ChenoaEllinghaus

If you are wishing to contact me please contact me via my website (I am not on deviant art often, I will promptly respond within 24 hours)

ChenoaPaleoart.com

It is often remarked that the key to the past is in the present. By studying contemporary biology and environmental science, paleontologists gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that drive the function of the ecosystems of Earth’s history. In many respects, our comprehension of prehistoric life is complex, but it is not and will never be complete. This is the challenge of natural history illustration; to take the current understanding of the “now” and create a visual reconstruction, often times dealing with biological factors that no longer exist.

Paleoart, at its core, is a visual hypothesis, making use of the plethora of data collected across the globe. As more information is collected, scientific comprehension of the paleontological world changes. Natural history illustration is a thoughtful exploration of fossils with a flexibility of mind to accept the growing understanding of new materials and continued effort to improve accuracy.

Chenoa Ellinghaus is an inquisitive natural history illustrator from the greater Denver area, and creator of striking fossil reconstructions. Picking through paleontological data, like a detective, she strives to capture accuracy as well as a fresh approach to expressing the myriad of anatomical possibilities hidden within the evidence. With a BFA in Illustration from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, over nine years experience in the natural sciences, and a lifetime of fossil collecting, Chenoa approaches her work from artistic, biological, and geological angles. Her love for ancient life, starting in her youth, has evolved into a fascination and passion for the study of bizarre prehistoric invertebrates. Today, her artistic merits are channeled through her Paleoartist in Residence position at the Morrison Natural History Museum, bringing the past to the surface.

Her involvement in paleontology is not limited to her career in paleoart. Teaching science education and literacy, Chenoa participates in outreaches that engage learners of all ages. Five out of seven days a week, she holds morning fossil tables at the Dino Hotel, Best Western Denver Southwest. Owner of Paleo Pals ™ Plush Toys, she creates cuddly prehistoric stuffed animals that maintain a high degree of scientific merit and encourage budding minds through creative play.