Scientific Illustrator & Educator
Christine Elder holds a Master’s degree in Biology and a Graduate Certificate in Science Illustration, which ensures that her work is both anatomically accurate as well as beautiful. She specializes in drawing insects, vertebrates and botanicals.
She is proficient in a variety of media including traditional watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pen & ink, scratchboard, shaded pencil and carbon dust. Digital media skills include Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign and Dreamweaver. And with experience in graphic design and writing, she can organize your projects from start to finish.
Previous projects completed include natural history interpretive exhibits, children's books, laboratory manuals, scientific research papers, designs for posters and t-shirts, writing and illustrations for environmental newsletters, as well as a variety of graphic design projects.
Christine teaches workshops for both children and adults in biological illustration, for which she is well known for her lively presentations, intriguing biological specimens and high quality art materials.
For more information visit Christine's new website at: http://www.christineelder.com/.
Upcoming Kids Illustration Workshop - 2010
Join me for an all day class I'm teaching for kids at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum on Saturday, April 10th (2010). This is the fourth year I've been asked back to teach this perennially favorite class. It is being presented in conjunction with an exhibition of biological illustrations from our Northern California chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, for which I am the chapter membership director.
Kids in my workshop will get a chance to sketch and paint a variety of natural objects - from seashells to orchids - learning simple techniques for learning to create realistic drawings. Click on the Museum link below to learn more about this popular class.
Testimonials for Christine's Art Classes
- "Christine is the rare professional artist who can bring art and natural science alive for kids"
- "Christine is stellar in the classroom"
- "She has the background & ability to design lessons and activities that are age-appropriate"
- "Her style engages & motivates students"
- "Her class was a week rich with lessons and activities that complemented the science curriculum"
- "Christine brings a passion and enthusiasm that is infectious"
- "I didn't know I could paint like this"
Incredible Salmonfly Hatch
Last week, we were hiking in the forest along an irrigation ditch when we began to notice numerous shucks of the salmonfly, Pteronarcys californica. They were not only attached to the stream side aquatic vegetation, but had also made their way across the trail, and six feet up the trunks of nearby firs and pines. Salmonflies are one of my favorite aquatic invertebrates, being among the largest and flashiest of stoneflies. I collected a handful of shucks to show my students, and also observed a large adult, about 3 inches long, while it rested calmly on my arm! One never knows what special events you'll see when you're being observant out in the field!
