Oh Yeah! Cartoons

Remember that show?  Only a couple clips stick out in my mind, like this one: Cat and Milkman (why on earth did they draw that cat's ears like that), but I do remember it was basically a show for all the cartoons that weren't good enough to have their own show.  And this is what I've been drawing lately - a lot of mediocre cartoons.  I am embarrassed to post these, but it's all I've got right now.

Octopus going to prom - pen

Giraffe Lady - pencil and color pencil

Mr. Tea - pencil and color pencil

Tattoo ideas for Melissa - pen and ink

Baby Black Swan - pen

Swan with huge feet - pen and color pencil

Anyway, today's scientific illustrator is Alice Tangerini.  She has been the first staff illustrator for botany at the Smithsonian since 1972 (and still is), and has drawn over 1500 species throughout her career.  In an NPR interview, she said her drawings are an "attempt to reach perfection," and even with pen and ink she manages to make you feel like you're looking at the real thing.  But aside from her amazing talent, there is one thing that sets her apart from other illustrators - she only uses one eye!  After injuring her right eye in 2005, she underwent surgery which left her with double vision in that eye, and her awesome solution was to wear a huge, pirate eye patch over it.  To accommodate her impaired vision, Tangerini is now integrating her work into digitally based media in order to reduce strain on her good eye, and she plans to continue drawing until that eye gives out.

Alice Tangerini with her pirate eye patch

Abutilon sachetianum - pen and ink

Aristeguietia glutinosa - brush and ink

Besleria arbusta - pen and ink

Achenes of various flowers - pencil

Cornus florida and Cornus kousa - watercolor

More of her work can be seen here at the Smithsonian website.