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

The plant’s longstanding record and frequent use as window-dressing in paleoart leads to the impression that cycads have stodgily been in evolution’s slow lane ever since, but botanists are finding that these plants have been much more responsive than anyone appreciated. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 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