PROGRAM: BY DATE AND SESSION  


Friday, August 12


Science is Everywhere, Science is for Everyone: The Art of Storytelling
Dr. Jeanette Davis

Science is Everywhere, LLC | drjeanettedavis.com | @DrOcean24

Geosciences is one of the least diverse sciences yet the complex and pressing issues facing the environment require an environmentally literate society with diversity in both expertise and experiences. Through the art of storytelling, Dr. Davis delivers authentic experiences to encourage audiences to make real-world connections to science and concerted efforts towards meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion so all can contribute to environmental solutions.

(Image: ©2022 Dr. Jeanette)


Making a Pop-Sci Book in the Lab
Ipsa Jain

Srishti Manipal Institute, Bangalore | ipsawonders.com | @ipsawonders | linkedin.com/in/ipsa-jain-1b732353

In this talk, Ipsa Jain will share notes on her experience of making a picture science book in a research lab. The talk will cover insights on research for project, collaboration with a young principal investigator, feedback, and notes on self-publishing.

 

 

 (Image: ©2022 Ispa Jain)


Creating a Fine Art Painting, From Research to Exhibit
Erin E. Hunter 

Erin E. Hunter Fine Art & Illustration, Annual Reviews eehunter.com | @erinhunterart

Erin Hunter is a science illustrator and fine artist with a graphic design background—and each of those roles influences how she approaches her pollinator-themed paintings. In this presentation, Erin will provide a behind-the-scenes look at her most ambitious piece yet, a large painting of California native bees and wildflowers that anchored a 2022 solo show at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. In addition to discussing what inspired the project, she’ll discuss the process of sketching, designing a layout, painting, and presenting the piece in multiple formats to various audiences.

 

(Image: ©2022 Erin E. Hunter)


 

The Light Value Gouache System
John Muir Laws 

The Light Value Gouache System | John Muir Laws | johnmuirlaws.com | @johnmuirlaws

Frustrated with gouache? Try the light value system- build your dark values with transparent watercolor and use a small palette of opaque gouache to add lights and highlights. Fast, fun and effective.

(Image: ©2022 John Muir Laws)


Using Visual References in Biomedical Illustration 

Nancy Chu Ji

BioHues Digital | biohuesdigital.com

Reference gathering is a fundamental skill for medical illustrators. Since many of our subject matters are difficult to visualize directly, we must draw inspiration from nature to inform our artistic decisions. In this talk, I will be sharing the tools and techniques our team uses.

(Image: ©2022 Nancy Chu Ji)



Nature Sketching Tips from Travels in the Tropics
Christine Elder 

BioHues Digital | facebook.com/ChristineLElder | @thateldergirl | @Awildnaturalist

 

Christine will take you on a whirlwind journey from the lowland rainforests of Borneo to the high alpine paramo of the Andes based on a decade of travel adventures. She’ll share pages from her field journals that are filled with flora and fauna rendered in pencil, pen, gouache, and watercolor.

Throughout the presentation, she’ll include tips on sketching and painting techniques so that you can benefit from both her triumphs and tragedies in the field. Bring your sketchbooks for some virtual field sketching practice.

(Image: ©2022 Christine Elder)


 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

Accessible and Inclusive SciComm Panel Discussion 


Jeff Day Johns Hopkins Univ. | medicalart.johnshopkins.edu/day | linkedin.com/in/jeff-day-52267525 

Elena YH Lin UC San Diego | elenalin.wixsite.com/artportfolio | @elnlnx |

John Muir Laws | johnmuirlaws.com | @johnmuirlaws

 Nuria Melisa Morales Garcia | email @NuriaMelisaMor1

 



Off the Charts: How a Personal Project Fueled My Knowledge for Data Visualization 
Diogo Guerra

Medical & Veterinary Illustration by Diogo Guerra | diogoguerra.com | @medical_vet_art | linkedin.com/in/diogo-guerra-314b0492

 In this era of information explosion, dataviz is an increasingly important tool for visual communication. However, numbers and statistics can sometimes feel scary for sci-artists. In this session, we will explore how I used a fun personal project to gain more experience in dataviz, and demonstrate that, in reality, the principles to design effective visualizations are often similar to the ones used to create engaging and accurate sciart.

(Image: ©2022 Diogo Guerra) 


Portrait of a Denisovan Girl: Reconstructing Anatomy Without a Skeleton
Maayan Harel 
Maayan Visuals | maayanvisuals.com | @maayanvisuals | linkedin.com/in/maayan-harel-a3776762

For nearly a decade, the Denisovans' anatomy has been a mystery, as the group has been defined by its genome. The portrait of a Denisovan girl was published in news media worldwide, but this was only the final step in a process that began a full two years earlier, with the creation of a skeletal profile in collaboration with anatomists and genetic researchers. This talk will cover how this illustration was created from the ground up, and describe what is known about Denisovan anatomy and what is not.

