Final Project Description:

The final project will be a composition that provides context for the specimen(s) of your choice. It can be a rough pencil sketch or a polished work. If you would like to submit a written project instead, you will some research instead using the prompts provided below.

You may draw from observation or use any 2D reference materials. You may work in any media, including digital tools. Be sure to give credit to the original artist if you are working from existing images.

Visual response:

Develop a sketch based on considerations of the examples below. 

• Is the object floating against a bare background, or resting on the ground?

• If placed on the ground, how much of that surface or landscape is indicated?

• How is the background related to your subject matter? Does it serve a narrative or scientific purpose? Would it be useful in identifying the species?

• If you are drawing more than one thing on the page (for example, whole fruit and cross section, or leaves and flowers, etc.) are the parts to scale? How are the different objects on the page related to each other?

Written response:

Use these prompts to gather information about your subject, whether your are submitting a written or visual response:

• Where was this plant, mineral, or animal originally found?

• Was it transported to other locations?

• When, why, and by whom?

• What is its value or use?

• Is it used a symbol of any kind?

• Has it been ascribed human qualities? (ie: wise owl, memory of an elephant, etc.)

• What species (if any) depend on it for food, shelter, or something else?

• What species (if any) does it depend on?

• What details of its appearance are relevant to its identification?