ILLUS-3916

SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION

Faculty: Jean Blackburn 

Course Level: Junior, Senior, 5th Year

3 CREDITS

From Leonardo’s rich notebook studies to Audubon’s great horned owl, to NASA’s Mars Rover simulations, scientific illustration requires investigation, good design, close observation and technical mastery. This class series as an introduction to the enormous field of Scientific Illustration. The scientific illustrator must organize scientific information in an efficient clear, and visually compelling manner. It must satisfy the needs of the scientist, the format, and the audience. Major areas of concern will be in developing professionalism, strong composition, craftsmanship, and nuanced observational skills. The influence of belief systems on the depiction of “factual” information will be examined in historic scientific illustrations. Students will be expected to produce several portfolio quality pieces.

We will begin with a study of structuring strategies nature uses to create its enormous diversity of forms. Scientific drawing conventions, interesting drawing techniques and tool will be presented. Students will produce a variety of black and white, color and digital solutions exploring aspects of this broad field. The class will culminate with a final project allowing each student to explore a scientific area of interest.

Capacity: 15

Registration Restriction: Major elective; restricted to Illustration juniors and seniors; open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor. 

Semester Offered: Spring