gina's sketchblog

Shock, horror! An art post!

2011-12-20T20:42:30Z

Because I haven't done one in EONS. Mainly because I've been busy with work and the book, but since the book isn't happening now, I can show you guys this, which was one of my personal faves (an Atlas moth). You can click on it for a bigger version:

Based on this scene

Ha!

2011-11-29T00:39:22Z

And no, I can't sleep.

So...that roach

2011-10-21T18:54:02Z

Yay!

2011-06-10T12:21:35Z

So remember a while back the curator of Entomology said he wanted me to write and illustrate an article for his Entomology blog?

Well It's up! And it includes a painting I did of a weevil.

Grant Museum

2011-05-03T14:57:42Z

It feels good to be back in London.

Today I went to the Grant Museum of Zoology and chatted a bit with my mentor. I also met this lovely lady called Janet, who is the scientific illustrator at the Grant. She was very nice. I might go and draw there this week as they welcome artists.

I took some photos but sadly do not have my USB cable with me for the camera. Will have to upload them when I get back.

Looking forward to drinks later with nadriel. Feeling very happy. ^^

kankurette got me a Smarties Chicken!

2011-04-26T12:17:22Z

Now the only thing is, if I eat it head first will it flail around my room for 30 seconds?

Zooarchaeology Fun!

2011-04-15T20:27:06Z

Doggie!

The reference collections

Learning names of different bones in mammals:

My reconstruction of the metapodial and phalanges of a pig foot

Fish bones

The jaw of a sheep used in the ageing by toothwear session

Identifying molluscs

Quack!

Reconstructing the duck

Size comparison between a sparrow and pelican bone.

How the tiny sparrow bone is stored

Skullies!

Badger skull. Probably died of TB.

It's up! I'm on the Beeb!

2011-04-01T09:00:29Z

The BBC museum piece starts at 24:50. I have now uploaded it to youtube, so you can view it no matter where you are!

Beetle

2011-03-21T08:06:56Z

One of my stipple drawings for the Soil Biodiversity Team at the NHM is finished. This is a dung beetle (Geotropes sp.)

Conservation Department

2011-03-15T22:03:08Z

Animals in the conservation department waiting to go on display in the new gallery:

Behind the museum:

The view from my office

What I did today- cleaned shells and cut out bits of plastazote to mount them on. These will be going on display in the new gallery.

The finished shells (only hundreds to go!):

More pics of the conservation department

That's a human skeleton on the trolley

Going to sleep now. Exhausted but happy

Mr. Kakapo bring me a dream

2011-02-13T11:04:56Z

Last night I was in quite a lot of pain (I still feel sore), but to cheer myself up I decided to draw something cartoony and fun, as I haven't done so in a while. Plus I have a backlog of commissions to finish before I move to Manchester. I think I might draw a series of New Zealand flightless birds as they all seem so odd and interesting.

In Print: Second Nature

2011-02-11T10:22:03Z

There is an article on the Phylo Project in the Natural History Museum children's magazine Second Nature.

Inside is a fold-out poster

This is what you get when you fold it out! (My squid is the second from the left on the top)

Inside the magazine is a competition. You can draw the blue whale from the mammals hall and if your image is chosen it becomes a Phylo card and you get £30 of Museum vouchers. This, along with the Images of Nature gallery is encouraging more children and adults to draw and learn about nature, which can only be a good thing.

ETA: You can download a hi-res copy of the poster here!

Oh my god...I...I...got it...

2011-02-07T13:26:13Z

...I got the Manchester position!!!!!!!!

I've been given a month or so to move, Just waiting for paperwork etc. I'm walking on air. HURRAH! I DID IT!

Today's work

2011-01-28T22:31:05Z

Stipple drawing of a dung beetle from the New Forest (It's not quite finished):

Life sized:

Yay!

2011-01-21T18:47:49Z

Guys, I'm going to work with scientists in the Entomology department. Before any of you go "but isn't that what you already do?" let me explain.

I'm going to do scientific illustration! I told Dan about the internship I was applying for and he said he would find some projects for me to do and that he would appreciate it because they need that sort of thing for papers etc. I don't know exactly what those projects will be yet but man, I'm excited!

Speaking of scientific illustration, the Images of Nature gallery opened today, and it's promoting both old and modern scientific illustration heavily. Here they are talking about one of my favorite images on display by Mark Russell.

