Preacher Photoshop Development

Below are some examples of my tests on PS. I have sampled the colours off the psychedelic drawings that I thought were best. I made a board on pinterest with all the posters I liked, link *here*

I think the colours on the last (and only finished) image are very strong, and if I can replicate them well in paints then I will have a very strong print design in my hands hopefully. Definitely have to trim the font on the bottom, it brings down the quality of the entire image because it is not executed as well as everything else. Im loving all the colours to be fair. 

Research

Tepui Shrublands, Southern Venezuela

"The Guayana Highlands ecoregion in northern South America is host to an archipelago of isolated sandstone plateaus and dramatic summits atop nearly vertical escarpments. More than 50 of the highest tabletop mountains are the remains of the ancient sandstone tableland overlying the even more ancient granitic Guayana Shield. They range from 1,000 to 3,000 m in elevation. And they are called tepuis (singular: tepui), a word from the Pemón Amerindians. Many tepuis are graced with dramatic waterfalls, the tallest of which (in fact, the tallest in the world) is Angel Falls dropping 979 meters."

Species List:

frog

Oreophrinela Quelchii

Monkeys

howler monkeys(Alouatta seniculus), night monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus), titi monkeys (Callicebus torquatus), black uakari (Cacajao melanocephalus), weeper capuchins (Cebus olivaceus), and white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia),  (Podoxymys roraimae)

Cats 

 Jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor)

Restricted endemic mammals

Tyler's mouse opossum (Marmosa tyleriana) and white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris), long-tailed weasels, pale-throated sloths

Bats

(Diclidurus isabellus, Pteronotus personatus, Phyllostomus latifolius, Anoura geoffroyi, Glossophaga longirostris)

Birds

Link for great bird site

tepui tinamous (Crypturellus ptaritepui), fiery-shouldered parakeet (Pyrrhura egregia), tepui parrotlets (Nannopsittaca panychlora), roraiman nightjars (Caprimulgus whitelyi), tepui swifts (Cypseloides phelpsi), rufous-breasted sabrewings (Campylopterus hyperythrus), buff-breasted sabrewings (C. duidae), peacock coquettes (Lophornis pavoninus), tepui goldenthroats (Polytmus milleri), velvet-browed brilliants (Heliodoxa xanthogonys), white-throated foliage-gleaners (Automolus roraimae), tepui antpittas (Myrmothera simplex), red-banded fruiteaters (Pipreola whitelyi), three manakins (Pipra cornutai, P. pipra, and Chloropipo uniformis)

Flora Include:

Brewcaria, Tepuia, Celiantha, Neblinantha, Pyrrorhiza, Comoliopsis, Mallophyton, Adenanthe, Aracamunia, Marahuacaea, Coccochondra, Rutaneblina, Saccifolium, Achlyphila

Research

Leonhart Fuchs

Leonhart Fuchs was a medieval physician and botanist. The botanical genus fuchsia is named after him, and consequently the colour fuchsia as well. 

He did 500 drawing of animals and plants that were accurate, detailed and printed on woodblocks. Possibly the father of what we would call a scientific drawing for botany. 

Research

Mary Delany Botanical Illustrations 

Mary Delany was an English artist and letter-writer in the 1700s. A lot of her work included botanical illustrations which are particularly intriguing because of her use of paper cutting, they where know as 'paper mosaics' 

I really enjoy looking at her work, the black background gives these images a fresh and almost contemporary look. The use of black also makes the colours pop, and gives strong outline definition. 

I dont think I will be using paper cut outs for this project but I appreciate finding this talented and unconventional artist. 

Research

Flower Drawing 

Flower specimen of South Africa, London 1849 Artist Unknown

Interesting study of a flower. 

The use of colour saturation to demonstrate depth of field is very clever, I may experiment with it in my own work. 

I have noticed in my research of scientific illustrations that this technique is quite popular. 

Research

Flicker- Biodiversity Heritage Library

Found an incredible source of scientific drawings of flora and fauna. It offers images from many different artists with different backgrounds and dates. 

Research

Tapia Woodland Madagascar 

Isalo National Park: 

Harbours a good portion of the last remaining tapia woodlands. Tapia tree is endemic to Madagascar and is used for wood, and silk moth production which is a valuable source of revenue for people of the region. 

 In general, the Uapaca woodland is very poor in species, both trees and other plants, but due to its rarity and uniqueness it deserves to be intensively protected.