 (Image: ©2022 Maayan Harel)


Exploring the Role of Information Design in Visualizing Science

M. Genevieve Hitchings 
New York City College of Technology | artorium.com | @MGHitchings
 

Visualizing science through information design can play an important role in facilitating ideas that are difficult for broader audiences to understand. At its best information design is a story-driven experience that educates and makes scientific concepts visible, understandable and usable. This presentation explores the process of planning and developing illustrated visualizations with emphasis on the supportive role typography can play in communicating complicated ideas. We will look at the typographic order of ‘things’ from simple to complex in different types of illustrated visual presentations including diagrams, dissections or cutaways, geographic, timelines and flowcharts. And we will analyze the act of reading (left/right/up/down), which should influence but not dictate typographic decisions.

(Image: ©2022 M. Genevieve Hitchings)


Molecular Visualization Workflow of the Animation Lab
 Grace Hsu
University of Utah | hsubiomedicalvisual.com | @GraceIHsu | linkedin.com/in/grace-i-hsu

Scientific visualization is a growing field with a myriad of possibilities, especially with advancements in 3D graphics, mixed reality, and scientific techniques such as CryoEm. In this session, Grace Hsu will share her experience working as a scientific animator with structural biologists using their data. A general workflow from Protein Data Bank and UCSF Chimera to Maya will be presented.

 (Image: ©2022 Grace Hsu)


SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

How to Prepare 3D Models for 3D Printing
Mieke Roth 

UC San Diego | miekeroth.com | @miekeroth | linkedin.com/in/miekeroth/

 

 This presentation will demonstrate the pipeline from 3D modeling application to 3D printing. The focus will be on cover resin printing because it is used often in 3D printing organic models. Approaches to pushing the boundaries of FDM printing will also be covered.  

(Image: ©2022 Mieke Roth) 



Introducing Tradigital Illustration

Scott Rawlins

Arcadia University | arcadia.edu/profile/w.-rawlins

 

Much of the commercial art produced today is digital, though traditional media and techniques remain popular.  The advantages associated with digitally-generated artwork include the ability to render and make changes economically, the ease of adding text and other graphic elements and reducing contact with hazardous materials.  However, producing digital work that possesses the spontaneity and gestural qualities found in art produced “by hand alone” can be difficult and time-consuming. Is there a way for artists to employ the best qualities of both approaches? Yes, there is  “Tradigital” art combines aspects of both digital and traditional methodology and materials.  During the course of this presentation, three “combo” approaches will be explained, demonstrating the effectiveness of tradigital art.

(Image: ©2022 Scott Rawlins


Business Lessons from Nature
Ikumi Kayama
Studio Kayama LLC | studiokayama.com

 

Learning business practices can seem daunting, unfamiliar, and scary for many artists and illustrators. One way to perhaps overcome this speed bump is to compare the business concepts to how similar challenges are played out in nature. This presentation is aimed to help unwind some basic business concepts into more familiar, exciting challenges for the artists.


 

The Value of Copyright for Natural Science Illustrators
William B. Westwood 

Westwood Medical Communications | linkedin.com/in/westwoodmedical

 

In today's world, digital theft of creative works is rampant –especially visual works.
The only tool creators have to counter this theft is copyright law. But to effectively
use a copyright, one must have a thorough understanding of what it is, what it does
and doesn't protect, and how to use it to maximum benefit. This presentation will
discuss the basics of copyright law and its value to natural science illustrators.

 


 

Illustrating for the Children's Educational Publishing Market
Sara Lynn Cramb

Freelance Illustrator | saralynncreative.com | @saralynncreative


 

This presentation covers tips for working with educational children's book publishers’ including preparing your portfolio, finding work, art agents, personal projects as a gateway to new and exciting work, and the logistics of working with publishers. There will also be an overview of the publishing process from contract signing to published book. Great for those interested in breaking into the world of children's book publishing.

(Image: ©2022 Sarah Lynn Cramb)


 

Practical Conversations On Mental Wellbeing Panel Discussion

Brooke Alexander (she/her)
Studio Equinoxstudio-equinox.com | @baweiland23, 

Jay Rasgorshek (he/him) | Rasgorshek Illustration | jayrasgorshek.com | @JayRasgorshek

Julia Nepper  | University of Wisconsin | @DietDrNepper

Chelsea Mamot | Wisconsin Energy Institute | linkedin.com/in/chelseamamott/

Jacki Whisnent | University of Wisconsin | jwhisenant.com | @jacki.whisenant

At some point or other, most of us experience challenges to our mental wellbeing that, in turn, impact our creativity and work performance. Isolation, feelings of failure, anger, depression, anxiety, and burnout are often, unfortunately, avoided topics of conversation. In this moderated panel, visual science communicators will share and discuss their experiences with mental health. By sharing experiences as individuals, we can develop to become a more knowledgeable, supportive, and resilient artistic community.

(Image: Approaching Thunder Storm, Martin Johnson Heade  (1819–1904)


register Now