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Online Course – 12th Edition
Naturalistic and Scientific Illustration 1: Traditional Techniques
June 26th, 30th, and July 6th, 2026
Contact: courses@transmittingscience.com
Click here to express interest in this course
Course Overview
This course offers a broad introduction to scientific illustration applied to Biological Sciences and, to a lesser degree, Palaeontology.
Practical examples will be selected based on the applicants’ interests and suggestions.
Certain materials are required to follow the course. Please check the Course materials, below.
Places are limited to 16 participants.
Programme
- Drawing basics: Halftone rendering, textures, transparency object shadows, reflected light and cast shadows.
- Drawing tools and media:
- Line and ink: Basic techniques, rendering styles.
- Pencil: Basic techniques, examples.
- Carbon dust.
- Scratchboard.
- Color.
- Examples and subjects of scientific illustration.
- Illustrating plants, animals and geological features.
- Illustrating animals in their habitats.
- References in scientific illustration.
- Use of 3D scanned specimens as a reference for scientific illustration.
- Other sources of information: photography, microscopy, camera lucida.
Assumed Background
This course is of intermediate level, some basic experience with illustration is recommended.
Course materials
Materials that you will need to follow the course:
- Graphite pencils (2H, HB, and 2B)
- A drawing block (A4)
- Sharpener
- Normal eraser
- Grade eraser (if possible)
- Stump (if possible)
- Calibrated black marker (2 or 3 different sizes, e.g. 0.1 and 0.4)
- Tracing paper
- A small object in light color (or light gray)
- A vegetable (e.g. a bell-pepper)
- A lamp
Dates & Schedule
Online live sessions on June 26th, 30th, and July 6th, 2026.
From 15:00 to 19:30 (Madrid time zone).
Total course hours: 40 (13.5 hours of online live lessons, plus 7 hours of recorded lessons, and 19.5 hours of participants working on their own, with tutored drawing exercises to be done in between the live sessions).
This course is equivalent to 2 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The recognition of ECTS by other institutions depends on each university or school.
Format
This course will be taught using a combination of live (synchronous) sessions on Zoom, pre-recorded lectures, and drawings to be completed in between live sessions.
Live sessions will be recorded. However, attendance to the live sessions is required to obtain the course certificate.
This course will be delivered in English.
Instructor
Dr. Oscar Sanisidro
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares
Spain
Testimonials for this course
Introduction to Naturallistic and Scientific Illustration (onsite) – 3rd edition.
“I really enjoyed this course, I think it was an excellent experience from many aspects. First of all the teaching of Oscar with his enthusiasm to pass his knowledge forward, and his patience and insights. The organization was amazing too.”
Introduction to Naturallistic and Scientific Illustration (onsite) – 2nd edition.
“The course was very well run and the teaching was excellent. Each day we learnt new illustration techniques, for which all the materials were provided. The course has inspired me to include scientific illustrations in my PhD thesis. Thank you very much Sole and Oscar!”
Registration Fees
- Course Fee
- Early bird (until May 31st, 2026):
- 370 €
(296 € for Ambassador Institutions) - Regular (after May 31st, 2026):
- 475 €
(380 € for Ambassador Institutions) - Prices include VAT.
After registration you will receive confirmation of your acceptance on the course.
Payment is not required during registration. Check discounts here.
Organiser
Collaborators
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