Intersecting Ideas
The Power of Observation
Looking at drawings by students in the “Illustrated Organism” course, a class that integrates biology and art, it’s impossible to tell which ones were done by art majors and which ones were created by science majors. Like so many pursuits at Union, accurately illustrating nature requires both scientific and artistic expertise, along with keen powers of observation and plenty of patience. The popular class is team-taught by professors from both the Visual Arts and Biology departments. In addition to drawing and painting plants and animals in the field, studio and lab, students are required to write detailed descriptions of the organisms. The class culminates in a display of students’ work.
