FOCUS ON THE ESSENCE

Illustrations have the advantage that they can focus on the essence of the subject by eliminating extraneous – and often distracting – details inevitably present in for instance photographs. Also, important elements can be obscured by a number of things like shadows, bright glosses or false (colour)reflections and there are almost always areas that are unclear or out of focus. In an illustration unwanted artifacts, abnormalities, damages or omissions can be corrected or reconstructed with respect for the natural truth. Moreover, an illustration is not limited to a snapshot in time, but may be a compilation of several moments or elements combined in one image. Likewise, it is not bound to an exact portrait of one individual specimen, but may represent several elements from various specimens in one all-embracing image, showing an averaged out specimen.

OPTIMIZING COMMUNICATION

The ability to emphasize and isolate important details make illustrations invaluable for exchanging and clarifying thoughts, messages or information in any scientific field. That is also why a hyperrealistic image is not necessarily the best solution. Sometimes it even tends to blur information rather than to clarify it and in that case it's better to simplify or schematize to optimally reflect the content and purpose of the image. Scientific illustration is about making complex information visually accessible. This requires the necessary proficiency and skill to keep the illustration scientifically valid and credible, but also the experience with didactic principles to arrive at a clear and concise communication.

Besides the classic and more common way of depicting subjects in this specialized field of illustration, the style I prefer to apply, if appropriate and applicable, strives to give a more creative and artistic trait to them whilst respecting there severity. Making visually unique and more intriguing illustrations gives them a strong and genuine quality that can engage and inspire.