Jennifer,

Indeed, welcome! How wonderful to already be aware of the existence of 
this profession at a young age! Elaine, who responded a bit ago, and my 
husband and myself have helped nurture a similar young local 
artist-writer-photographer, Noah Stryker, who just recently had his 
first "column" published in Birder's World - "Bird Boy"! He, like you, 
has wonderful, encouraging parents, and has made great use of 
opportunities to excel and move his career forward. You may know of 
him, too, through the ABA: he was one of their young birders a few 
years ago.

I, also do much bird artwork, too, and have the added good fortune to 
have a husband who's an ornithologist: makes for accurate and helpful 
critiques! In addition to the illustration, I have also been a graphic 
designer for many years as well, and my business incorporates both 
worlds. In fact, in early '05, I will be helping a local birder and 
"odonatist" design, layout and print a field guide to dragonflies and 
damselflies for the Eugene, Oregon, area. I personally found that 
practicing both arts has allowed me to survive financially better than 
had I focused only on illustration – at least here in a small city in 
Oregon.

I look forward to seeing your work, and again, welcome to a wonderful 
group of creative, warm and helpful people! I hope to catch up with you 
at a GNSI event one of these days... And if you manage to get to 
Oregon, look us up!

Barbara Gleason

-- 

BGleason Design & Illustration
     _     Graphic Design
   ( '<     Scientific & Commercial Illustration
  / ) )      [log in to unmask]
//"  "      Ph: 541-345-3974

P.O. Box 50535, Eugene OR 97405