A Collection of Artworks that Communicate Science

Welcome to the online exhibition Illustrating Nature, presented by the California State University Monterey Bay Science Illustration Program’s Class of 2021. In presenting our work, we hope to communicate the scientific knowledge, curiosity, inspiration, and joy our class has shared with each other throughout the year. Our work explores a breadth of topics and is organized by the illustration categories listed below. We invite you to explore and we hope you enjoy your visit.

• Analog media uses traditional art materials including paint, ink, and pencils. This is the most traditional form of science illustration.
• Conceptual/Editorial illustrations use creative imagery to tell a story or represent a scientific topic that is difficult to portray literally.
• Digital Media includes artwork that was either partially or wholly created with Adobe Creative Suite programs or equivalent software (such as Procreate). Using these programs, illustrators can create bold art and graphics that might be difficult to achieve with analog media.
• Information Graphics are an effective teaching tool in a variety of educational contexts and include information that might be difficult to convey with words alone.
• Motion Graphics combine illustrations, special effects, sound, and narration to explain the natural world. It is a compelling storytelling medium that is especially effective for explaining  dynamic processes, results from scientific studies, and complex ecological relationships.
• Technical Illustration uses precise linework and realistic digital rendering to explain the complex structures of human-made objects. People rely on technical illustrations to design, assemble, repair, and understand a variety of products and systems. 
• Field Sketches are the result of time spent exploring and discovering the natural world. Students ventured into their local environments across the country to practice their observation and illustration skills and to gain a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna unique to their region.