The purpose of a scientific illustrator is to disseminate science into elegant visual terms, thus acting as an intermediary between the public and the scientific community. Scientific illustration provides a means for scientists to express their research and ideas in a successful visual format. The final illustration on any project must be scientifically accurate to the most discriminating eye and visually intriguing to invite the viewer’s interest.
Karina received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 2001, double majoring in Biology and Studio Art. After a summer working as a Field Technician on Alaska’s North Slope, she moved to Santa Cruz, California to complete the prestigious graduate program in Scientific Illustration at UCSC in 2002. A significant part of the yearlong program was a mandatory internship, of which Karina was awarded the Biological Illustration Intern position at the California Academy of Sciences.
Since 2003 Karina has been freelancing, creating scientific and natural history illustration for research accompaniment, educational purposes, logos, and private commissions. She has mastered color and black and white illustration techniques, both in traditional and digital media. Her work has been displayed in juried exhibitions throughout the country and appeared in numerous publications. Karina also teaches visual art techniques at art and natural history centers in and around Lincoln, Nebraska.
Lincoln Journal Star Article (pdf)
Currently, Karina is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator for the Arbor Day Foundation, creating original illustrations for the Foundation's "What Tree Is That?" publications, to be launched July 2008 at www.arborday.org