The Isalo National Park protects one of the main remnants of this interesting forest of dry subtropical Madagascar zone (DuPuy and Moat 1996). The tapia forest also occupies other areas in the Central Highland, but only as small isolated patches

Tapia Uapaca bojeri (Euphorbiaceae)

Other plants within Tapia woodland:

Asteropeia rhopaloides

Sarcolaena isaloensis

Area: 81,540 

Climate: Dry tropical forest and savanna 

Average temperature: 17-25°C 

Elevation: 820 to 1240 m 

Precipitation: 85 cm 

Description: Isalo's landscape consists of eroded ruiniform sandstone formations dating to the Jurassic period, deep canyons with riparian forests, palm-lined oases, fire-resistant tapia forests, and open grasslands. 

Fauna present in Isalo National Park:

Not necessarily in Tapia woodland:

Dumerils Boa  (Acrantophis dumerili)

White-lipped bright-eyed frog (Boophis albilabris)

Malagasy rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei)

 Benson's rock thrush (Monticola sharpei bensoni)

 Knob-billed duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

 Madagascar ibis (Lophotibis cristata)

Madame Berthe's mouse lemur

Research

Northern Sea Otter

Scientific Name:  (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) 

Habitat: In Alaska there are three stocks of northern sea otters—the Southwest stock, the Southcentral stock, and the Southeast stock. The Southwest stock, which includes otters in the Aleutian Archipelago, the Alaska Peninsula, and Kodiak Island, is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Diet: Red Rock Crab (cancer productus), known to eat Giant pacific octopus, rock greenlings, red urchin. (and many more)

Height and Weight: Adult males weigh 80 to 100 lbs (36 to 44 kgs) and reach 5 feet (1.5 m) in length. Females are smaller, weighing 14 to 33 kg (31 to 73 lb) and measuring 1.0 to 1.4 m (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 7 in) in length.

Research

Giant Kelp Forest

Scientific Name: Macrocystis Pyrifera

North Pacific Distribution: Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska, to Baja California, Mexico.

Description: Thallus of this golden brown canopy kelp may reach a length of 30 m (99 ft). A conical, richly branched holdfast (haptera) hosts several stipes, which branch dichotomously into vine-like fronds with blades to ~ 50 cm (20 in) long at regular intervals. The blades, which develop via splitting of a small terminal blade, are distinctly wrinkled with marginal teeth and a small gas-filled float (pneumatocyst) at their base. 

Habitat: This perennial kelp forms beds in the extreme low intertidal to subtidal of semi-exposed habitats. 

Similar taxa:  This species is considered by some to be conspecific with M. integrifolia.

Link to more info 

Images of Giant Kelp

Research

Gonakier Forest, Senegal

(a.k.a-- Western Gum forest, Acacia forest)

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15324980802183319?journalCode=uasr20

Research

Great Lakes Alvars, U.S. and Canada

"Alvar ecosystems are grassland, savanna and sparsely vegetated rock barrens that develop on flat limestone or dolostone bedrock where soils are very shallow. Almost all of North America’s alvars occur within the Great Lakes basin, primarily in an arc from northern Lake Michigan across northern Lake Huron and along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield to include eastern Ontario and northwestern New York state. Most types of alvar communities are globally imperiled, and they support several globally rare species as well."

List and information of Alavars Flora and Fauna .  (*)


Beetles:

Agonum nutans
Chlaenius p. purpuricollis
Pterostichus novus
Amara pennsylvanica
Carabus sylvosus
Cicindela denikei
 Cyclotrachelus sodalis
Harpalus faunus
 H. fallax
 Pterostichus permundus
Cymindis americana
Carabus sylvosus

Leafhoppers

Aflexia rubranura
Auridius sp. n.,
Flexamia delongi
Flexamia inflata
Graminella mohri
Limotettix urnura
Memnonia sp. n
Mocuellus americanus
Paraphlepsius lobatus,
Pendarus punctiscriptus
Texananus marmor
Delphacodes nigriscutellata
Chlorotettix spatulatus
Laevicephalus minimus
Polyamia caperata,
Aceratagallia sp. n.

