Natural History Illustration (Online)
Students will have the opportunity to learn:
- Principles of sketching and illustrating natural subjects, such as trees, flowers, insects, birds and mammals.
- Pencil and ink techniques to create initial sketches and shading and watercolor techniques to enhance field sketches
- Links between the form and function of species and how illustrations can help inform the study of natural history
- Dates
July 15 – August 9, 2024 (online)
- College Credits
2 credits
- Cost
$500 + supplies
- Who's Eligible?
Current high school students and recent graduates
Meet the Faculty
Curriculum
Natural history illustration is a valuable skill that is sometimes overlooked in traditional biological education. Being able to represent the form of biological organisms accurately is the foundation to understanding their function and life history. In this online course, students will practice a variety of sketching and illustration techniques to capture elements of the anatomy and behavior of a variety of species. An extensive teaching collection of preserved plant, insect, mammal, and bird specimens will allow for more detailed examinations of key field marks in the classroom. Students will produce detailed illustrations in several different media throughout the course.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Create accurate, proportional sketches of a variety of organisms in the field
- Illustrate key aspects of animal and plant anatomy to-scale
- Employ pencil, ink, and watercolor techniques to highlight key features of a specimen
