Scientific Illustration: Drawing through Time

Learn about Earth’s history and the evolution of animals while practicing the fundamentals of scientific illustration. Each lesson will cover a period of time and animal group moving forward through time accompanied by review of drawing fundamentals, their application in technical illustration, and relevant exercises. Culminating in a final project creating an informative illustration of an animal of students’ choice. Students will learn how to research, use references, and draft ideas. They will practice using shape, perspective, texture, and contrast with graphite. As well as using composition and color to communicate ideas and finalize with watercolor paints. This course is suitable for beginners interested in practicing fundamentals or more experienced artists interested in learning more about STEM art applications. Students will come away from the course with a better understanding of Earth’s history, the core terminology and techniques used in scientific illustration, and how to use drawing fundamentals to communicate information visually.

Class 1: Introduction to terms, Porifera, Cambrian-Ordovician, shape
and perspective
Class 2: Cnideria, Silurian-Devonian, color and composition
Class 3: Protostomes, Carboniferous-Permian, lighting and line work
Class 4: Echinoderms, Triassic-Jurassic, texture and contrast, midpoint check-in/final project drafting
Class 5: Chordates 1 (fish), Cretaceous, research, reference and
observation
Class 6: Chordates 2 (tetrapods), Paleogene-now, anatomy and
annotation
Class 7: Comparative anatomy, paleoart, and spec-bio
Class 8: Final project

This class is for ages 14 and up.

Please use the Notes section on the registration form to list needed accommodations.

Classes require a minimum enrollment of four students. If classes must be cancelled due to low enrollment, students will be informed one week prior to the start of the class and issued a full refund.