scientific illustration | ArtPlantae Today

Archive for the ‘scientific illustration’ Category

Scientific Illustrators & Biologists Inspire Each Other at GNSI Meeting

Posted in Education, scientific illustration, Special Events on July 12, 2011|

Today I write to you from the annual meeting of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI). Illustrators and biologists have gathered in Olympia, Washington to learn about new techniques, new research and to catch-up with old friends. I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet people with whom I have an established email history. How nice it has been to finally meet them in person!

While only 24 hours have transpired on this very quick visit, I have been inspired several times over and have learned so much. My conference experience began with the Portfolio Sharing session. During this type of a session, illustrators open up their portfolios and discuss their work with others. On view are items such as educational posters, botanical illustrations, medical illustrations, textbook illustrations, instructions about how to use medical equipment, and other images representing the many ways scientific information is presented visually to the public. This session reminds you of how much of what we know and understand about the world is because a scientific illustrator helped us see it and understand it. Look around you. What did you learn from a scientific illustrator today?

As with any conference, there are so many learning opportunities and not nearly enough time. I have learned about the art, science and cultural connections between people and crows from Dr. David P. Craig, humpback whales from Dr. Fred Sharpe, aquatic insects from Dr. Carri J. LeRoy and the art of papercutting from artist, Nikki McClure. At the Techniques Showcase I saw demonstrations about lettering in pen & ink by Trudy Nicholson, how to work with Denril vellum by Alice Tangerini, pen & ink techniques by Marjorie Leggitt, and the art of scrimshaw by Captain Suzan Wallace. I also saw examples of colored pencil illustrations on coquille paper by Scott Rawlins, spoke with Kristie Bruzenak the conference chair of the 2012 GNSI Conference and created a card with a linoleum stamp created by printmaker, Sylvia Portillo.

All of this was followed by yet another heavy dose of inspiration at the opening reception of the annual GNSI exhibition.

Today, I go back for more.

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Imaging Technologies Focus of Exhibition About Picturing Science

Posted in Education, scientific illustration, Special Announcements, Special Events on June 29, 2011|

Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies
American Museum Natural History
June 25, 2011 – June 24, 2012

This exhibition brings attention to several areas of research conducted at the American Museum of Natural History. Curator Mark Siddall, from the Division of Invertebrate Zoology, has collected 20 large-format images showcasing the types of optical tools museum scientists use to view their subjects in new and exciting ways. View selected images and watch an interview with Siddall at Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies.

While on the museum’s website, also read Science Illustration at the Museum, an article published last week about traditional science illustration techniques.

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University of Washington Accepting Applications for Natural Science Illustration Program

Posted in botanical art, Learning Opportunities, scientific illustration on May 11, 2011|

Enrollment is open for the Certificate in Natural Science Illustration at the University of Washington. Applications will be reviewed beginning June 1, 2011. Interested applicants must submit a letter describing their work experience and knowledge of the field. Applicants must also submit a resume and samples of their work. The Autumn 2011 program begins on October 10, 2011.

Students accepted into this program will complete the following coursework:

Introduction to Natural Science Illustration
Zoological Illustration
Wildlife Illustration
Vertebrate Illustration
Applied Techniques of Natural Science Illustration
Botanical Illustration

Detailed information about this nine-month program is available on the University of Washington’s website for Professional & Continuing Education.

This information has also been posted to Classes Near You > Washington.

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New Botanical Art Workshop Focuses on Butterflies

Posted in Learning Opportunities, scientific illustration on August 17, 2009|

The following information has been added to CLASSES NEAR YOU > CALIFORNIA.

Butterflies in Watercolor:
Combining Butterflies within Botanical Art
Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sharon Belkin, Illustrator
9:00am – 3:30pm / Oak Room
$95 members/$105 non-members; pre-registration required
$10 supply fee due to the instructor in class
Supply list available upon registration

How do you make choices about which butterfly to include in a flower painting?

Scientific illustrator, Sharon Belkin, will address the many issues of combining butterflies with plant material as well as how to compose with flowers and insects. Topics that will be covered include:

Butterfly anatomy and the importance of wing position
Handling insect specimens and how to obtain them
Using reference materials to extract the details most useful to the artist (such as size of wingspan and season of activity)
Host plants
How to use photographs

Sharon will also discuss the many interesting insect-plant relationships found not only in California native plants but also insect-plant relationships found in the Tropics. For example, passionflower vines are host to a whole family of colorful butterflies. She was trained at UCLA and has been a member of The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators since 1976 and is a former member of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Throughout her career, Sharon has specialized in insect illustration, collaborating with museum and university scientists. Recently, she illustrated a series of 10 habitat studies of plants, animals and insects found in the various plant communities of the Ballona wetlands, located in Southern California. In 2009, she completed a series of 13 watercolor studies of native Guatemalan orchids. Because of her travels in the Amazon and in Central America, Sharon has developed a particular interest in rainforest ecology.

To register, please call 626.821.4624 or email jill.berry@arboretum.org

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Science Snapshots: Scientific Illustration as a Career

Posted in Education, scientific illustration on December 18, 2008| 3 Comments »

Unlike teaching, laboratory research, or field biology, scientific illustration is not a career choice typically presented to biology students. One of the objectives at ArtPlantae is to present scientific illustration as a career option. This is in direct response to the fact that the cohort to which I belonged in the late 80s/early 90s was never told that scientific illustration was an option. Biology students need to know that this option exists. In light of this objective, I would like to share with you two videos about three scientific illustrators — Mark Klinger at Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Molly Kelly Ryan & Mary Parrish at the Smithsonian National Natural History Museum.

Be sure to visit the websites below to learn more about both museums and to gain more insight into scientific illustration as a career.

Are there programs in scientific illustration? You bet. But let’s open this up to discussion. If you completed one of these programs, please share your experiences with our readers.

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Mark Klinger: Scientific Illustrator, Carnegie Museum of Natural History