Butterflies, skippers, and moths

Rare

garita skipper (Oarisma garita)
 olive hairstreak (Mitoura gryneus),
hoary elfin (Incizalia polios)

More Common

mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
owlet moth (Noctuidae family)
columbine dusky wing (Erynnis lucilius)
olympia marblewing (Euchloe olympia);
 chryxus arctic (Oneis chryxus),
Laurentian skipper (Hesperia comma)
 large marblewing (Euchloe ausonides)
tawny crescent (Phyciodes batesii).

Orthopteroids

Melanoplus mancus,
Melanoplus p. punctulatus
Melanoplus huroni,
Orphulella p. pelidna
Scudderia septentrionalis,
Ceuthophilis meridionalis
Conocephalus saltans,
Conocephalus strictus
Stethophyma gracila
Melanoplus dawsonii
Scudderia pistillata

Terrestrial Molluscs

Vertigo hannai
Vertigo morsei
Vertigo elatior
Vertigo paradoxa
Vertigo ventricosa
Vertico cristata
Vertigo arthuri
Vertigo basidens
Vertigo hubrichti
Catinella aprica
Catinella exile


Birds

upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
prairie sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus campestris)
loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans


Reptile/Amphibian

eastern yellowbelly racer snake (Coluber constrictor flaviventris
eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus


Mammals
White-tail deer (Odocoileus virginianus

Research

Seagrass Meadows, Australia

"How are seagrasses important to the marine ecosystem?

Seagrass communities are one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems. They provide habitats and nursery grounds for many marine animals, and act as substrate stabilisers.

In northern Australia, seagrass meadows are important as they provide sheltered refuges and feeding areas for prawns and juvenile fish. In some coastal areas, entire fisheries may depend on the productivity of these seagrass beds.

The rhizomes and roots of the grasses bind sediments on the bottom, where nutrients are recycled by microorganisms back into the marine ecosystem. The leaves of the grasses slow water flow, allowing suspended material to settle on the bottom. This increases the amount of light reaching the seagrass bed and creates a calm habitat for many species.

Seagrass meadows are a major food source for a number of grazing animals in the Great Barrier Reef region. The dugong ( Dugongdugon ) and the green turtle ( Cheloniamydas ) mainly feed on seagrass. An adult green turtle eats about two kilograms of seagrass a day while an adult dugong eats about 28 kilograms a day."


Australia:

Australia has the most seagrass species in the
world with over half of the reported 60 species.
Western Australia can claim the largest and most
diverse seagrass meadows in the world with an
unrivalled 27 species covering an estimated 20,000
square kilometres.

Seagrasses harbour and support a large variety of marine
life. Their leaves and rhizomes are a highly suitable surface
for the attachment of marine organisms, such as bacteria,
protozoans, algae, sponges, bryozoans, polychaete worms
and ascidians. The collective array of attached organisms is
referred to as ‘epibiota’.


List of Animal Species:



Western Rock Lobster
 garfish
Dugong
Green Turtle
Port Jackson Shark
Rock Flathead
Blue Ring Octopus
Black Swan
Eagle ray
Leather Jacket
Six Spined Leather Jacket
Dimpling Squid
Pipe Fish
Vermillion Sea Star
King George Whiting
Leafy Seadragon
Peanut Worm
Sea Hare

Seagrass Plants
http://www.mesa.edu.au/seagrass/seagrass03a.asp

Research

Giant Kelp Forests, Alaska 

"In nature, all living things are in some way connected. Within each community each species depends on one or more of the others for survival. And at the core of individual ecosystems is a creature, or in some cases a plant, known as a keystone species.

This species operates much like a true key stone, which is the stone at the top of an arch that supports the other stones and keeps the whole arch from falling down. When a keystone species is taken out of its environment, the whole system could collapse.

In California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary the sea otter is a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for large numbers of fish and shellfish. Kelp also protect coastlines from damaging wave action. One of the sea otter's favorite delicacies is the sea urchin who in turn loves kelp.

When present in healthy numbers, sea otters keep sea urchin populations in check. But when sea otters decline, urchin numbers explode and grab onto kelp like flies on honey. The urchins chew off the anchors that keep the kelp in place, causing them to die and float away, setting off a chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals causing their numbers to decline.

By the early 20th century when sea otters were nearly hunted out of existence for their fur, kelp beds disappeared and so did the marine life that depended on kelp. Years later, conservationists moved some remaining otters from Big Sur to Central California. Gradually, their numbers grew, sea urchin numbers declined, and the kelp began to grow again. As the underwater forests grew, other species reappeared.

