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Hatchlings  A Coloring Book Anthology

12/2/2018

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Back in July, 2018 Cordelia Norris, of Luna Creative design & illustration, and her husband, Joseph Cadotte, of Old Sins publishing collective, sent out a call-for-entry.  They were seeking black & white line drawings of North American nesting birds, with their hatchlings, for an educational colouring book anthology.  The juried entries were to be limited to birds who spend some or all of their time in the USA.

The impetus for creating this book was the terrible knowledge that migrating families were being forcibly separated at the Mexican border.  While the book isn't political, “the analogy is obvious - nestlings need their mothers and fathers to care for and protect them.” (Cordelia Norris)  

​Now five months later, our colouring book anthology, with thirty-five line drawings of varying styles from realistic/scientific to decorative, and representing the artistry of twenty-eight illustrators, is off to the printer!  

​My daughter, Anna, and I submitted works for inclusion . . .
"Hatchlings  A Coloring Book Anthology" black and white line illustration of American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) © Anna C Matheson, 2018.
American Kestrel, line drawing © Anna Matheson, 2018
"Hatchlings  A Coloring Book Anthology" black and white line illustration of Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) © Anna C Matheson, 2018.
Mourning Dove, line drawing © Anna Matheson, 2018
"Hatchlings  A Coloring Book Anthology" black and white line illustration of Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Pileated Woodpecker, line drawing © Suzanne Matheson, 2018
We hope you will enjoy giving colour to these bird families!

​This book is designed to have wide appeal.  Each of the thirty-five illustrations, featuring nesting birds with their young, is accompanied by informative text, so you can learn about the unique characteristics of the birds as you colour.  

Our colouring book is now available for online purchase in Canada through the following vendors:  Amazon and Chapters Indigo.  For your convenience, there are direct links to the book in The  Bookstore.  Your gift to someone you know extends to those you have only heard about.  Twenty-five percent of proceeds on every sale will go to The Young Center, a non-profit organization providing legal and social services to children separated from their parents at the Mexican border.  
As you spread the word through social media, please use the hashtag  #familiesinflight
( :  Thank you!  : ) 

​
Front Cover of “Hatchlings A Coloring Book Anthology”, illustration © Erin Packard.  Authored by Cordelia Norris, Suzanne Matheson, Joseph Cadotte, eds.
“Hatchlings A Coloring Book Anthology”, Cordelia Norris, Suzanne Matheson, Joseph Cadotte, eds.
"Hatchlings is a gorgeous educational coloring book celebrating family bonds among the remarkable birds of North America.”
​(from the back cover of, Hatchlings  A Coloring Book Anthology​, © 2018) 
​​I'd like to purchase Hatchlings!

A Peek Inside

The page photos aren't of high quality, but you'll get the idea.
To purchase this, and other books written and illustrated by Suzanne,
find them in The Bookstore.

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Gretchen Halpert's Scientific Illustration Distance Program - Session I

12/1/2018

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What is Natural Science Illustration?

Put simply, natural science illustration is “art in service of science”.  The artist “uses scientifically informed observational, technical, and aesthetic skills to portray a subject accurately.” (The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration, by the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators). Illustrator, Diana Marques, refers to herself as a “Visual Science Communicator”.  This title aptly describes the key role of a scientific illustrator -- communication!  Shapes, anatomy, details, and concepts that cannot be conveyed with words alone, and are often ambiguous in photographs, are visually described by the artist with clarity.​

​Gretchen Halpert's Scientific Illustration Distance Program

​Scientific Illustration Distance Program, or SIDP, is an online distance course offered by Gretchen Halpert in four 10-week sessions.  The course is designed not only to teach students the art and conventions of scientific illustration, but also the skills for professional business practice.
“I have loved and combined art, science,
​and teaching throughout my professional life.”
  - Gretchen Halpert
To discover more about Gretchen, as a botanist, biological researcher, scientific illustrator, artist, and teacher, follow www.gretchenhalpert.com.

SIDP  Session 1

This introductory course builds drawing skills with the use of graphite.

​Recently I completed SIDP Session 1.  I would like to offer you my thoughts.  SIDP 1 has excellent progression, moving through material logically, from what is introductory to that which is more advanced.  Gretchen communicates the subject matter with clarity and offers evaluations that are sensitive to individual development.  She makes the most of every opportunity to prepare students for professional work.  Classes, delivered via Skype, allow for students to practice presentation and to learn from one another's work through assignment evaluations.  The course length is ideal - long enough to see growth, yet short enough to fit into the rest of life.  And for Gretchen, . . .
Thank you for filling the need for instruction
​in scientific illustration through distance education! ​

My visual description of Session 1, a ten week progression

Value scales exercise in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Tone, Form & Proportion
Still live exercise in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.

Light on form exercise in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Tonal drawing with conventional light in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
​Conventional Lighting

Foreshortening leaf exercise #1 in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Foreshortening leaf images taken after drawing exercises © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Foreshortening leaf exercise #2 in graphite on Strathmore 400 series bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Foreshortening / Perspective
Photo, cone of Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine) behind a plexi grid © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Tools include:  0.2 mm Pentel HB mechanical pencil, Canson transparent transfer paper, divider, clear 6” ruler, large box, thread, plexi-grid with 1 cm squares, 01 Pigma Micron
Initial pencil sketch of Pinus strobus cone (Eastern White Pine), using grid © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.

Bringing These All Together

Scientific Illustration, cone of Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), graphite on bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Cone of Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine) © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018

Anatomical research pencil sketches of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster) for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Microscopic photographs, anatomical structure of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster) for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae  New England Aster

Research into Anatomical Structure

Microscopic photographs, anatomical structure of Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumblebee) for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Anatomical research pencil sketches of Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumblebee) for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Bombus impatiens  Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Texture

Habitus Illustration of Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumble Bee), graphite on bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumble Bee), graphite on bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018

Thumbnail pencil sketches of Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumblebee) with Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster) for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
compositional ideas via thumbnails
Photograph of various compositional tools/techniques used for 'Late Autumn Forage' composition © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
various compositional tools/techniques

Composition

Establishing compositional negative/positive balance with Notan technique © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
establish balance with Notan technique
Final line drawing of
final line drawing ready for transfer

Final Assignment - Fully Rendered Tonal Composition

"Late Autumn Forage", Bombus impatiens (Common Eastern Bumble Bee) feeding on Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster), graphite on bristol © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018

Next SIDP Session 1 course runs Tuesdays, from January 8 - March 12, 2019. 
​For information about all of Gretchen’s SIDP sessions, follow 
Gretchen Halpert Distance Program
Crow quill and india ink exercise for Gretchen Halpert's Scientific Illustration Distance Program © Suzanne M Matheson, 2018.
Crow quill techniques, introduced in Session 1, taught in Session 2.

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    Natural Science Illustrator.
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  • Home
  • Shop
    • Digital Stock Illustrations >
      • Index of Illustrated Species
    • Archival Prints & Art Cards
    • The Bookstore
  • Portfolio
    • Compositional
    • Species Illustrations
    • The Forest Project >
      • Woodland Jack-in-the-pulpit
    • Children's Educational >
      • Nature Awareness Books
      • The Tale of Eastern Cottontail
    • Portraiture
  • About
    • Artist CV / Resume >
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  • FAQ