become a better observer in the field, lab, and studio.

For scientists and students of science, drawing can be one of the best ways to understand biological structures, functions, and the environments and interactions that shape them. Whether we are drawing as part of field notes or making sketches through a microscope in the lab, the very act of drawing makes us better observers. The process of drawing requires intense looking, and it is this intensity of focus that helps us notice and remember things about organisms, habitats, and interactions.

I teach scientific illustration and nature journaling, primarily in undergraduate biology classes. I focus on process, not product. Drawing is a set of skills, like riding a bicycle, and is not reserved for those with special talents. With practice, anyone can all develop some skills for translating objects in a three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional page. Using pen, graphite pencil, color pencil, and watercolor, I teach workshops of any length, from a one- or two-hour visit, to a full semester course. For information about rates and past workshops, see my teaching page.