Vertebrate Anatomy for Artists
Instructor(s):
Hannah Cohen
Dates:
Tuesdays, September 8 - October 27
Times:
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Fees:
$400
Class Cap:
12
Week 1: Introductions!
- The evolution of vertebrates and taxonomy
- The basic vertebrate body plan
- Basic anatomical terminology and labeling
- How to find reference images
Assignment: choose two very different animals and do a couple of loose sketches of each, in different poses; observe similarities and differences
Weeks 2 – 6: Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals, and Birds respectively
For each week:
- Basic definition and taxonomy
- Basic body plan
- Niches, adaptations, and anatomy
Assignment: choose one specific species of fish / amphibian / reptile / bird / mammal respectively, pick one (or more) individual anatomical feature(s) of that animal, illustrate that feature in relation to the whole animal, and add some basic labels (we will discuss this in more detail in class, but for example: you could choose to focus on a
zebra鈥檚 stripes, a bull shark鈥檚 swim bladder, a
hornbill鈥檚 crest, a tuatara鈥檚 鈥渢hird eye鈥�, an axolotl鈥檚
gills… the list goes on, and it鈥檚 up to you!)
Weeks 7 and 8: Conceptualizing, workshopping, and actualizing a more polished final piece, working with any one of the following prompts
- Illustrate one (or more) complete body systems of one animal as well as the animal鈥檚 exterior body, and label (body systems include skeletal, muscular, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, lymphatic, cardiovascular, reproductive, and nervous)
- Choose two animals from the same taxonomic family (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals) and compare / contrast their anatomical features
- Choose two animals that are completely unrelated and compare / contrast basic vertebrate commonalities
- Choose a predator / prey relationship between two animals and compare / contrast basic vertebrate commonalities, emphasizing predator- and prey-specific adaptations
These are all big prompts, so we鈥檒l work together to make things that you鈥檙e really proud of!
Students of all experience levels are more than welcome.
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About the Artist:
Hannah Cohen听(they/them) is an artist and illustrator born and raised in Colorado. When not not making scientific illustrations, most of their work is still very biological, with surreal and symbolic elements. Beauty, detail, and finesse sit at the center of Cohen鈥檚 artistic practice in equal measure. They are proficient with graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, pen, and marker, and are happy to work with students to explore any of these media.