Precambrian Wreath Christmas Card 2019

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Following on from last year's Christmas card (-click here-) I decided to continue the 'fossil wreath' theme by creating a Precambrian wreath, partially inspired by my dissertation work on Neoproterozoic stromatolites.

I started out by designing a 'standard' stromatolite bioherm (based upon living stromatolites in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, western Australia) and their fossil counterparts.

Standard design.

I followed this up by editing the standard to create numerous variations. These variations were stretched, at a different scale, had areas duplicated and bits removed. As the stromatolites were not the 'focus' of the design, it allowed some corners to be cut, instead of laboriously spending hours designing different shapes.

Variations on the standard.

The bioherms were then arranged in a wreath like ring, with a gap and some overhangs to make the design feel more organic. Then that design was shaded, using different transparent layers to darken the base and interior of the wreath, mimicking depth. The bioherms were overall a dull green colour, in keeping with the Christmas colour and to act as the holly, ivy and coniferous vegetation that would form the base of a 'normal' wreath.

Neonerites- a red-purple algae was also added on top of the stromatolite bioherms, and were appropriately shaded. This was draped over the wreath like tinsel. In retrospect, I could have been bolder with the tinsel element, adding more, or with a brighter colour. A red background was put in, to keep the festive feeling.

The wreath.

Then came the 'ornaments' including charnia 'candles' and 'dickinsonia' baubles.

Charnia.

Dickinsonia.

These were made similarly to the bioherms, with a single standard being made, and then duplicates being altered.  These were composed on the wreath, and shading added. After some consideration I also added some oncolite 'baubles' to add another element.

Early Carboniferous oncolite from Bracelet Bay, Mumbles.

Merry Christmas 2019.

A merry Christmas and happy new year from Northern Fells Palaeoart!