I finished a fallopian tube fimbriae painting. This one began as a typical anatomical study, but I let composition and such get the better of me, so that it became more abstract and less purely anatomical than others. In the medical illustration world, it would be more of an editorial piece than anything. Far too much fun to do!
Recently finished is a small study of the internal heart wall – specifically the trabeculae carneae formations that run rampid in both ventricles. Their function? Opinions seem to vary, but they probably aid in contraction and the prevention of too much suction, besides offering a lovely visual surprise when you first dissect a real heart.
For anyone interested in other unique views of the heart, a priceless collection of videos is available via a University of Minnesota project: http://www.vhlab.umn.edu/atlas/index.shtml Not only can you look at internal structures from a myriad of angles, but you can also choose from a range of different hearts, which really underscores how common variations in structrues can be.
Available for purchase on etsy.
Below is an editorial project for a selected journal cover – the article this image relates to was about Still’s heart murmer, fairly common in school age children. It’s a fascinating benign murmer that was likened to the sound of an Aeolian harp – this if this harmless murmer is heard in children, they can be told they have a musical heart. This author’s theory was that the blood flowing through the chordae tendinae of the right ventricle produced the characteristic pitch and humming sound.
And for all you curious ones out there, here’s an actual recording of one:http://www2.umdnj.edu/~shindler/still.html
This has been done for awhile, but I’ve only recently scanned it and comped it together in Photoshop. Occasionally I feel like breaking away from the whole medical subject area, or anything representational. I’m really interested in relationships between music and visual arts and love the concept of Kandinsky’s art and the series of nocturnes by Whistler. This painting ranks among my favorites: Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket. There are more and less successful ways to do abstract paintings, and Whistler nails it in this one.
Moving on, below is a painting I’m calling “Aria”. Fun with colors, composition, shapes, and movement!
The summer semester is over, and we’re digging into the fall. I’m changing the focus of this blog – instead of covering news and other inspirational biologically related art, the posts will primarily be portfolio and personal artwork updates — after all, the career I’m diving into is about making art, not writing and reporting about it.
Nevertheles, I love looking into what other artists and designers are doing – constantly feeding yourself imagery helps a lot in fueling your own creative tank- , and through my Twitter account (michelle_reinke) I’ll be sharing all the noteworthy artists, work, and scientific news I come across. Feel free to add me!
Below is the latest portfolio update – a work from this summer on cerebrospinal fluid and it’s associated anatomy and histology. Shown is the brain, ventricles, cisterns and areas of flow around the brain, and closeups of choroid plexus and arachnoid granulations.
Below are selected works – the more anatomically and biologically related ones of course – by Hunter Stabler. He creates detailed paper cutouts, occasionally dipping into other mediums. But this puts it mildly — as one exhibition described his work:
“His work … is intricate, mostly abstract paper cutouts of varying size, along with one painting. The cutouts’ detail is astounding. Stabler hand-draws them with a compass and cuts them out with an Exacto knife. Each piece takes between two and six months to produce.”
The content is sometimes abstract, sometimes recognizable, and often both. There’s a pervasive use of symbols, often religious in nature. An interesting element is that even though his compositions look highly radial/symmetrical, on close inspection in some (see details below), the symmetry doesn’t quite hold up. It’s interesting because it still works for Stabler, charging the cutouts with a subtle sense movement and the organic, and this observation certainly doesn’t take away from the relentless detail in the forms themselves.
Now I’ll let the images speak for themselves:
Baba Yaga Misquotes The Face To Steeleye Span, hand-cut paper, Hunter Stabler
Hare Christmas Maharishi, India ink and graphite on paper, Hunter Stabler
Saint Vitus Architeuthis Manalishi With The Seven Tentacle Crown, ink and graphite on hand-cut paper, Hunter Stabler
detail of Saint Vitus Architeuthis Manalishi With The Seven Tentacle Crown, ink and graphite on hand-cut paper, Hunter Stabler
Sonic Pretzel Mastodon, ink and graphite on hand-cut paper, Hunter Stabler
The Cockatoo Is Moving Under You, ink and graphite on hand-cut paper, Hunter Stabler
Other links:
The Art of Science has recently picked its 2009 winners. The concept behind this year’s contest, the 3rd of its kind, is found art — none of the chosen pieces were labored over or planned out, they were simply unexpectedly and suddenly seen through a microscope, computer screen, or what have you.
I’m not a fan with all the images chosen, but when you view them one by one, there are quite a few that hold there own. See “Cement Flower” and “Metadherin Expression at 10.5 Days Post Conception” and “Semiconducting Feathers”. The whole concept reminds me of Michael Kimmelman’s “The Accidental Masterpiece” — unexpected art buried found buried in chests, garages, attics, dollar stores.
There’s an opportunity for veterans, orthopoedic surgeons, or any artist affected by war: Wounded In Action Art . Submissions are being accepted from May 15 to October 15, in a variety of media. The juried exhibition will be in March 2010 and aims to honor and pay tribute to those who have suffered from orthopoedic injuries, the research that is furthering surgery techniques, and the surgeons behind the operations.
On exhibition now through January at the American Museum of Natural History is fantastic sounding exhibit: EXTREME MAMMALS ! Looks like the webdesigners had some fun putting the exhibit site together — there’s no holding back on the sensationalism of the crazy creatures on view.
As the museum itself claims:
“Featuring spectacular fossils and other specimens from the Museum’s collections, vivid reconstructions, and live animals, the exhibition examines the ancestry and evolution of numerous species, ranging from huge to tiny, from speedy to sloth-like, and displays animals with oversized claws, fangs, snouts, and horns.”
It also boasts multimedia use, hands on displays, and live sugar gliders. AND, there’s even mention of the science tabloids latest headlines, Darwinius masillae, or Ida: definitely not a missing link but still a wonderfully preserved primitive mammal specimin.
Check out the Chinese pangolin echidna below.
Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), © AMNH/D. Finnin
More images, discussions, reviews, etc. below:
Anyone’s work that involves “visualizing the story of life” has me hooked. Below is the Ted Talk presentation/ slideshow of Frans Lanting: “A Journey Through Time.” This multimedia work that premiered in 2006 involves great photography, dialogue/poetry, and music by Philip Glass, and aims to tell the story of life. It starts from the ancient alien-like world of earth and moves forward, successfully conveying the beauty of evolution and humanity’s place in it.
Unlike other largely inspirational visual & scientific works, this one succeeds in being nearly as informative as it is beautiful. Useful facts are cited throughout the journey, and there’s a great visualization tool of the photographs and their context in evolution on the www.lifethroughtime.com website.
Other Resources:
LIFE: A Journey Through Time – this includes a preview of the slideshow, and a unique interactive viewing method of the photographs in situ with their place in evolution.
As per the end of the semester tradition, the online portfolio is now updated!
Here’s the preview — links to portfolio from these images:
Dynamics of Porcine Intestine
Ventricular System - coronal view
Ventricular System - lateral view
Ligation of Ovarian Vessels during Porcine Ovariohysterectomy
Cesarean Section
