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Michael English

@scienceskink.bsky.social

Irish nature-nerd, occasionally artist and keeper of big bugs, reptiles, and weird plants!

91 Posts195 Follower86 Folgt
Martyn Warren (he/him)@martynwarren.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Want to see something cool? I'm currently working on chapter pages for my book, and landed on the idea of using slightly more sketchy black and white illustrations to contrast with the full-colour drawings. Here are 2 concepts I've done so far...

A concept showing a double page spread. The left page is a chapter intro for coleoptera with a monochrome pencil sketch of a bamboo weevil. The right page shows my goliath beetle drawing in full colour.A concept showing a double page spread. The left page is a chapter intro for mantodea with a monochrome pencil sketch of a funky skinny mantis (I forget its name). The right page shows my banded flower mantis drawing in full colour.
Michael English @scienceskink.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The Emperor Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) The largest of the old world vultures, this magnificent species has a range throughout much of Eurasia. Cinereous vultures like many species suffered a decline over the 20th century due to poisoning and reduced availability of carcasses to feed on

art of a cinereous vulture, it is done in a style reminiscent of an oil painting. the bird is posed in front of a purple circle and has a dark background, looking to the left with neck extended we can see the white rugged feathers that run either side of the darker neck. either side of the portrait we see it framed by three skulls, a wolf, a rabbit, and a boar
Michael English @scienceskink.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A new world vulture for the 2nd card, despite the visual similarities vultures of the Americas are not closely related to the vultures of Africa and Eurasia. This is an example of convergent evolution, where two unrelated groups of animal independently take on similar strategies to occupy a niche.

art of a black vulture (Coragyps atratus) leaping. it's wings are up with the feet preparing to extend to land. it has a small jester hat floating above their head. there is a border and at the bottom the tarot card title "The Fool". the background of the image is a vivid blue with yellow spots and a pink circle behind the head. either side of the card there is a border with four skulls on each side, top to bottom they are: black vulture, opossum, alligator, and raccoon
Michael English @scienceskink.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The Chariot Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) Vultures are the most endangered group of birds, not only is suitable habitat being reduced through agriculture and urbanization, but climate change, persecution, and poisoning have lead to a steady decline of several species.

a tarot card depicting a cape vulture sitting within the ribcage of a zebra. the text on the card says "The Chariot" the pose of the vulture emulates a person in a small chariot. the background is sky blue but with a golden circle just behind the head of the bird. the frame of the image is brown with gold on the corners. on either side of the card there is a skull and neck vertebrae of the cape vulture
franz@franzanth.bsky.social · last yr.

This thread is close to my stance: More automation will always happen. What matters is whether it happens over generations, replacing tedious/dangerous jobs, or if it happens overnight, killing jobs people are still actively training for so billionaires can save money. Tyler is more coherent, tho.

Tyler, from the Internet@tylerfromtheinternet.com · last yr.

When I talk about my opposite and naked hostility toward AI, people will point to emergent technology in the past that disrupted. But the thing is were I there at the time, I would have been an opponent of that too. This does not mean I am anti-technology, or didn't want the tech to develop. 🧵