The Highlands Biological Station is offering two 5-day workshops this summer on natural science illustration. Dr. Lore Ruttan (www.loreruttanillustration.com<http://www.loreruttanillustration.com/>) is the instructor. Highlands, North Carolina, is located in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, at an average elevation of 3,800 feet, and situated near the Nantahala National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Appalachian Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For details about cost and logistics, please visit www.highlandsbiological.org/summercourses/.

Lore Ruttan is an Atlanta based scientist, artist and illustrator. Her work has been shown at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta and the Telfair Museum in Savannah among other places and she has created commissioned art for clients in the United States and Europe. Her most recent undertaking was illustrating a children's book. Lore works in a traditional botanical style that prioritizes detail and scientific accuracy but with a contemporary sensibility. Prior to starting her business as an illustrator, she taught in the Environmental Studies Department at Emory University for nine years. Her training includes a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of California at Davis, a certificate in Botanical Drawing from the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, as well as coursework in the nationally acclaimed Program in Natural Science Illustration at the University of California, Santa Cruz (now at CSU Monterrey).

Natural Science Illustration in Black & White
June 29-July 3 with Dr. Lore Ruttan, Lore Ruttan Illustration
Natural science illustration is the practice of conveying information about nature in an accurate, intuitive and visually appealing manner. Over the course of five days, students will observe and draw a variety of natural objects and be given help in improving those skills. Instruction will be give in three main types of traditional media; graphite, pen and ink, and scratchboard. Students can choose to work on a broad variety of natural subjects including plants, birds, insects, bones, or even rocks!
Day 1: Brief introduction to History of Natural Science Illustration. Discussion of materials and subjects. In class: Demo on continuous tone pencil techniques. Scientific lighting conventions. Sketch from natural artifacts and specimens.
Day 2: Graphite continued. Emphasis on developing 3-D forms. Share and discuss first projects.
Day 3: Begin drawing and rendering in pen and ink. Review the range of materials from dip pens to disposable pens. Discuss line, hatching and stippling.
Day 4: Introduction to Scratchboard. Share and discuss second projects.
Day 5: Work on scratchboard. Final sharing.
Prerequisites: The course is open to students at all levels of skill and prior experience and can be repeated.


Natural Science Illustration in Color
July 6-10 with Dr. Lore Ruttan, Lore Ruttan Illustration
Students in this course will learn colored pencil, and watercolor illustration techniques that emphasize detail, precision and taxonomic accuracy. Over the course of five days students will complete one to two illustrations in each media; students may opt to work with only one of the two media if they prefer. Techniques to be covered include basic pencil techniques and brushwork, color mixing and layering, working with light and shadow, pigment choices for difficult to create colors, transferring preliminary drawings to watercolor paper. Students can choose to work on a broad variety of natural subjects including plants, birds, insects, bones, or even rocks!
Prerequisites: A prior course in drawing is recommended but not required. This class may be repeated.

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Michelle S. Ruigrok
Program Assistant, Highlands Biological Station
265 N. 6th St.  |  Highlands, NC 28741
Tel: (828) 526-2602  |  Fax: (828) 526-2797
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
www.highlandsbiological.org

Mission: To foster research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the Highlands Plateau.

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