Protecting keystone species, like sea otters, is a priority for conservationists. Often, the extent of the keystone functions of a species aren't known until the species has been removed from its environment and the ecosystem changes. Rather than wait until it may be too late for the system's health and survival, scientists make every effort to keep an ecosystem working as nature had intended."

What lives in a kelp forest? NOAA Article

List of Animal Species



Grey Whales
Red Sea Urchins
Sea Otter
California Sea Lions
Harbor Seals 

Invertebrates:

bristle worms
scud
prawn
snails
brittle stars
sea stars
 anemones
crabs
jellyfish



Fish:


Herring
Atka Mackerel
Barred sand bass
Blacksmith
Garibaldi
Giant kelpfish
Halfmoon
Scorpionfish
Cuttle fish
black rockfish,
blue rockfish
olive rockfish
kelp rockfish 



Birds:

crows
warblers
starlings
black phoebes
Gulls
terns
egrets
great blue herons
cormorants


Types of Kelp Present
Macrocystis Pyrifera

Research

Tapia Forest Madagascar

"This ecoregion contains a large number of endemic species, found in the remaining forest patches and also in some wetland areas, but the remaining habitats are highly fragmented and surrounded by a sea of anthropogenic grasslands and agricultural areas that have almost no biological value. This ecoregion is the site of some of the major extinctions of recent times, including that of the world’s largest flightless bird (Aepyornis maximus), and a number of large lemurs. With only small fragmented areas of habitat left within most areas of this ecoregion, there is a high risk of further species extinction in the near future. "

Species Endemic to this region:

Lemurs:

Alaotran gentle lemur.
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)
Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufifrons)
Nighttime
Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)
Red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus)
Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli)

Shrew:
microgale nasoloi 

Birds:

Alaotra Little grebe
Madagascar pochard
cryptic warbler
yellow-browed oxylabes
brown emutail 
Slender Billed Flufftail
Madagascar Snipe 
Madagascar Rail 
Analavelona massif

Lizards:

Chameleon
Calumma oshaughnessyi ambreensis, C. tsaratananensis, Furcifer petteri, Brookesia ambreesis, B. antakarana, B. lineata, and B. lolontany in the northern and northwestern portion; and C. fallax, F. campani, and F. minor

Skinks
Mabuya grnadidieri, M. madagascariensis, M. nancycoutouae, Amphiglossus meva, and Androngo crenni; the geckos Lygodactylus blanci and Phelsuma klemmeri, and the plated lizard Zonosaurus ornatus

Snakes
Pseudoxyrhopus ankafinensis, Liopholidophis grandidieri, and L. sexlineatus

Amphibians
microhylids Rhombophryne testudo, Scaphiophryne goettliebi, the mantellids Mantella crocea, M. cowani, and Mantidactylus domerguei; and the rhacophorids Boophis laurenti and B. microtympanum.

Research

IUCN RED LIST

Below is the Red List of Ecosystems as stated by IUCN.

I will research these environments and determine which have the most information available for me to base my illustrations on. 

From this list it is clear that the most critically endangered ecosystems are those that are underwater, whether they be freshwater or marine. However, it is also clear that every ecosystem on this list is in jeopardy and deserves to be documented and investigated. 

I would like the project to be well researched and as accurate as I can make it with the information I have available to be about the flora and fauna of these ecosystems. 

Preacher Screen Print Photoshop Tests

I have been playing around on photoshop trying to develop a good colour scheme for this design. In my research for poster designs I have come across great psychedelic posters from the 70s that I think will really make it pop but also somewhat capture the brightness of the scenes with Ganesh in his performances. Below are some examples of posters who's colour schemes I enjoy and images from the scene I am referring to. 

Research

Maria Sibylla Merian

Merian was a naturalist and scientific illustrator that created fascinating botanical illustrations. Some of her most renown work is from her trip to Suriname on the north eastern cost of South America. Her illustrations stand out to me because she often drew plants and the insects that fed on them and their metamorphic stages of life, and she was the first person to do so. 

Really good reference material for this project. 

Research

Ernst Haeckel

Ernst Haeckel, as stated by Wiki was a 'German biologist, naturalist, philosopher, physician, professor, marine biologist, and artist who discovered, described and named thousands of new species'

His collection of scientific illustrations, not to mention his discoveries, are extremely impressive. His attention to detail and use of colour is impeccable, considering these are 'scientific illustrations' and are meant to be as accurate to the specimens as possible, they capture the subjects truly but also have a unique and 'artistic' aesthetic. 

