Painting Nature

I’ve loved the natural world since I was little. I was obsessed with plants and animals. I made a lot of art as a kid, but I didn’t think of becoming a professional artist until high school, when I took sculpture and figure-drawing classes.

In art school, I experimented with different styles and subject matters. But after I graduated, I returned to my love of nature. I completed a certificate program in scientific illustration. Eventually,  I wanted to make large-scale public art exhibits in spaces where many people can see them.

I have loved the natural world since I was little. I was obsessed with plants and animals. I made a lot of art as a kid. I didn’t think of becoming a professional artist until high school. That’s when I took sculpture and figure-drawing classes.

I experimented with different styles and subjects in art school. I returned to my love of nature after I graduated. I completed a certificate program in scientific illustration. I wanted to make large-scale public art exhibits many people can see.

As a science illustrator, the goal is to make the subjects as accurate as possible. For The Wall of Birds, a key measurement was the culmen. This is the length from the top of a bird’s bill to the tip. From that measurement, I was able to use proportions to figure out the rest of the bird’s dimensions.

After making a sketch for a mural, there is a lot of math I need to do to make it fit on the site—especially when working on buildings. Right now, I’m working on a mural that will go on a round water tower. So I’m really going back to those basic formulas from geometry class.

The goal is to make the subjects as accurate as possible. For The Wall of Birds, a key measurement was the culmen. This is the length from the top of a bird’s bill to the tip. I was able to use proportions to figure out the rest of the bird’s dimensions from that measurement.

After I sketch a mural, I do a lot of math to make it fit the site. That is especially true when I work on buildings. I’m working on a mural right now that will go on a round water tower. I use basic geometry formulas a lot.

Even though a lot of planning goes into a big mural, you can’t anticipate everything. So you have to be flexible and ready to solve problems as they arise.

When I painted an outdoor mural of migrating butterflies in Orlando, Florida, in February, weather was a big problem. It’s usually sunny there, but that winter was wet and cold. It was so humid that the paint wouldn’t stick to the wall! We had to wait until the weather changed. I learned to be flexible after that.

Even though a lot of planning goes into a big mural, I can’t anticipate everything. I have to be flexible and ready to solve problems as they arise.

I painted an outdoor mural in February of migrating butterflies in Orlando, Florida. The weather was a big problem. It is usually sunny there, but that winter was wet and cold. It was so humid the paint wouldn’t stick to the wall! We had to wait until the weather changed. I learned to be flexible.

I want my art to help people see that they’re not separate from nature but a part of it. My favorite compliment after someone views my works is when they say, “I notice this plant or animal all the time now. I never paid attention to it before.” If they notice that species, perhaps they’ll care more about it. If my work helps people be more aware of nature, I consider that a big win.

I want my art to help people see they are a part of nature. My favorite compliment is when someone says, “I notice this plant or animal all the time now. I never paid attention to it before.” If someone notices a species, perhaps they will about it more. I consider it a big win if my work makes people more aware of nature.