Presentations - Guild of Natural Science Illustrators 2004 Conference

Presentations

Soul of Sketchbooks: Show and Share —Kristine Kirkeby and Gretchen Halpert

This presentation will feature the Soul of Sketchbook slide show put together by Kris Kirkeby a couple of years ago. The show features sketchbook images from twenty-six illustrators who share their favorite artwork as well as thoughts about the sketchbook process. If you missed this presentation, we’ll say it again... Illustrators can write as beautifully as they visualize! OR, if you have seen the show already—join us for the second hour. The second half will be a sharing of sketchbooks. Bring your sketchbook and join the discussion about this personal part of our professional illustration life. Gretchen Halpert will join Kris in providing some sketchbook enhancement exercises that will help participants expand the creative boundaries to sketchbook entries.

Basic Color Management Techniques (using Photoshop) — Larry Lavendel

A survey of basic to advanced techniques for manipulating illustrations and graphics in Photoshop—particularly preparing them for printing. The presentation will mostly be a tour of managing color in Photoshop and will lay down some no-nonsense strategies, techniques and tips for color managing your work.

Learn From My Mistakes: An Educational DVD Project — Helen Macfarlane

How much time does it take to make a twelve minute movie? What types of technical difficulty can be encountered producing a completely digital DVD? What can be done when the client/ star performer has a wrinkled shirt? Learn the answers to these and many other pertinent questions in this presentation describing the design, development, and production of an educational DVD. Use of Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and iDVD will be discussed as part of the process. This presentation will be of interest to those considering digital video editing, DVD authoring, and animation using AfterEffects.

Painting Wildlife in Watercolor—Peggy Macnamara

Peggy Macnamara, artist in residence at the Field Museum, developed a unique watercolor style over the course of 25 years painting from the exhibits, often under very poor lighting conditions. This slide presentation will chart the evolution of her color-rich and accurate technique. She will also display large format originals to further explain her techniques. The subject matter will range from Chinese pots and architecture to Insects.

Scientific and Forensic Sculpture — Gloria Louise Nusse

This PowerPoint presentation will provide an overview of how sculpture is used for science, and include images of historical interest and Gloria’s work—along with anecdotes about her personal journey working this field.

Photography: From the Field to the Board — John Orehovec

Using slides, award winning nature photographer John Orehovec will discuss the way he utilizes spontaneity and creativity, and places a premium on color, composition and presentation in his photography. He will provide tips on how illustrators can use photography to enhance and expand their board work. He will also provide a list of suggestions for taking good photographs in the field and using them as reference material for illustrations.

Paper Sculpting as Scientific Illustration — Scott Rawlins

This slide lecture will introduce and discuss a lesser-known technique to generate scientific images. Manipulating layers of paper to produce images has been practiced by artists from a variety of cultures for centuries. “Paper Sculpting” is also a legitimate technique for scientific illustrators. Using images of cut, folded and sculpted paper, Scott Rawlins will present an overview of the methods and materials associated with this technique or medium.

Making a Pastel Surface and Initial Acrylic Underpainting — Patricia L. Savage

Patricia will demonstrate how to make your own rough pastel surface and how to begin doing an acrylic underpainting in preparation of a pastel painting. Covered: Multiple layers of marble dust, pumice, gesso, and water are applied on 300 lb. Arches watercolor paper with a house brush. Once the surface is dry, thin, multiple layers of acrylic are built up to the needed value and hue before the pastels are begun.

Illustrating Science in the Computer Age - Chris Sloan

Cheaper, faster computers and powerful software are having a dramatic impact on the ways science is presented in the 21st century. This presentation will review how this phenomenon has impacted illustration at National Geographic.

Scratchboard: The Unforgiving Art Form — Francis E. Sweet

Society of Animal Artists award winning scratchboard artist Francis Sweet will talk about the history of scratchboard as well as showing slides of his own work and discussing his process.

Refining the Image and Adding Visual Flare — Gene Wright

Gene Wright will demonstrate the qualities that make certain illustrations simply pop with excitement. Using illustrations created by professional artists as well as students, the lecture will attempt to enlighten the audience on how to observe and demonstrate in their own work—through the use of research, sketching, focus, detail and color—the qualities found in successful illustrations. Finally, examples will be broken down into a sequence of events that explores the metamorphosis from simple illustration to eye-popping success.