Natural Science Illustration

Scientific Illustration is the union of scientific information with artistic skill. The purpose is to communicate scientific information in a visual way to an audience. That audience could range from a group of scientific professionals to preschool children; knowing your audience is key.

The mediums I choose to work with are graphite, pen & ink, scratchboard, watercolor and acrylics. Many artists in this field have switched to producing their work in digital format. I have chosen to continue with the traditional approach: using my own hands to move the pencil, pen or brush across the page. With today's technology, my hand-rendered work can easily and quickly be captured in digital format for print.

My formal training in Natural Science Illustration came from the University of California at Santa Cruz. I prefer to render flora and fauna from life as opposed to, perhaps, rendering a surgical procedure or the internal anatomy of a cockroach (yes, I’ve actually dissected a cockroach!). I like putting myself in the habitat of animals and plants and drawing them as they are living. Not only do I get to observe beautiful creatures and interesting plant forms, but I also learn a great deal about the habitat I'm in. Natural history knowledge is just as important to me as the drawings I produce.

I work as a freelance artist creating works for publications of all sorts. With nearly 20 years of experience I am accustomed to working under tight deadlines and with a variety of directive styles. I look forward to chatting with you about how my skills and background can facilitate getting your project to completion.

List of Clients
Bryce Canyon National Park • California State University-Fresno • California Wilderness Association • Crumb Elbow Publishers • Essex County Greenbelt Association • Friends of the Sea Otter • Harvard Museum of Natural History • Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary • Moss Landing Marine Labs • New Outlook Teen Center • Powow River Watershed Association • Shank Painter Publishing • Sierra National Forest • Travel & Nature • University Press of New England • Yosemite National Park • Portsmouth Schools • Arsenault Chiropractic Office