Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

06/08/2026

Today we are highlighting our keynote speaker for this year's virtual conference: Dr. Stuart Sumida.

Dr. Sumida is the current president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and has been an anatomical and scientific consultant for nearly 100 films, ranging from “The Lion King” (the 1994 version) to Zootopia 2 to How to Train Your Dragon! His talk with feature the intersection of science, art, and educational outreach while focusing on the importance of anatomy and paleontology in animation.

To check out more of this year's speakers and panelists, visit https://www.gnsi.org/conference/2026-virtual-program

06/07/2026

Members, it is time to vote for your 2026 - 2028 GNSI leadership!

There are seven positions on the GNSI Board up for election. Check your email for details on each position, the candidates, and the link to vote. Voting includes the President, Treasurer, Outreach Director, Recording Secretary, Interim Membership Director, and Interim Education Director. The Vice President position is still vacant and in need of someone to fill the role.

Voting will be open from June 4 – August 4. Thank you for contributing to GNSI's continued success, your vote matters!

06/06/2026

REMINDER: Have you submitted your art to this year's Member Exhibit? The call for entry closes in ONE WEEK.

This is your opportunity to showcase your artwork in a members-only exhibition that celebrates the incredible talent and creativity of our community. Submit your work by the end of the day on June 13 to be considered.

We look forward to seeing your work!

Each year, GNSI members are invited to submit their finest work to our Annual Juried Exhibit, showcasing the latest achievements of practicing visual science communicators. Entries are judged by a panel of expert jurors, recognizing excellence in three categories: - Scientific Illustration (any medi...

06/05/2026

Join Bea Martin and Paddle West Kayak for a Kayak & Sketch Expedition to Vargas Island!

From August 31 – September 2, join a 3-day basecamp kayak expedition to Vargas Island focused on hands-on instruction in sketching and observing the natural world through nature journaling. Led by science illustrator and educator Bea Martin, with expert guidance from Paddle West Kayaking.

Through guided nature journaling sessions, you'll learn to capture your surroundings using drawings, words, and simple measurements, no experience required! Paddle with expert guides and settle into a basecamp rhythm that supports slowing down, looking closely, and building confidence in your observation and sketching practice.

Learn more and register here:

Explore the pristine waters of Clayoquot Sound on our 3-day nature journalling tour to Vargas Island. A fully catered multi-day kayak camping experience.

06/04/2026

The annual "Art of Nature" exhibit will be on display for just one more week!
52 incredible artists, one stunning exhibit, experience it before it’s gone for the year!

06/03/2026

The Denver Botanic Gardens and the School of Botanical Art & Illustration has over 110 class offerings including more than 50 online classes from beginner to advanced artists for the summer and fall! Offerings include classes, workshops, visiting artists, and guest lectures.

A few highlights include learning about natural pigments with Julie Beeler, watercolor techniques with Julia Trickey, Laura Silburn, and Jarnie Godwin, and a two-day immersive art retreat.

View the full course catalog here:https://www.botanicgardens.org/sites/default/files/file/2026-05/2026-SBAICatalog-Session2-linked.pdf

GNSI members, check your most recent newsletter to receive 10% off your registration!

Questions: [email protected] or 720-865-3670
Image credit: Laura Silburn, Drawing and Painting Ferns class detail, watercolor, 2025.

05/28/2026

There is a new open access GNSI Journal article available!

The Album of Plant Families, a book review by Kathleen Garness. (https://www.gnsi.org/hollender-book-review)

This review presents Wendy Hollender’s book as more than a botanical art volume: it is a warm, visually rich invitation into plant relationships, ecology, and human connection to the natural world. Garness praises the book’s illustrations, essays, and accessibility while noting a few minor issues.

Read other articles from the Journal here: https://www.gnsi.org/journal-of-natural-science-illustration

05/26/2026

Today we are highlighting another one of our jurors for the 2026 Annual Juried Members Exhibit, Paul Callomon!

Paul is a graduate of the Faculty of Art and Design at Wolverhampton University in the UK. He has worked in graphic design, typography, photography and publication since the 1980s, publishing roughly 10,000 images in print with an emphasis on mollusks. He is the author of “A basic guide to specimen photography in museum collections” (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350530306_A_basic_guide_to_specimen_photography_in_museum_collections), “Standard views for imaging mollusk shells” (American Malacological Society) and the forthcoming “Seashells: a compendium of five thousand of the world’s species” (Princeton University Press https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691265285/seashells)

Mr. Callomon is currently Collection Manager in Malacology and General Invertebrates at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he heads the Invertebrate Zoology Imaging Center.

05/20/2026

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute has a new exhibition, "Art that Matters to the Planet: Beyond Beauty," open until September 27.

This exhibit explores the two historic approaches to botanical art: aesthetic decoration and scientific illustration, and was curated by guest juror and painter Heeyoung Kim.

Art That Matters to The Planet | Jamestown, New York

05/18/2026

Today we are highlighting one of our 2026 jurors for the Annual Juried Member Exhibit, Jane Kim!

Jane is a visual artist, science illustrator, and the founder of Ink Dwell. Her art career started when she was a little girl obsessively painting flowers and bears on the walls of her bedroom. She received more formal training with a BFA in Printmaking from RISD and then attended California State University Monterey Bay, where she received a master’s certificate in science illustration.

She has created large-scale public art across the country, including the Wall of Birds at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and produced works for the National Aquarium, the de Young Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and more. She is the creator of the Migrating Mural campaign, a series of public installations that highlight wildlife along migration corridors it shares with people. She still enjoys painting flowers and bears, though nowadays she doesn’t get in trouble for painting on the walls.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/inkdwell
Website: www.inkdwell.com

As a reminder, GNSI members can submit work to the exhibit until June 13!

https://www.artworkarchive.com/call-for-submission/guild-of-natural-science-illustrators/2026-annual-juried-member-exhibit