Thirteenth International Conference on The Arts in Society

Abstract

Using pedagogical approaches, this project explores scientific drawing and its relevance as a medium to communicate the variety of emblematic bird species in some natural history museums in Colombia. By examining the realistic style and explicit communicative purpose of ornithological drawing, a set of rules is established between ornithological information, scientific illustration, and creative and didactic elements that generate decisive research and artistic material. Ornithological illustration is particularly challenging because the representation of the subject must be accurate and the drawing must also possess artistic integrity. The artist must observe, replicate, and create through a careful combination of specimens, prior knowledge, and analog and digital tools, ultimately producing images that transfer critical scientific information. These practices deserve to be studied and disseminated due to their scientific, historical, and aesthetic value. This project therefore aims to shed light on a previously understudied field and highlight the importance of bird collections and their preservation through the eyes of illustration.