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Scientific Illustration: Where Art Meets Science (Ages 8-10)

In this weekly ongoing class learners will develop their artistic and scientific minds by drawing various plants, animals, planets, artifacts, fossils and objects from the fields of biology, geology, paleontology, archaeology and astronomy.
Benjamin Corey's Creative Curriculum Coop
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What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per week
Assessment
Learners will have the opportunity to show their work during the class where the instructor will give them tips on what they did well and what they can improve. If they do not wish to share their work during class you may message the instructor with a request for feedback and advice.

Class Experience

US Grade 3 - 4
Most people consider science and art to be on opposite sides of the spectrum, but they often meet in a field called scientific illustration. Even if you have never heard of scientific illustration before, you have likely seen it in many places. Think about the science textbooks you used in school, magazines such as National Geographic, encyclopedias and the images and models at museum exhibits.
 
In this weekly ongoing class I will be instructing learners on how to illustrate specimens from different scientific fields such as biology (microbiology, botany, marine biology, and zoology), geology (mineralogy, paleontology) and archaeology, as well as astronomical objects and space exploration. The focus is on the multitude of curious art forms in nature and noticing how some forms repeat across specimens from entirely different scientific fields.

The classes are fast paced and our goal is fill a page with approximately 8 to 15 illustrations (this number depends on the topic and complexity of the specimens). While developing the ability to simplify down to essential forms and pick out the most important shapes and values quickly the pacing will also help them break their tentative lines and rushing to detail habits, develop their hand eye coordination and allow them to overcome their fear of making mistakes eventually leading to more confidence in their mark making. 

We will begin each class by marking the positions of the specimens on our page using light graphite pencil marks. This will ensure that we have enough space between our drawings so that they do not overlap. It will also allow learners to have a balanced final composition which fills the entire page (following this arrangement of specimens is not mandatory and some learners choose to create their own). 

We will then lightly sketch out the basic shapes that make up each specimen before completing the final outlines and shading. For new learners shading is not mandatory. This will allow them more time to work on their outlines and also make it easier for them to later color their specimens. 

Along the way, learners will get many drawing tips, learn scientific facts and be encouraged to share their own about the subjects we are illustrating. They will be able to ask me questions or request clarifications for any part of the drawing process. Learners will also have the opportunity to show me their work during and at the end of class if they would like to receive feedback and tips on how to improve. As a final result, they will have a page full of scientific illustrations on that week's topic. No prior knowledge is required. 
 
Learners will have access to our online community where they will be able to view upcoming classes and share their illustrations with other scientific illustrators. Some of the topics we will be covering are: Bacteria, Algae, Protozoans, Microscopic Animals, Leaves, Flowers, Orchids, Seed Pods, Fruits, Vegetables, Cacti, Succulents, Trees and Mushrooms after which we will be illustrating Caterpillars, Butterflies, Insects, Rocks and Minerals, Fossils, Ancient Artifacts, Greek Pottery, The Solar System, Fish, Marine animals, Seashells, Jellyfish, Starfish, Corals, Sea Slugs, Sharks etc.
Learning Goals
Students will learn what scientific illustration is, its purpose, significance and what types of scientific illustrations there are. They will also learn how to plan and create a balanced arrangement of elements on a page, and the principles of good composition. Drawing complex subjects will be taught through their breakdown into simple geometric shapes, using points to draw straight lines (freehand) as well as measuring using the finger and pencil trick. Students will learn how to sketch out the basic shapes by applying a small amount of pressure to get light lines (guides) and to apply more pressure when drawing the final outlines. The use of different line quality and shading techniques to denote volume will also be taught. Finally, these classes are a great opportunity for learners to learn curious facts about biodiversity, history, adaptations, forms in nature and the newest discoveries in various scientific fields.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
Learners will need basic drawing materials:
- One piece of A4 or letter size paper for each class or a drawing pad in the same (or larger) format.
- A mechanical or wood encased graphite pencil, preferably a softer one for sketching (B, 2B, 3B or 4B) and a harder one for final outlines (H, F, HB ).
- An eraser
- A sharpener

A flat drawing surface and good lighting is recommended!
 1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2018
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Georgia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Jordan Kohanim
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Cameron Shaw
Georgia Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Maria Thorne
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Allie Baker
Doctoral Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia College and State University
Maria Thorne
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University
Benjamin Corey
Master's Degree in Education from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in English from Kennesaw State University
Jordan Kohanim
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Vassar College
Cameron Shaw
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University
Maria Thorne
Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey
Jessica Rinzuello
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in Education from UNCP
Allie Baker
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Oglethorpe University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
Peter Burke
Bachelor's Degree in History from Georgia State University
James Bostick
Natalija Stojanovic is a highly accomplished educator with a diverse academic background and extensive experience in the arts and sciences. She holds professional certifications in Natural Science Illustration from both the Rhode Island School of Design and the Yale Peabody Museum. Natalija also earned a certificate in Nature Journaling and Field Sketching from Cornell University. She completed her Doctor of Arts in Digital Arts at the University of Arts, Belgrade, where she also earned a Master's in Applied Graphics, focusing on illustration, book design, and animation. Additionally, she has a background in Comparative Linguistics from the University of Philology, University of Belgrade.

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Live Group Class
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$18

weekly
1x per week
55 min

Completed by 27 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-10
3-9 learners per class

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