Lauren E Johnson

This course deals with painting plants, birds, reptiles and mammals. Botanical structure and basic anatomy are covered, as well as specific morphological information on textures, scales, feathers, and fur. Classes are held at the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Chicago Botanic Garden (Fall Semester only) and the Field Museum of Natural History. We tour and work with specimens in the Field Museum research areas as well as work in the public collections. The most difficult part of this class is drawing a moving creature. Tackling this issue at the zoo enables the student to understand structure in the light of behavior and physical action. The importance of seeing and drawing live animals cannot be underestimated. Watercolor and gouache are used, so basic painting methods, color mixing, color layering and spatial dynamics are emphasized. This is an excellent class in which to improve observational skills. 

A point of departure for the course will be historical scientific illustrators such as Maria Sybilla Meriam, John James Audubon, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, as well as contemporary artists and illustrators like Walton Ford and Alexis Rockman.

There is a new assignment each class, with many examples on an assignment sheet provided for guidance. There is a group critique every week, with discussion of how each student solved problems of accurate representation. Students are expected to have 10 excellent pieces by the end of the semester, to be presented at the final critique.