 Sketching insects is a blast!
I was reminded of the fun, and taken back to my science illustration roots recently.
I was thrilled to recently receive a commission to illustrate native bees. I've done a series of them, compiled into two illustrations that will be featured on a "Bee Germs" citizen science lesson developed by Dr. Rob Dunn's Your Wild Life/Students Discover project.
The Bee Germs project isn't live yet, but I can share with you a few other insect illustrations I've done lately, along with some sketching tips.
Insect sketching tips:
 Body Parts: Be sure to double-check anatomy...head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs, but how many sections?; how many antennae?; how many wings? - Color: Try watercolor to achieve iridescence. A vivid turquoise, a vibrant green, and some yellow are good bets. And, be sure to block out highlights before you start, so you can keep them white. Highlights of accurate shapes can help provide dimensionality.
- Don't shy away from depicting hair. It's amazing how hairy insects are! For hair/fuzz that is light in color, try drawing the outline of the overall shape of that fuzz. For dark hair, be bold yet wispy with your line work.
- Dimensionality: Add extra shadow/darkness/line work on the shaded side of body parts, especially legs. Bulking up the darker edge of legs will help them stand out from the body details/textures.
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The internet abounds with examples of SciArt inspired by insects. But sometimes, insect art inspires science.
"Are there caterpillars on butterfly wings?" asks an article published last winter (open access) in News of the Lipidopterists' Society.
The authors took a close look at butterflies and noticed many species seem to have wing patterns which mimic inedible or toxic larvae.
The premise is fascinating, and of course, I'm delighted they resorted to drawing to explore and communicate their observations.
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Beyond the Darkness: Moth Watching 24/7
 The last week of July is International Moth Week, which I've written about before.
One of my favorite activities to do during Moth Week is to sketch the moths I spot. This is a fantastic activity for adults and kids of all ages.
Look for Moth Week activities near you to get a great set up for sketching, particularly if you want to do so at night. Look closely as you walk about next week,
and you might be surprised how many
moths you can find even during the daytime.
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Chickdees eat a lot of insects!
As, of course, do toads and chickens!
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Buggy sketches
I couldn't resist - here are a few of the insect-related illustrations featured in my illustrated card collections. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!
And, of course, if you'd like some of your own, let me know. Click here to order!
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Another insect card!
Part of the classic black-and-white natural history collection, these caddis flies hark from my days with the Watershed Education Network!
My "Drawn to the WestTM" line features simple-yet-elegant line drawings with a splash of color. These hand-drawn sketches are made on-location in the Mountain West, and they are blank inside, printed in the US, and use sustainably sourced paper and envelopes.
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Upcoming Events
University of Wyoming English 1010 Teaching Colloquium
Thanks to serving as a co-editor for a new UW English 1010 textbook (available August 2016), I've been invited to contribute to this year's training colloquium for incoming instructors.
It's not entirely clear yet what specific material I'll be covering, but I'm excited to share my enthusiasm for teaching communication skills with fellow instructors. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to discuss intellectual property rights and #scicomm!
Looking for training?
If you'd like to schedule a public workshop, artist residency, or professional development training, let me know!
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News
Best Environmental Story Award
Rocky Mountain Front Research
In early July, I spent almost two weeks conducting interviews and site-specific research in Montana's Rocky Mountain Front region. I'm pretty excited about the raw material, and looking forward to what it will become.
National Park Service/UW AMK Ranch Residency
This spring, I was selected for a two-week residency at a research station in the Grand Tetons. I'll be going there in mid-August. My goal is to have a rough outline for my RMF manuscript planned out by the end of the residency, inspired by lots of hiking in a spectacular (and wifi/cell service-free!) landscape.
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