Journal of Henry Walter Bates

In Print

2011-01-11T21:01:04Z

I finally received my copy of the latest Waterhouse Times today while working in Entomology. The magazine officially comes out on Friday, and I will send out the hard copies to those who responded to my Facebook message. Here is the article! You can click through to read a large version:

Also, I recently did a page for jabberworks's The Pickle magazine. I did the science page hee hee. If you haven't checked out Sarah's website and books, you really should do so. I promise you will enjoy them.

Lovebird for sale

2011-01-04T15:18:50Z

I drew this yesterday. This little guy is for sale. He's drawn with Prismacolor pencils on cotton vellum paper. The drawing measures approximately 9 inches high and 8 inches in width.

Lovebird £30.00

Paypal would be best for me, though I will accept cheques. Thanks for looking!

Happy New Year (and parakeets!)

2011-01-01T13:47:26Z

wieselkind and I were having a cup of tea this morning before she had to catch her train, when a very loud screeching noise came from outside. I looked up and saw three birds, and was about to turn away again when Heather noted they were parakeets! I should have recognized the shape in flight but I don't really expect to see parrots in England so it wasn't immediately obvious to me. They circled then landed on the flats opposite then dissappeared again in the direction of Ladywell Fields. They then came back (flashing brilliant green) and landed in the tree behind my flat. I took these photos from the porch:

Seeing these guys has lifted my spirits. Not only does it remind me of when I used to see big flocks of Aztec Parakeets flying over my house in Belize, but it's a treat on the first day of the New Year and makes me feel hopeful.

I may go wander around Ladywell Fields later to see if they're still around and I might get better pictures.

More on these type of parakeets here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose-ringed_Parakeet

moment of squee

2010-12-16T23:30:43Z

I met David Attenborough again, and Richard Fortey! Since I had met Attenborough before I bought Fortey's book instead and had him sign it. I had to- I work in Dry Store Room 1 now.

This was after a talk at the Royal Geographical Society on Zoological Nomenclature. I got a bit misty eyed at the end when Sir Attenborough said "If you lose your wonder for nature as you grow up, you have lost a wonderful thing."

So when I had my book signed, I walked up to Sir Attenborough and said "I've met you before, but unfortunately I could only afford one book this time. I just wanted to say you are a great inspiration to me. Thank you."

At the risk of sounding like an utter fangirl- he touched my arm and said thank you back! Squee!

colonel_maxim is now saying I am an Attenborough groupie. Yeah...without shame. ^^

Monitor Lizards

2010-12-06T20:45:48Z

Today's work:

I cleaned all these guys with smoke sponge and brush today. Boy were they filthy! Oddly, however, the layer of dirt kept them well preserved. The specimen above is from 1873.

And this would be why I'm not going into London today

2010-12-02T09:43:36Z

All trainlines are suffering either major disruption or cancelled. It's actually pretty deep for this time of year in London. *Cue Canadians laughing*

Yesterday's work.

2010-11-25T14:36:05Z

Yesterday I cleaned a Giant Aldabra Tortoise.

Here he is before cleaning. You can see how dusty he was. I brushed and vacuumed the shell to get the surface dirt off

I then used this wonderful material called smoke sponge to finish his shell. It got any ingrained dirt off. Below is the finished shell. The top two pics are also where he had been cleaned with the smoke sponge.

Zoo Drawings

2010-11-23T15:07:06Z

Yesterday at the zoo we spent a lot of time in the Clore Rainforest Lookout. The Southern Tamandua was out earlier than usual because of the darkness at 4:00pm or so. She was a joy to watch and some of the keepers from other parts of the zoo even came to look at her since she rarely emerged in the daytime.

Here are some studies:

At one point she started wandering around outside the central rainforest area and came onto the walkway. It was amusing to watch, but the keepers decided for her safety and the safety of people (her claws are very sharp) that she needed to be put back in the centre of the enclosure. A keeper picked her up and she made this hissing sound and looked thoroughly indignant.

Here's an okapi sketch too:

More fish and a sulky crab

2010-11-12T20:08:47Z

Ugly Fish

2010-11-08T16:40:56Z

Guess the ugly species!

gina's sketchblog

Shock, horror! An art post!

Ha!

So...that roach

Yay!

Grant Museum

kankurette got me a Smarties Chicken!

Zooarchaeology Fun!

It's up! I'm on the Beeb!

Beetle

Conservation Department

Mr. Kakapo bring me a dream

In Print: Second Nature

Oh my god...I...I...got it...

Today's work

Yay!

In Print

Lovebird for sale

Happy New Year (and parakeets!)

*moment of squee*

Monitor Lizards

And this would be why I'm not going into London today

Yesterday's work.

Zoo Drawings

More fish and a sulky crab

Ugly Fish

moment of squee