Tiaojishan Phoenix (Caihong juji)

"Tiaojishan Phoenix", my latest painting, depicts the pigeon-sized, iridescent Caihong juji in the aftermath of a fire that has scoured the tropical forests of Late Jurassic China. Of all the dinosaurs for which we know something about their color, none so far are as colorful as Caihong. Amongst a mostly crow-like palette, splashes of iridescent color likely graced its head, chest and base of the tail. (I had to sacrifice some detail to get this effect).