The Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station is one of the oldest in the state of New York and makes a significant contribution to the preservation and environmental awareness of the region. My application to Com.En.Art, a natural history artist-in-residency program dedicated to explore the preserve through scientific illustration, was accepted! It was an amazing week spent hiking, sketching and enjoying the wonderful natural and human resources at the preserve. One day out on the trails I came across this lovely fellow.
The National Museum of Health and Medicine promoted an Anatomy of Sports Day where scientific illustrators painted the major muscle groups in the body of athletes specializing in different sports. It was so much fun to paint the back and leg muscles of Chris Draft, former NFL football player!
It was a great opportunity to write a post to Visual Nature. Read it online and below.
The fifth edition of the National Meeting of Illustration in São João da Madeira (Portugal) was sponsored by Delta Cafés, a coffee production and distribution company. One of my illustrations made for a previous edition of the Meeting was chosen to be used on the promotional sugar packets. Two other illustrations were displayed at the Parallel Exhibition that took place in the São João da Madeira library during the Meeting.
The article Active Neurons featured a team from the Champalimaud Neuroscience Program and their research on the brain cells capable of promoting action without physical motion involved. It includes my illustration Mind Control, a parody of the two kinds of mice that take part in our lives (one of which is used in neuroscience research).
I worked with the Ar team of the Champalimaud Neuroscience Program to illustrate and design (along with fellow designer Gil Costa) the promotional posters of their public events. The theme of the events I collaborated with were ‘Human 2.0’ and ‘Think of a Number: from mind tricks to neuroscience’.
I was truly honored to be invited by the United Nations Postal Administration to design the 2012 edition of their ongoing Endangered Species Stamp series. This commemorative edition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the collection became available for sale in April and gathered a lot of attention, including an award for one of the illustrations! The ‘Elephant Eared Chameleon’ illustration was distinguished with the Judges’ Special Award at the ScienceOnline 2012 Art Show.
The press coverage was extensive. The online newspaper P3 published an article, and so did the newspapers Boas Notícias and No Feminino-Negócios. The TV channels SIC and SIC Notícias broadcasted an interview recorded at the Lisbon Zoo about the invitation to the project and its development. The printed and online weekly magazine Visão also interviewed me in the context of an article about Scientific Illustration.
The Gulbenkian Science Institute commissioned me to direct and animate a video to be used as an online educational material in schools. Me and My Body is an appealing and accurate way to learn about organs, cells and the different methods scientists use to study them. The Portuguese version of the video (above is the english subtitled version) has had over 50,000 views on YouTube and received a lot of praise. The animation was distinguished with the First Prize for Educational Materials Category of the Ciencia en Acción Awards AND the Judges Special Award from the House of Science! These are two prestigious awards: the first attributed to the best educational materials produced in Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries; and the second given to educational materials for their originality, quality and teaching value by House of Science, a databank with lesson plans for teachers.
I was commissioned by the Pavilion of Knowledge to illustrate 12 beautifully written texts by author António Piedade in celebration of the Pavilion’s 12th anniversary. The illustrated texts hung on a rope for visitors to reach and take home during the day.