Arachtober 2020

Time again for my yearly drawings of spiders, scorpions, ticks, and related Chelicerata. I’m sketching out all sorts of oddballs and groups I’ve not drawn yet.

First up is the Woodlouse Hunter, Dysdera crocata. It and the rest will be in the Scientific Illustration page.

Dysdera crocata, Woodlouse Hunter. 2020

Bugs, in Color

I’ve been working on some more Entomological Illustrations for the Scientific Illustration gallery on the site. Alongside more black and white line drawings, I’m also revisiting older images to add color versions.

The first one I’ve completed is a color version of the Happy-Face Spider, Theridion grallator. This lady is bright and colorful, so fitting for a new approach to images here. This image was done with Photoshop, but I’m also trying out some watercolor and acrylic approaches at some point.

Check them out in the Scientific Illustration gallery.

Theridion grallator, Happy-Face Spider (color)

Humbugs 2019

I’m returning to the Humbugs illustration project for December this year. Like my Arachtober series, Humbugs is a grouping of entomological drawings, this time covering insects.

The first is the scourge of Scotland, the Highland Midge. The drawings will be in the Scientific Illustration page.

Arachtober 2018

I’ve been busy with teaching and freelance, but I will still continue the great Halloween tradition of Arachtober. Cherlicerata of all stripes and shapes will feature this month. Starting with the Long-Bodied Cellar Spider, appropriately (for the time of year) aka the Skull Spider. Its cephalothorax and the eye arrangement closely resembles the human skull. More to come in the Scientific Illustration gallery page.

 

 

 

Arachtober 2017

I’m working on my yearly installment of my entomological illustration series of spiders, scorpions, mites, and associated species. I am trying to do some species that I have always wanted to cover, but there’s just so many to choose from. First up is a simple species- the Golden Orb Weaver, posted in the Scientific Illustration page. I plan on finishing at least 4 for the month.

Archaeological Illustration

I’m still teaching at Kennesaw State, and this summer I’m part of a class on Archaeological Illustration.

My teaching partner will handle the science and paperwork side, while I will handle the sketching and illustrating side. I’ve been practicing myself, with lots of sketches of pottery (whole and sherds). statues, and lithics to get the hang of better. My background in sci-art is certainly helpful, especially the attention to detail and measuring, but I have to learn the visual vocabulary of archao art. My favorite pieces were a collection of sherds from a Celtic burial mound in Germany, ca. 1000 BCE. Fun to study 3000 year old artifacts!

I’m posting some of my practice drawings in the Scientific Illustration page. They’ll range from pencil, pen and ink, and digital.

 

 

Arachtober 2016

With artists around the world doing Inktober, I am doing my own version, called Arachtober. I will be doing illustrations of various species of arachnids and related critters during the month. They’ll be placed on the Scientific Illustration page. The first two, the Six-Spotted Fishing Spider and the House Pseudoscorpion, are up now. More to come!

 

Chelifer cancroides, House Pseudoscorpion. Adobe Illustrator. 2016

Drawing Teaching

posted in: Assorted Illustration | 0

Well, it’s been a good six weeks into my teaching job at Kennesaw State University. I’ve been teaching Drawing I & II foundations courses. As my students work, I work alongside them. These images are some of the sample drawings I’ve done to teach techniques.

 

elephant
Elephant Statue; Conte crayon on midtone paper

nymph
Nymph (based on bust reproduction); Charcoal (compressed)

horse
Horse (based on statue); Charcoal (compressed and vine)

heracles
Heracles [or Hercules?] (based on bust reproduction); Graphite pencil