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Forest Service Book Illustrated by GNSI Member Juliette Watts

The US Forest Service just released a beautifully-illustrated, non-fiction children’s picture book that discusses why trees are sometimes cut down.

Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down? is a 41-page color picture book featuring 28 four-color illustrations.

It was written by Roberta Burzynski and illustrated by Juliette Watts, two long-time Forest Service employees who work out of Pennsylvania. This is Burzynski’s second published book; her first was Woodsy Owl’s ABCs. Watts has been illustrating professionally for more than 30 years.

The primary target audience for the book is 1st to 3rd graders, as well as parents and educators.

Some children are unaware that in order to reduce tree hazards, protect other trees, or to get wood, it...

GNSI Artist Pat Latas Wins AFC Grant for Parrot Studies

Artist Pat Latas to Study and Support Plight of Flightless Parrot

Pat Latas , AFC Flag Expedtion, Kakapo Recovery Team

On April 18, 2013, Artists for Conservation (AFC) announced its 14th fellowship, a grant in the amount of $5,000 US, awarded to American wildlife artist Patricia Latas of Tucson, Arizona. The fellowship is part of the AFC Flag Expeditions Program, which supports up to two artists per year in their field work, studying and rendering endangered species or habitats that deserve greater public attention, particularly in remote parts of the world.

The primary goal of the expedition is to illustrate and support the efforts of the Kakapo Recovery Team - a conservation...

GNSI 2013 Auction

GNSI 2013 AUCTION!

Greetings, fellow GNSI members!

I'm Erin Hunter, and I'll be the auction coordinator for the 2013 conference in Bar Harbor, Maine. I'm looking forward to organizing this important aspect of our conference, which helps raise money for our both our Education and General Funds. I'll be sending out reminders as we get closer to the conference, but in the meantime, let me fill you in on some details.

As those of you who have attended conferences know, the auction is a not only a fundraiser for GNSI, but also a really fun part of the conference. Donations are collected from members, art supply stores, natural history museums and the like, and then are displayed at the conference for members to bid on at a silent auction. Large ticket items, such as...

The GNSI Traveling Exhibit at The Prehistoric Museum, Price, Utah

–Guest Blog by Lloyd Logan

"What is Scratchboard? How do they get so much detail? I've never heard of carbon dust, but I really like it! I would never have the patience to do this. It is just like a photograph, only better! Just keep looking, you will find more animals and different plants! How do they get that texture?"

All of the above quotes and many more in the same vein were heard when the GNSI Traveling Exhibit, of 20 framed illustrations and an additional portfolio of approximately 50 unframed works, was unveiled to the public on January 10, 2013 for a six-week show at The Prehistoric Museum in Price, Utah. The Guild show was accompanied by a museum organized sister (brother?) show of 14 framed scientific illustrations by former GNSI Corresponding...

GNSI membership pins

I hope GNSI has taught you few things from traditional watercolor techniques to business practices to how to turn a roadkill into a clean specimen. Now it’s time for you to tell the Guild your thoughts.

The GNSI board is always dedicated to bringing you the best services, tools, and opportunities for professional and scholarly development to promote better understanding of the field of scientific illustration. I’m hoping you will give us some advice and share some of your background, interests, and expertise. The GNSI members generally tell us that they like the offerings from the group, but we need to make sure that we are really on target with what you want and need from the Guild.

I hope you can participate in taking the GNSI membership survey...

GNSI Member’s Work Featured in National Geographic-Portugal Edition

Fernando Correia illustrates paleontological recreation of Mozambique excavation site

Two Portuguese paleontologists - Rui Araujo and Ricardo Castanhinha - whose work was partially supported by a National Geographic Society grant, have excavated in Mozambique searching for Permian fossils since 2009. Their findings wrote a new page in the earth history book and have allowed a better understanding of mammalian ancestors' evolution journey. Portuguese Editor, Gonalo Pereira, once again challenged illustrator Fernando Correia to recreate paleontological scene, this one regarding the Permian period, and based on the available fossil records. Following a traditional workflow, the researchers, the illustrator, and Art Director Vasco Martins worked closely...

GNSI 2013 Membership Survey

GNSI Membership Survey 2013

Overview:

In May 2012, the GNSI Board identified the need to conduct a formal, comprehensive Member Survey. Your replies will help us better understand your backgrounds, needs, and expectations as we plan for the future of the GNSI.

Please allow 20-30 minutes to complete the survey.

As a thank-you gift, the GNSI board has designed and created an exclusive GNSI enamel pin. Every member who completes the survey will receive one. Wear it proudly on your hat, your vest, or on your bag!

Thank you for your help!

Instructions:

1. The survey is in two parts. Part One is an anonymous survey gathering member's opinions and feedback. Part Two...

GNSI Members' Books make the NSTA List!

The National Science Teacher's Association, in collaboration with the Children's Book Council, compiles an annual list of Outstanding Science Trade Books, those designed for grades K-12 that promote science and literacy. Two books on the 2013 list feature illustrations by GNSI members Consie Powell and Laurie O'Keefe.

Nature's Patchwork Quilt: Understanding Habitats

written by Mary Miche; published by Dawn Publications; illustrated by Consie Powell

Just imagine all of nature, mountains, prairies, oceans, and all lying on your bed as a patchwork quilt! Take flora and fauna in their unique habitats, fold them up and you have a book, this book. Downloadable activities for this book can be found on the...

GNSI 2013 Conference is now accepting Presentation and Workshop Proposals

The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators is proud to announce that we can now take offers for Presentations and Workshops at the 2013 Conference directly on the web. Thanks to Board member Ikumi Kayama, we now have a sophisticated submission form that should cover all the bases in preparing you to participate in the Conference. Workshops, short and long presentations, panel discussions, etc.! Soon we hope to have the Exhibit submission forms online as well. Stay tuned!

Please do consider joining us in Bar Harbor Maine, July 7-13, 2013 and share your knowledge with an enthusiastic group of artists. If you would like to ask some questions before submitting, please contact one of these people:

CONFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Suzanne Wegener,...

GNSI-DC Holiday Gathering

GNSI-DC had a wonderful send-off for 2012 with a well-attended holiday gathering at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on Dec. 18th.

It was a pleasure to see old friends, and new faces interested in Science illustration. Attendees brought friends and family to join in the fun.

After an hour and a half of eating, drinking, conversation, and portfolio viewing (we could have gone on much longer!) we got down to the important business of stealing presents...

The Thieves Christmas game has found its way into our traditions in DC (thanks to David Clarke!). Everyone who wants to participate brings a white elephant wrapped for the present table. We all draw a number and take turns opening a present from the table, or even better, taking a present...