natural history sketchbook

Natural History IllustrationJonathan Lancaster


ILD227 Natural History

Jonathan Lancaster



Mind MapAt the begining of this project I compiled together an arrangement of visual

representations based on all manner of natural history subjects





BBC Wildlife IllustrationI have been asked to produce an illustration for an article in the BBC Wildlife Magazine. After reading the artile I decided to illustrate the subject matter.





This is my Sketchbook for the Natural History Project The Great and the Good poster. My aim for this project is to design and create an A1 size poster using the Vignette style to create an arrangement of images based on some of the most significant pioneers, explorers, craftsmen and people that shaped the world and past of natural History.

I decided at first to use a reference photograph of the father of Evolution Charles Darwin and start to depict and define a style I thought I would be able to use frequently and consistently throughout this poster project. Here are the beginings of this project


Natural History IllustrationJonathan LancasterMy Final illustration for Charles

Darwin now completed, I knew the kind of strange, simplistic and sketchy style within witch I wanted to pursue the rest of the project with, to create an overall sense of consistency yet allow each image to be seperate in their own way of telling a story

During this project I have not only researched into photographs and depictions of the famous people needed, but also their skills, their acomplishments, to allow myself an understanding in not just their field of expertise but also the era within which they lived. I have had to work through various images to capture an understanding and essence of each person to give the final illustrations of each one a significant feeling




Natural History IllustrationJonathan Lancaster I think that I have mostly started to

produce portraits mainly due to the fact that i feel that the face of the person when illustrated in the right way and medium can be very powerful indeed. I have decided at this stage that i shall mostly produce portraits surrounded by the their natural History aspects and significances


Natural History IllustrationJonathan LancasterThroughout this project I have very much so enjoyed the ability to experiment

and define my style through a series of experiments. Although experimenting with various materials and mediums may create more work unused than used, it still

always allows you the ability to understand your strengths and weaknesses as an artist and designer. These experimentations if wrong allow you to analyse and ask yourself how can this work be improved?





With my final illustrations for both Charles Darwin, and captain James Cook I have finally discovered a style I believe

will work very well for this project





Lake District Natural History Guide

Here I am producing a leaflet for the Lake District in Buttermere establishing the specfic flora and fauna of the area

These images are design ideas for the Lake District leaflet, here I tried to create a comparative feel between realism and style.

natural history sketchbook

Documents