Scientific illustration combines the power and precision of art with the exactness of science, allowing illustrators to create visual representations of scientific theories and concepts. Through scientific visualization, illustrators can communicate complex scientific concepts clearly, particularly for those who are not scientists or experts in the field.
Understanding Scientific Illustration
Scientific illustration is an approach to art that requires illustrators to create science-based drawings. This artistic technique emphasizes the importance of factual data, accuracy, and precision, ensuring that scientific illustrators create drawings, visual representations, and graphics that portray scientific information in a relatable and understandable manner.
What Is Scientific Illustration?
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators defines scientific illustration as the art of creating images that can be used as a communication tool between scientists. However, the narrow scope of scientific illustration continues to expand, and scientific illustrations are created today to improve the public understanding of science. There are illustrations designed for children enjoying their first science lessons, gardeners who want to learn more about botany, and medical professionals who need to convey accurate and understandable information to their patients.
The most common types of scientific illustration include:
- Medical illustration – Ranging from anatomy illustrations to complex drawings of viruses or DNA samples, medical illustrations play a pivotal part in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Healthcare professionals often use medical illustrations to better understand complex topics and explain those concepts to their patients or colleagues.
- Natural history illustration – By taking a look at natural history, scientific illustrators are able to create visual representations of people, places, animals, and plants that have existed throughout history. For instance, many scientific illustrators with expertise in natural history will work to create lifelike drawings of dinosaurs as they might have looked millions of years ago. Those drawings are typically based on extensive medical research, data that has been extracted from paleontological finds, and fossils that have been unearthed during digs.
- Botanical art – Taking a step further than creating art about plants, botanical illustrations are designed to provide an in-depth look at the structure and components of plants. As a form of biological illustration, these images are essential not only for those in the botany field but also for those who are passionate about working with plants in their daily lives.
The Role of Scientific Illustrators
Scientific illustrators have a vital role in today’s world, which is becoming increasingly dependent on accurate data and factual, scientific visualization. Amid the social media era, images have never been more powerful, and accurate information has never been more necessary — making scientific illustration a critical field for artists and scientists alike.
Techniques and Tools in Scientific Illustration
Scientific illustrators might work to be creative as they create diagrams and drawings, but the focus often remains on being as accurate and detailed as possible. According to the Nature Journal, scientific illustration involves artists collecting and evaluating data to develop accurate scientific diagrams. Beyond that, illustrators are required to reevaluate their illustrations throughout the years to verify that their drawings and diagrams remain accurate in light of recent research and scientific discoveries.
Knowing the techniques and tools required for scientific illustration can help you decide if this niche is the right option for your career.
Traditional vs. Digital Illustration Techniques
Traditional illustration techniques have been used for centuries to create accurate and precise scientific illustrations, and many illustrators still rely on pencil and paper to complete their diagrams and images. However, an increasing number of illustrators are leveraging technical and digital tools to improve the overall historical and scientific accuracy of their drawings. In most cases, modern scientific illustrators will use both traditional and digital illustration techniques each day, highlighting the importance of a strong foundation in artistic illustration.
Mastering Detail and Precision
When it comes to scientific illustration, it’s the details that take center stage. Scientific illustrators must be detail-oriented individuals who are willing to go to great lengths to incorporate the latest data in their pieces.
Use of Color and Shading
Advanced color and shading techniques are widely used in scientific illustration, yet there are some limitations to be aware of when adding color to scientific diagrams and illustrations. According to the Natural History Museum in London, many scientific illustrators throughout history used color to bring nature to life in their drawings, but color can be notoriously difficult to capture.
Take fish species, for instance: Many of the fish used as specimens for scientific illustrations are no longer living, so the color has drained from their scales. Some scientific illustrators may attempt to create accurate representations of the non-living specimen, whereas others may attempt to recreate the more vibrant colors that may have been present during the specimen’s lifetime. Scientific illustrators are allowed some degree of artistic license, as long as accuracy is not compromised in the process.
