleoartist Robert Nicholls are scientifically accurate representations of the prehistoric beasts.

—Linda Howard

Examples of paleoart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team hopes that bringing scientifically accurate models to a broad audience will encourage paleoart to become more rigorous. — Sam Jones, Scientific American, 10 Mar. 2022

Davis hopes this study helps set a new scientific standard for all paleoart from physical illustrations and sculptures to digital models. — Sam Jones, Scientific American, 10 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

paleo- + art entry 1

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above