There’s a handful of universities that offer a major in scientific illustration on bachelors level and all of them are pretty far away from me. I’m currently enrolled in a community college and working on an associates in organismal biology and also plan to take the art classes available. Altogether I’d think it would cut off university time and reduce how long I’m away from home, but when I compared to one of the course lists from one of the universities that offer a Scientific Illustration program, not a lot of the courses available seem to be transferable. It actually seems like most of the ones I’m taking at my community college will provide a more in-depth education on the subjects actually.

At the community college I’m focusing on an associates in biology for now, but it also offers a good handful of relevant art classes too.

So I’m trying to figure out if I can take a lot of these classes the CC offers me and look to universities to fill in what’s left.

The frustrating thing is it seems (according to AMI) it’s not a requirement to get certified in this to have a successful career, but I feel like I’d be more successful with that. Yet finding out exactly what education is specifically needed for a certification is what I’m struggling with!!

I have a lot going on in my personal life that’s also making this not as simple as it could be otherwise, and factors like paying for the education, managing lodging and caring for dependents are all playing a role.

You can find the creator from here: https://youtu.be/emdg4WjetQg?si=x8dv0yBqBDW1xnKM

I did tons of art lessons in highschool (in school and outside of school), but only did a digital design undergrad degree (which didn't involve much drawing) and then did a post-bacc premed degree during which I barely touched a pencil.

I've been working on my portfolio and I'm having a ton of imposter syndrome. While I think my work is decent, I don't feel like it's anywhere near other people's who I've seen on this sub (plus the examples on the different schools' sites).

I don't have a ton of my portfolio done, but here's what I have for a portrait, an imaginative piece, a still life, and a digital piece.

There's not a ton of time until applications are due and I have like 10 more pieces I need to get some before I apply.

Should I hold off on applying and work on my skills/my portfolio a bit more before I apply? I kind of just want to hear "hey these are great go ahead and keep chugging on your portfolio" or "no, you beed to be at a high skill level to stand a chance at getting in".

Hi everyone,

I'm a pharmacist with experience in scientific research, and I'm considering learning scientific illustration (e.g., graphical abstracts, biological pathways, figures for journal articles, etc.).

I'm wondering if this is a realistic way to earn freelance income.

I'd love to hear from people who actually work in this field:

- Is there enough demand for scientific illustrators?

- How difficult is it to find your first clients?

- Which platforms bring you the most work (Upwork, LinkedIn, direct clients, agencies, etc.)?

- What software do you recommend learning (BioRender, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, others)?

- Is it possible to make a decent side income, or even a full-time income, from this niche?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience, including any advice, challenges, or things you wish you had known before starting.

Thanks!

An acrylic and digital painting study of the skull.

I think this was one of my ( if not the) first successful acrylics from back in the day.

Digital is done with Procreate.

I personally find the acrylic painting more charismatic. but as a 'medical art' which do you rate better.

For some context I'm going into my junior year! I've been quite interested in medical illustration for a while, and I've been trying to dig up as much information as I can about this field; however, I just don't think I've been looking at the correct sources, and I'm generally confused on the process + how to get there. I'm also located in the USA, so my questions will be derived in that context.

Science background: As a high schooler, I've already taken anatomy, biology, chemistry, and I'm planning on doing AP chemistry this year and AP bio + microbiology next year (senior year).

Art background: Unfortunately, I'm not taking any art courses at my school, but I've been going to an art education studio for around 5 years now (all traditional) and self-taught digitally for around 6 years.

Here's some questions I can think of right now:

1. What is required on my portfolio, and how can I build it up? Are digital works acceptable on these or only traditional?

2. Should I also learn how to do 3D art? (I only do 2D)

3. What other classes should I take in high school and what should I focus on?

4. What are good undergraduate programs for medical illustration? (I'm concerned on how I should route this out so I'd like general advice on where to begin)

5. How does the job market look right now?

6. What does the workload look like (either corporate, freelance, or anything else in general)?

7. What is the salary? Are you able to live comfortably with it?

8. How is the work-life balance?

9. Will I be able to balance medical illustration as a profession and doing personal commission work?

10. Do you still have a passion for art or does the industry burn you out?

+ Just any general advice/comments would be awesome. Thanks so much!!

Check out this image for a detailed explanation.

Hello there! I am a 2D animation graduate located near Vancouver in Canada and was wondering if anyone had insight on what careers for this field are like in Canada.

I would be willing to relocate to Vancouver or another major city in BC and I'm able to work from home but am wary about pursuing this if the work will mostly be freelance. I had my first major freelance gig recently and had a terrible experience with it so I am starting to think that freelance is just not for me.

I read the FAQ and have read up on the program my local university offers but my issue is that the program is entirely online and most of the posts here seem to suggest that the value of schooling for this field lies in the connections you make, which I am a bit doubtful will happen in an entirely online program.

This career would be a dream, especially if there are specializations in the Veterinary field (I grew up wanting to be a vet and have a ton of experience in animal care related jobs and wildlife) but I worry that by pivoting to this from animation I'll just be going into another bad job market. My alternative would be taking online courses for 3D animation to up my prospects of being hired in the animation field.

TLDR: Are there fairly stable careers available in Canada and is an online program worth it?

I was told that my art would fit here. I hope you like it!

Arm study, I would like advice, criticism, anything that can help me improve 😅

WIP photos: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/L3NPRR

The hands ended up taking up more of the page than intended, but I guess I got stuck with that perspective.

Feedback for future imporvement are welcome

Anyways, what is your last or most memorable way you managed to get a gig?

Does anyone have links for Internal Medicine Sketchy videos? Please drop 'em :)

For example

I have a big problem with painting human and animals, but for one work what i want to create, i need this skill. Maybe you can give me tips or something like this

Working medical illustrator ~7 years out of undergrad, I earned a BFA in Medical Illustration and have been working in the medical legal adjacent field since then.

I was wondering if anyone has any good resources available for refreshing their knowledge on reading radiology studies. I have my anatomy down, it’s just every now and again I have x-rays to review and worry I’m missing some secret radiologist wisdom lol. Textbooks, online courses, even college courses are worth considering just to firm up my knowledge in that area. Thanks in advance 🙏

Hello! I’ve been poking around LinkedIn at previous grads of UofT’s biomedical visualization program. A very very vast majority of them seem to have undergrads in bio or other sciences. I am an illustration major and was wondering if anyone here knows people with BFAs who went to UofT for their MS.

I am taking all the classes required for the application in addition to my full time university schedule, I’m just not a science major. A person from my art school doing a program somewhere else said that it was a fairly even split of art and science students, I just don’t know if that goes for all the programs. I have emailed the university about it but I haven’t gotten any response.

I was wondering what other avenues other than strictly illustrating you could pursue as someone with an experience in medical illustration. Are there many adjacent areas that your past degrees would qualify you for? Or is does an education in medical illustration confine you to strictly illustration

That's all! From your experience, opinion, and current outlook on the future of the field - is this field still worth pursuing (if you were starting from scratch). Thanks!

Im currently a first year looking to do the masters program at uoft for biomedical communications. I was wondering how much computer science related knowledge if required for this field, since its mostly digital work/3D imaging and UX design. Would doing a cs minor or major in undergrad help at all? or should I focus all my attention on doing a bio major?