The Process of Creating Scientific Illustrations
Creating scientific illustrations requires illustrators to do more than draw a creative and artistic rendition of a scientific concept or theory. Rather, these illustrators have to engage in a collaborative process that prioritizes precision and accuracy.
Collaborating With Scientists
Scientific illustrators typically work closely with scientists to verify that their work accurately reflects and depicts the topic at hand. In many cases, the leading scientific illustrators are also devoted scientists themselves.
For example, Ernst Haeckel was a scientist, philosopher, and artist who lived in the 19th century and was a strong proponent of Darwinism, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Today, his most memorable work is the book Art Forms in Nature, which is a presentation of artistic slides that he created of lesser-known organisms. Even though these slides were created at the turn of the 20th century, they are still crucial science education materials today.
Research and Reference Gathering
Before a scientific illustrator can begin drawing, they must engage in significant research to thoroughly understand the topic. Some of the most famous scientific illustrations in the world are Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings, which were completed in the 15th century. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, da Vinci performed dissections to better understand the human form, allowing him to complete some of the most realistic and accurate depictions of human anatomy that existed during that time period.
Iteration and Feedback
The feedback process plays a key role in developing accurate and precise scientific illustrations. Much like studies that need to be peer-reviewed before they can be published, scientific illustrations must be analyzed by the leading experts in their field so that they can provide valuable feedback and scientific insight.
Applications of Scientific Illustration
From providing students with science education materials to allowing scientists to communicate more effectively with one another, there is a variety of applications of scientific illustration:
Scientific Journals and Textbooks
Scientific illustrations are widely used in scientific journals and textbooks, as they are an important visual tool that can aid the learning process. DailyArt Magazine notes that Gray’s Anatomy (not to be confused with the popular television series Grey’s Anatomy) is still considered the premier anatomy book for aspiring medical professionals, and the medical illustrations within that book highlight the powerful role that precise and detailed scientific illustrations can play in increasing the understanding of complex biological structures.
Museum Exhibits and Educational Displays
Scientific illustrations are often woven into exhibits alongside artifacts and artistic renderings, giving visitors a comprehensive overview of the scientific topic on display. Two museums that rely heavily on scientific illustrations as part of their exhibit design and development process include the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Natural History Museum in London.
Medical and Biological Illustrations
Medical and biological illustrations are often used within the medical community as a means to better understand complex biological topics and structures. Frank Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy is one publication that heavily featured biological illustrations and has aided the scientific and medical community since the late 20th century.
Careers in Scientific Illustration
Defined by the Association of Medical Illustrators as a niche applied art discipline, scientific illustration provides aspiring science-based artists with plenty of opportunities to grow and develop their careers. Exploring this specialty and developing the skills needed to pursue a career in this field can help you prepare accordingly.
Becoming a Scientific Illustrator
Scientific illustrators are visualization specialists who should have a solid background in art, design, and illustration before they can begin specializing in this specific area. To become a scientific illustrator, consider pursuing a degree in illustration, as this is the best way to develop relevant practical, technical, and artistic skills.
Building a Portfolio
At the same time you are building your skills and expanding your knowledge of scientific art principles, you should also start creating your scientific illustration portfolio. Pursuing internship opportunities and creating your own scientific illustrations allows you to collect work samples that you can showcase in your portfolio. The vast majority of scientific illustrator positions will require you to present a portfolio, making this a key part of launching your career.
Networking and Finding Opportunities
To uncover scientific illustration job opportunities, you will want to network not only with artists and illustrators but also with scientists, researchers, and medical experts. Connecting with a wide range of professionals will allow you greater access to the niche opportunities that await in this field.
Begin Building Your Scientific Illustration Portfolio at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we offer students the opportunity to discover the power of art in scientific communication. Through our on-campus Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration degree programs, students can develop the technical illustration skills necessary to pursue careers in scientific illustration. Request more information about our degree programs today.
