The program here in Chicago, I have heard, is very good. The extra
science classes are worth it.  Chicago is a wonderful city; you have
to be prepared for all sorts of weather tho. One of the selling
points of this town is that the biology of our region is much more
diverse than anywhere else in the lower 48 - whatever you want to
learn about, you can.

Kathy G


On Nov 3, 2006, at 12:29 PM, K G wrote:

> Hello everybody,
>
> I am yet another undergraduate hopeful who recently found
> Scientific/Medical Illustration as a career options.  I just joined
> listserv and already it has been so helpful.  I am currently
> debating whether it would be better to recieve a certificate from
> UC Santa Cruz or actually get my masters in Medical Illustration
> from a program in Chicago.  Also, I am an art and design student
> planning to get a bio minor.  Is it impossible to even get a
> master's degree if me focus is art and not science?
>
> Sincerely,
> Kyanne
>
> On 11/3/06, Katie Hansen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks to all of you for all your great comments regarding the
> quest for a Scientific Illustration program.  Really wonderful to
> get this kind of response.
>
> Zel,  I really appreciate your encouraging words  and the way you
> approached getting started:
>
> And while I'm at it, for all the other undergrad/beginners here
> like myself, I'd encourage you, wherever you are, to let people
> know that your pursuing scientific illustration.  I only recently
> (w/in the past two years) figured out sci-illustration was even an
> option.  Once I did realize I started asking around/being more open
> about my artwork and found that a lot of my bio profs needed
> illustrations done or had projects that I could apply my skills
> to.  So in the past year and a half I've completed an illustrated
> walking guide to the trees on the campus, pen&ink illustrations of
> mosquitoes for another prof to be published w/in a year, and
> finally pencil/pen&ink illustrations for some new Amazonian plant
> species.  Anyhow, this is not to brag, just to show that you can
> get started right away without any formal training.  Two years ago
> I had no idea what the heck I was going to do with my life (apart
> from something bio related) but now I've had some experience and I
> have real work to add to my portfolio.
>
> Our local university, Humboldt Sate, offers a wonderful art degree,
> and that, combined with their incredible science department  may be
> just the place for me to gain the experience I'm looking for. In
> fact, I am currently enrolled in their representational and basic
> drawing courses, and am quite impressed by the dedication of the
> instructors. The representational drawing class has really fired my
> desire to continue in this direction and learn more, more, more!
>
> So now my question shifts a bit. If I'm trying to cobble together a
> program, does anybody have any recommendations for how to get the
> most from what's available? The art department also offers several
> graphic design classes.
>
> What are the current software applications that you more
> experienced illustrators are using, and what do you feel are the
> most valuable skills to try  to develop in order to start competing
> outside of the school environment?
>
> Thanks!!!
> Kate
>

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