Peter Carrington talks about scientific illustration - Part 1 of 3

In Part 1, Peter Carrington, the Assistant Curator of the WJ Beale Botanical Garden at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, describes what makes a successful scientific illustrator, his own beginnings, what scientific illustration is, and the why illustration is sometimes a better source for describing the natural world than a photograph. Examples of Peter's work are at the end of this video, and include computer illustration (insects and flowers) and pencil drawings started by applying layers of carbon powder with an ermine brush (a little bit more advanced technique for a muscle fiber illustration and a view of horse foot nerve blocks).

http://www.youtube.com/user/WoundedArtistProject#p/u/14/olPDgM8JC8Y

In Part 2 he talks about reconstructing a conifer plant from a collection of fossils he was given, where the jobs in this field might be found, how this field is a "portfolio profession."

http://www.youtube.com/user/WoundedArtistProject#p/u/13/ZlAo_dH1LLw

In Part 3 Peter comments further on traits of a good scientific illustrator, working on computers, and your digital portfolio.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WoundedArtistProject#p/u/12/NKM2t7K5eF0

Finally, Peter gives us a short on-camera demo by starting a pencil drawing of a cowry shell.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WoundedArtistProject#p/u/12/Qt-zhEhC6Q0

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Peter Carrington
• scientific illustration
• scientific illustrator
• medical illustrator
• medical illustration
• W.J. Beale Botanical Gardens
• Michigan State University
• College of Natural Science
• The Wounded Artist Project
• General Pencil Company
• carbon pencils
• computer illustration
• cowry shell
• Horse Foot Nerve Blocks
• Male Gypsy moth
• Muscle Fiber
• Orchesella imitari lat
• Passiflora
• Heliconians

[kennaile]

Thanks for the videos. I'm an artist, currently in school for science. My goal is to become a scientific Illustrator. But I'm scared if I may not end up as a starving Artist. Please advise me. Thanks a bunch.