Artist spotlight: Lizzie Schafer

But first…what is scientific illustration?

Scientific illustration is the creation of visual representations of scientific subjects, such as flora, fauna, anatomical structures, or geological formations. These illustrations are precise, accurate, and often include technical details. The goal of scientific illustration is to visually communicate scientific information to a broad audience, including scientists, students, and the general public. Scientific illustrators use a variety of techniques, including pen-and-ink, watercolor, digital media, and 3D modeling, to create their illustrations.

Fun fact: Even in a world full of photography, illustrations are still important, as they can be better at revealing the structure of a subject, and they can work to fill in the gaps and render the subjects more clearly in isolation while selecting the necessary elements and eliminating anything unwanted.

Why is art important in the science world?

 Illustration by Lizzie

Scientific illustration serves as an essential tool for conveying complex scientific concepts and data to a diverse audience. These illustrations play a significant role in enhancing the understanding and comprehension of scientific subjects, enabling scientists to communicate their findings, and allowing the general public to access and appreciate research in a more digestible format. Scientific illustrations can also pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries by bringing to light previously undiscovered phenomena and helping researchers analyze and synthesize their data more effectively. Overall, scientific illustration is a crucial aspect of science communication that allows the broader community to engage with and appreciate scientific research, and it plays an essential role in advancing scientific knowledge and understanding.

In summary, artwork can take a very complicated subject and turn it into something easy to understand!

Lizzie

 Photo by Danielle Devincenzi

“Even though I knew that Año Nuevo would be covered with seabirds, it was hard to imagine before getting there just what that would look like. The density of wildlife was unlike pretty much anything else I had ever seen. Seals and sea lions were piled on the beach and outer terraces, but on most of the island it was birds everywhere- flying, squawking, mating, nesting, roosting, fighting. Any space that wasn’t occupied by seabirds had been trampled bare of any plant life, and the smell of guano was everywhere. The more I looked, the more questions I had about each species’ behaviors, distributions on the island, and life histories when they leave the island. I felt inspired and giddy walking around, sketching as fast as I could. I was especially fascinated with the Brandt’s cormorants because of their breeding behaviors. When a mate returned to a nest with nesting material, the pair would circle and sway their necks, and nibble at each other’s mouths together in a dance. Eventually, they would place it together. It reminded me of dancing and cuddling, and I couldn’t help but think of it as loving.” -Lizzie

What led you to do art for conservation/science purposes?

“Drawing is a way for me to appreciate nature more deeply, through looking closer at the physical forms and noticing things about a plant, animal, landscape that would have escaped my attention otherwise. The first chance I got to explore this deeply was with UCSC’s Natural History Field Quarter, where I spent beautiful days outside in the UC reserves, learning the process of field journaling to record and reflect on the ecology around me. Since then, I’ve also done the natural history illustration class at UCSC and realized that art for conservation and scientific purposes is still very much alive and needed!”

How did you capture the island with your art? 

“I hope I captured the island by recording the distribution and habitats of each species and how they relate to one another. This is something that was a lot of fun for me to watch, so a lot of my time on the island was spent making preliminary maps and nature notes!”

Initial sketch by Lizzie

How does your art relate to seabirds and their ecosystem?

“I absolutely love maps, and I’ve done other map-based illustration projects in the past, so my final works will relate to how each of them make the island theirs, in the nests and roosting places they set up and ways they defend their territory. Additionally, I spent a lot of time observing the Brandt’s cormorants and gulls’ behavior, so I also look forward to making works that chart those species’ habits of mating, breeding, or fighting.”

Where can you find Lizzie’s work?

Find Lizzie on Instagram as @lizziedrawsworld, and on Facebook as Lizzie Schafer

See more of her work and other artists at “The Winged Sentinels of Monterey Bay”. There will be food, drinks, and contests! All ages are welcome. More information here.

June 1st, 2023