“The Day Job”
I thought I’d post a sampling of my “bread and butter” artwork: medical and biological illustration. I spend a lot of time drawing body parts the most people don’t know that they have and surgeries that they hope they never have! Although none of it has the appeal of a watercolor of a pretty bird, I think there can be a pleasant aesthetic to it! Here is a demo reel and samples of some of the work I’ve done.
Semicircular Canals and Cochlea –Inner Ear
Female Eastern Bluebird Pencil Sketch p16
We have been lucky enough to have Eastern bluebirds nest in our yard multiple times. As the field nearby is slowly being taken over by trees, our property has become less attractive to the bluebirds. This year they built a nest in one of our boxes and laid laid five eggs. Sadly the house wrens came in, poked holes in all the eggs and took over the nest box. Stinkers. I finally took down the box out of frustration. The bluebirds still come to the yard now and again which always puts a smile on my face. The brilliant blue males are spectacular and the females, though less dramatically colored, are simply beautiful.
Tufted Titmouse Pencil Sketch p15
I do a lot of sketching from my own photos while I’m waiting for my kids in their karate classes. Its a good way to be productive in what otherwise might be dead time. Some kids at the dojo like to watch me draw. I suppose it’s because adults seldom go around drawing in public. They like to ask a lot of questions. Thats good for a kid to do! The most common question is “How do you do that?” I avoid the temptation to say, “Well, it’s MAGIC!” and try to explain the process of how I go about sketching. Some of the kids will bring back drawings that they made to show me or will ask for help with something they want to draw. I think it’s great. Some are quite good at it, a few are excellent. I hope they keep it up! People were certainly helpful and encouraging with me as a kid, so I always try to make time for them.
This tufted titmouse is one of many karate sketches.
Nuthatches seem to have some a “bigger than life” personality.
Ruby Meadowhawk Dragonfly Pencil Sketch p14
I’m a big fan of dragonflies. To draw them, I take tons of photos for reference. I also have some dead ones that I use for reference on tiny details like wing venation. I typically use a 200-400mm lens with extension tubes. For this drawing I used photos that were taken with a 100mm macro. In order to get a tiny dragonfly to fill the frame with that lens you have to be incredibly close. Most dragonflies don’t tolerate that kind of distance. Meadowhawks, however are definitely creatures of habit. They will return to a favorite perch, ignoring a patient photographer. I sat very still and prefocused on its favorite leaf. The meadowhawk would fly off, grab a mosquito and return to eat it right in from of the lens. I like a cooperative subject! I need them to talk to the damselflies… they are much less predictable.
White-breasted Nuthatch Pencil Sketch p13
White-breasted nuthatches are entertaining, cute and energetic birds. Here in Michigan they visit suet and bird feeders year round. When I lived in Cleveland years ago my wife and I used to go birding in a park where they were tame enough to eat out of your hands!
Candy-striped Leafhopper Watercolor Step-by-step
These garden pests are tiny enough to be looked over by most people, but they certainly are colorful and well designed creatures.
Original Available.
Prints are also available here.
Blister Beetle Nymph p12
I’ve never had the misfortune of being burned by a blister beetle. I spent a good part of my youth picking up all sorts of animals. I’ve been burned by saddleback and Io moth caterpillars. If the blister beetle is anything like that, it’s a “pleasure” I can live without. Last fall dozens of these large insects were in a park nearby. I carefully bagged one to bring home and photograph. It was a patient model despite it’s intimidating name.
Blister beetles are named for a poisonous chemical (cantharidin) that they can release when disturbed. It is caustic enough to blister your skin. Cantharidin is used medicinally to treat warts.
Candy-striped Leafhopper Pencil Sketch p11
Easily overlooked, the tiny candy-striped leafhopper is a feast for the eyes of a careful observer. Unfortunately, they also feast on garden plants and are a pest species.
Red-eyed Vireo Pencil Sketch p9
This Red-eyed Vireo was in the crabapple right outside our kitchen window last year. Typically, I think of RE Vireos as almost always being up higher in trees, but this one was right at eye level. Fortunately the camera was handy. 
Red-eyed Vireo Pencil Sketch
Broad-headed Assassin Bug Nymph Pencil Sketch p8
If you ever have been bitten by an assassin bug, you know that it’s something you won’t soon forget. I got tagged by a small one last year and was impressed. Having learned my lesson with smaller ones, I was careful handling this broad-headed assassin bug nymph. While the adults have full wings and resemble most true bugs, the nymphs of this species are excellent ant mimics. The only thing that betrayed this guy was that he was really large for an ant! On closer inspection he had some fancy dots along his abdomen, wing buds and a sizable proboscis… for biting unsuspecting insects and the occasional sloppy photographer. It was quite a handsome beast, actually!
