which subjects did paleolithic artitsts prefer to sculpt and paint?

Question

why do scholars think they made those choices?

Answer 1

This is not entirely correct, in fact, there were cultures who didn't paint their game, but other animals.

Here some motives of sculpture and painting:

- feminine figures (as stated above) => fertility magic/charm?
- game => calling for a good hunt?
- non-game animals => adoration of a totem/god?
- animal-human hybrids => adoration of a god?
- geometrical figures => not a clue
- hands => not a clue
- plants (extemely rare) => not a clue

Some of the motives:

- hunters
- horses
- bovines
- big cats (lions?)
- penguins
- mammoths

this list is not exaustive

We can easily imagine a shamanistic culture around this, but this is of course only speculation.

Answer 2

animals that they hunted and that hunted them.
Animals they hunted provided them with sustenance which meant living or dying.
Animals that hunted them were to be feared but you could depict them on the walls and perhaps gain some understanding.
Oh and I shouldn't forget the Venus figures which were likely fertility fetishes because of their voluptuous body shapes.

check the link.