Scientific Illustration

While people tend to think of art and science as opposite ends of the spectrum, art has actually played a key role in the development of science and how scientific information and advancement are communicated. Scientific illustration, which lies at the intersection of art and science, is more than just one option for how to depict scientific information – illustrations are often the best and only way to depict certain information. Just think of the different types of information where there is no visual evidence (extinct animals, distant planets, Earth’s molten interior) or where the visual evidence is either obscure or unclear (protons, neutrons, atoms). Scientific illustration is a powerful tool for helping researchers explain their findings to their peers and in helping elevate a scientific discovery in ways that make it interesting to broader audiences. Scientific illustration encompasses all forms of visual science communication, including animation, comics, murals, and sculpture. It can play a vital role in conveying information from any realm of science, from archaeology to astrobiology, biotechnology to cartography, oceanography to microbiology, and many others.[1]

Scientific illustration allows complex ideas and details to be presented in an interesting and informative manner. A scientific illustrator must be able to clearly communicate the main point of complex information. In addition, communicating scientific information through illustration is more precise because the illustrator can eliminate extraneous information. Illustrations, unlike photographs, can show exactly what the viewer needs to see. That is why most scientific textbooks, especially medical school textbooks, use illustrations instead of photographs. And because they communicate subtleties and eliminate the ambiguities that can accompany language, scientific illustrations are an important element in the precise communication needed for scientific education. A big challenge for scientific illustrators, however, is balancing scientific accuracy and aesthetic considerations.

Types of Scientific Illustration

There are various types of scientific illustration requiring a diversity of scientific knowledge, artistic media, and skills.

Medical Illustration

The field of medical illustration includes illustrations, artwork, and animations depicting internal anatomy, surgical procedures, and biological processes. Medical illustrators are professional artists that have advanced education in biomedical sciences, digital media, and the principles of visual communication Medical illustrators collaborate with scientists, physicians, and other specialists, to translate complex scientific information into visual images that support medical education, scientific research, patient care, advertising, and litigation.

Natural History Illustrations

Natural history illustration is about observing and illustrating creatures, plants, and microbes in their environment. This is the oldest form of scientific illustration because, for most of recorded history, illustration was the only way to visually communicate information. Natural history illustration is mostly based on observation, and this type of illustrator presents illustrations of past and present subjects as a way to better understand and study certain natural phenomena.

Restoration and Illustration of Extinct Species

Reconstruction and illustration of extinct species is a subset of natural history illustration. Common examples of this genre are illustrations of dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, and saber-tooth tigers. Extinct species illustrators use fossil evidence to recreate these popular long-extinct creatures. Some extinct species illustrators specialize in creating reconstructions and images of lesser-known extinct animals.

Forensic Reconstruction of Facial Structures

In order to get a sense of our ancestors and learn more about them, this type of illustrator specializes in the forensic reconstruction of facial structures to create an anthropological reconstruction of the face using a skull or bones.

Museum Exhibit Image and Model Design

The artistic creation of exhibitions for museums is extremely important to the educational goals of scientific artwork. Content varies widely between exhibits, ranging from interactive exhibits, including fossils, to text-based exhibits.

Scientific Botanical Illustrations

Scientific botanical illustration is the accurate pictorial depiction of plants and their traits for a scientific purpose, as opposed to flower painting, which has no further purpose than to be admired. Scientific botanical illustration is always a true and lifelike representation of a plant. It should highlight a plant’s particular distinguishing features, which enable botanists to tell one plant from another.​[2]

Infographics and Data Visualization

This area of scientific illustration is very functional and highly data and information-driven. It is important for this type of visual artist to select relevant and precise data that can be portrayed in a comprehensible and aesthetically pleasing fashion. Scientific infographics are used to inform, explain, entertain, or encourage action.

Digital 3-D Modeling, Animation, and Video

With advances in technology, 3-D modeling, animation, and video has grown as an art form. This type of scientific illustration allows the artist to model the organism, processes, plants, and animals in their entirety rather than just visually. The goal of this is to allow increased interaction and a more complete understanding of what the subject looks like from all directions.[3]

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Citations

1. Science Illustration, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators.
2. What is botanical illustration? Botanical Art & Artists.
3. Scientific Illustration: What Is It? The Franklin Institute.