For anyone who might want to learn more about scientific illustration, a couple of months ago the University of Washington put out a short video about their Natural Science Illustration certificate program!

This is the program I just finished. I can’t recommend it enough! We learned and practiced a wide variety of techniques - graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, scratchboard… even more uncommon techniques like carbon dust! The variety of assignments ranged from specific to self-directed, and included subjects of all kinds: invertebrates, birds, mammals, fungi, and plants in particular. In addition, one of the classes in the last quarter is aimed at teaching art freelance/business principles, so that you know how to apply your skills in the market. A lot of art schools don’t even cover that! The instructors are fantastic, too - they really give great feedback and help you improve your work. And the kicker? At the very end of the program, all the students put together an exhibit of their work at the Burke Museum that runs through the summer, so you have a chance to get your work out there!

Watch the video and see what it’s about. I’m in there too, wearing the gray hoodie and painting a pileated woodpecker! The instructor they interview, Bart Rulon, is a FANTASTIC teacher and a great artist! His classes were definitely my favorites.

So check out the video, and if you’re interested, you can find more info on the program here!