For this brief, this is definitely an artist (and the millions of other things he was) to investigate and learn from. 

Preacher

The Brief

Proposal 

To produce a series of images that can be used for advertisement purposes (posters, books, pamphlets) for the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Ecosystems Categories and Criteria.

The aim is to advertise and raise awareness of the intricate niche ecosystems that together make up and support all life on planet earth. The outcome is a series of images that illustrate a series of specific biomes or ecosystems that have been red listed by this organisation as the most endangered world wide.

These illustrations will highlight that, instead of focusing on one endangered animal, understanding that the protection of systems which keep any species alive are integral to potential successful rehabilitation of any particular endangered species in nature.

Objectives

Create 3-5 illustrations of selected Red List Ecosystems

Demonstrate and communicate clearly animal, plants and insects integral to that particular ecosystem and their relationships to each other.

Easily understood by policy-makers and the public.

Transparent, objective and aim to be scientifically accurate.

Illustrations must be adaptable to different forms of promotion- Posters/pamphlets/books and possible products.

Educational Illustrations Brief

Initial Research

Should we give up half of the Earth to wildlife?

Interesting article published by The Guardian about conservationist efforts being considered for the following years, not just in Britain, but worldwide.  

Might be worth considering to do an editorial piece on it?

Educational Illustrations Brief

Initial Ideas 

I would like to do a project based on creating educational or scientific drawings of wildlife. I would like to gear my future practice to be more involved with subjects regarding wildlife and the environment. 

My initial idea for this self initiated brief has to do with creating a set of illustrations-posters, or possibly even a book proposal approaching the concept of 'educational' illustrations more creatively and possibly unconventionally. 

I am fond of the work by South African based illustrator Georgina Taylor. I admire her compositions and watercolour skills. It would be interesting to create illustrations of animals and the plants and other creatures that make up their particular ecological niches.

Research

Articles about the importance of biodiversity by the Guardian

Europe faces 'biodiversity oblivion' after collapse in French birds, experts warn

Have come across a couple of interesting articles about the importance of biodiversity. The first article has to do with the loss of farmland birds in France. This is in consequence of heavy use of pesticides, which in turn affects bird's diets, and as a result most of the avian wildlife has been lost. This is important because ultimately "the agriculture needs pollinators and the soil fauna. Without that, ultimately, we will die.” One of the statistics stated told how there has been a loss of a quarter of the skylark population in the last 15 years.

The briefingWhat is biodiversity and why does it matter to us?

A good article highlighting why biodiversity is crucial to the well-being of life on the planet overall and how our health, and economy, depend on it. 

An excerpt detailing what constitutes the "sixth mass extinction" 

" Life on Earth has suffered five mass extinctions of biodiversity in its long history, caused by massive volcanic eruptions, deep ice ages, meteorite impacts and clashing continents. But some scientists believe a sixth mass extinction has now begun.

This one is very different, caused not by geology or natural climate change, but by a single species – us. Humans and our livestock now consume 25-40% of the planet’s entire “primary production”, i.e the energy captured by plants on which all biodiversity depends. We have become a voracious top predator across the entire globe."

One estimate suggests that, by weight, 97% of the world’s vertebrate land animals are now either humans or our farm animals – just 3% are wild

Interim Pitch Proposal

Alice in Wonderland Development

I have started working on my second Alice in Wonderland illustration, it is going to be the Hookah Smoking Caterpillar. In keeping with the theme of the Cheshire cat, I want to base the characters on british wildlife, not have a super cartoony design, i want the images to be quite creepy in fact. This particular caterpillar is based on the Puss Moth Caterpillar (image below). This caterpillar is interesting, and brightly coloured and lives in the southern half of the British Isles.

I am struggling with the composition because there is more going on in this image compared to the last one. The previous was simply a cat, and for this one there are additional elements such as the smoke, hookah and the placement of the character (not looking at the viewer)

I have included my development sketches, in the first draft I attempted to have the caterpillar facing the viewer more. Even though I really like the design of the face, I thought compositionally it would be more challenging to make the smoke look legible.

I opted for the profile image. I am really pleased with how the text came out, even though I had to make some adjustments, I am glad I did. The first text I did with shortened words to letters like "you" to "u" in keeping with the style of the Disney film. Altogether however, it read weirdly because I had spelled out the "who"