Geoscientists use sketching to gain a more detailed understanding of what they are observing. There is nothing like it to gain insight into small but significant changes in the size, shape, texture, orientation, and organization of structures in the field, under the microscope or on the lab bench. However, many of us did not include an art class in our undergraduate degree. Since observation is perhaps the most critical skill we use, I spearheaded an effort to organize a sketching class for geologists. There was no difficulty in finding interested participants.

Sean Bodley instructs us how to conceptualize a range of shading.

With significant financial support from the Association of Women Geoscientists at Penn State (AWG), the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania came through for us by putting together an art class just for geoscientists during the fall of 2016. Sean Bodley, art instructor, took the time to design a lesson plan that complimented our existing observation skills with drawing techniques that could be developed even by the most inexperienced artist. Let’s be honest, some of us had a hard time drawing convincing spheres or even cubes, myself included. Participants in the class included women, men, graduate students, undergraduate students, and a few professors too.

Sean provides individual guidance as participants practice their skills.

It was a great chance to surround ourselves with scientists from all levels of experience and learn something new together. Being off campus had the added effect of making the classroom feel less formal. We had a lot of fun though I had to chuckle at how seriously many of us took our assignments. After four two-hour sessions, we had been introduced to shapes and scale, forms with dimension, perspective, and shading. During the last class, we worked toward breaking a still life image down into these components and rebuild the image from its simplest parts. It was fun to draw something completely different. Sean had set up some flowers from another artist’s garden. Below are some images to demonstrate the difference between our first and last day’s artistic expertise.

From left to right, Shelby Lyons, Judi Sclafani, and Priyanka Bose.

We look forward to a short-course this spring to enhance our skills in the field and to provide the same opportunity to incoming students next spring. We are also hoping to offer at least one short-course each semester to build our skills over time. Many thanks especially to the hard working women who made this possible, including Priyanka Bose (undergraduate student coordinator), Judi Sclafani (Ph.D. Candidate and co-President AWG), Abby Kenigsberg (Ph.D. Candidate and co-President AWG), and Shelby Lyons (Ph.D. Student and AWG Treasurer).

On left, we practiced drawing our cell phones during the first class. On right, we advanced to drawing a still life adding perspective and shading.

Participants develop skills by practicing shading techniques with different objects.

A more advanced student demonstrates landscape technique drawn from a black-and-white photograph.