Illustrate a scientific concept with personality and charm.

Researching and Thinking

Choose and research your scientific concept
Choose a scientific subject that sparks your curiosity. Read up on current events in that subject, or facts you find exciting and interesting. Narrow down your list of concepts, and choose the one you think is most fascinating and would translate well into an illustration. Here are some examples of past scientific concepts I've illustrated:
- How many ostriches does it take to get to the top of the Statue of Liberty?
- What's the difference between an ape and a monkey?
- Mating rituals of jumping spiders
- Pronking movements of alpacas
Gather references
Collect photo references of your subject. You can browse Google, Wikipedia, books, scientific blogs—use everything at your disposal! Just be sure what you're reading is from a credible source and is accurate information. Keep you references organized, whether by browser bookmarks, files on your computer, or pins on a special Pinterest board.
Share your concept
Share your scientific concept in the project gallery along with a few of your favorite photo references. Take a look at what your classmates are planning on drawing, let them know what you think, and get inspired by each other!

Sketching to Learn

Draw to learn
Start sketching your concept. Don't censor or judge yourself! Everything that pops into your head is worth drawing. Just get it all down on paper and see what happens.

Draw from your references, really studying what your subject looks like, moves like, acts like... everything about it!
Sketch to step away from reality
After you've gotten a good grasp on your concept by drawing from photo references, start to step away from your references and reality. Inject your own personality by drawing your interpretation rather than just copying the photograph. Embellish and expand certain characteristics, and drop others. Experiment, and draw, draw, draw!
Share your sketches
Share your sketches (as many or as few as you like!) in your project gallery post. Write a few sentences about how you stepped away from reality in your sketches.

Refining Your Drawing

Choose your best sketch
Choose the sketch you think is most successful from your batch, or the one that inspires you most. Lightly trace your sketch onto a new, loose sheet of paper using either a lightbox or window.
Refine your drawing
Use the drawing tips we talked about in the video to refine your drawing. You can finalize the drawing how you choose: pencil, pen, marker, etc.
- Are there any unwanted tangents or parallel lines?
- Are you using straight and curved lines?
- Is the composition balanced?
Once your drawing is final on paper, scan it into your computer as a 600dpi grayscale JPG. Then, place it in a new Photoshop document fomatted to RGB, 300 dpi, 8x10 inches. You can choose a horizonal or vertical format.
Share your final drawing
Share your final drawing in your project gallery post with some process shots of how you got to where you are now. Look at your classmate's work and give them props or tips!

Line, Value, and Color

Scan in your drawing
Scan your final drawing onto your computer as a 600dpi grayscale JPEG.
Create value studies
Create at least 3 grayscale value studies over your scanned in drawing, as described in the video. Try using as few values as possible in one of them.
Create color studies
Create at least 3 color studies over your scanned in drawing. Try using the color tips described in the video.
Experiment with linework
Experiment with keeping your lines all the way around areas in your illustration, keeping only some lines, and erasing all lines. See what works for you and your illustration.
Share your value, color, and linework studies
Share your studies you made on value, color and linework. You can choose to show them all, a portion of them, or just the studies you plan on continuing with. Browse your classmates' progress and see what they're up to!

Color, Texture, and Hand-Drawn Type

Digitally color your illustration
Color your illustration using the techniques described in the video, and experimenting with your own processes. Download and play around with digital brushes if you'd like. Decide how you want to present linework in your piece, and finalize your overall base illustration.
Create and apply your own textures
Experiment with and paint your textures, scan them in, and apply one or more to your illustration. Create a personal texture library for yourself to use in the future.
Draw and apply your own typography
Decide on and layout your type digitally. Print out the type and draw your type using a lightbox or window. Be sure it isn't a direct copy of the typeface, but it mainly just capturing the alignment and spacing. Scan in your type and incorporate it into your piece.
Share your final illustration!
You did it! Share your final illustration in your project gallery post, and congratulate yourself on sticking with it and finishing the work! Check out your classmates' work—tell the artist if you're impressed or inspired by their work, and give constructive feedback where you think improvements can be made. Then, treat yourself to a cookie for a job well done!

Additional Resources

Book: Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud
Book: Creative Illustration, by Andrew Loomis (or get the free download of all his books!)
Book: Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: Volume 1: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures
Video: Wrist, Hand, and Finger Stretching Routine
Book: Interaction of Color by Josef Albers
Digital Brushes: Kyle T. Webster’s Photoshop Brushes
Explore more of Christine's illustrations for inspiration: Might Could Studios

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WANT MORE?

You can see more about Christine and her work at might-could.com

Hope to see you in there! :D

Katie Leavens

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