Scientific Illustration III: Illustrating a Bluefin Tuna with Pedro Salgado (part I)

Planet Tuna
20 Mar 202310:42
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this master class, marine biologist and scientific illustrator Pedro Salgado, renowned for his work in Portugal, demonstrates the meticulous process of illustrating a fish. With the help of photographer Steve Stoer, Pedro captures the intricate details of a bluefin tuna, from observing it fresh out of water to studying its anatomy. He emphasizes the importance of accurate preliminary drawings, consulting scientific publications, and capturing every identifiable feature. The video showcases his methodical approach, from initial pencil sketches to the final ink illustration, highlighting the fusion of art and science in creating a detailed and educational representation of marine life.

Takeaways
  • 🎨 Pedro Salgado is a marine biologist and a professor of scientific illustration with 30 years of experience in training illustrators in Portugal.
  • 📚 His work has been featured in numerous publications and even on stamps in his home country.
  • 📷 With the help of photographer and filmmaker Steve Stoer, Pedro creates preliminary pencil drawings based on detailed observations of fish.
  • 🚢 Pedro and Steve embark on an adventure to Mallorca to observe a bluefin tuna up close as it's brought out of the water.
  • 🔍 Pedro emphasizes the importance of good references, which sometimes involves reconstructing preserved specimens with missing parts.
  • 🐟 The opportunity to observe and touch a perfect tuna allows Pedro to study the details such as the outline and fin rays.
  • 🔳 He pays special attention to the structure and features of the fish, including the position and shape of each fin, and visible bones of the head.
  • 🖋️ The drawing process involves interpreting photos and capturing structures with scientific accuracy using markers and graphite pencils.
  • ✂️ Fins are drawn separately and scaled to fit accurately onto the body of the fish in the illustration.
  • 📐 Pedro creates several copies of the drawing at reduced sizes for further preliminary studies.
  • 📝 Preliminary studies are crucial for representing all morphological features and tonal values necessary for the final ink illustration.
  • 🌟 Pedro's approach to scientific illustration combines art and science to create detailed and accurate representations of marine life.
Q & A

  • Who is presenting the master class on scientific illustration?

    -Hannah from Planet Tuna is presenting the master class.

  • What is the profession of Pedro Salgado?

    -Pedro Salgado is a marine biologist and a professor of scientific illustration.

  • How long has Pedro Salgado been training scientific illustrators in Portugal?

    -Pedro Salgado has been training scientific illustrators for the last 30 years.

  • What is the subject of the first video in the master class?

    -The first video shows Pedro Salgado studying the details of a fish to create a preliminary pencil drawing.

  • Who assists Pedro Salgado in his preliminary drawing?

    -Photographer and filmmaker Steve Stoer assists Pedro Salgado in his preliminary drawing.

  • What is the basis for Pedro's final illustration in the second video?

    -The preliminary illustration from the first video serves as the basis for the final black and white illustration in ink.

  • Why did Pedro and Steve go to Mallorca?

    -They went to Mallorca to observe a bluefin tuna the moment it's brought out of the water for a unique experience.

  • What is the first step Pedro takes when starting an illustration of a fish?

    -The first step is to look at good references, which may include drawing from preserved specimens with missing parts.

  • How does Pedro ensure scientific accuracy in his illustrations?

    -Pedro consults scientific publications to check features for identification, such as fin position, shape, and structure, as well as visible bones and pigmentation patterns.

  • What materials does Pedro use for his drawing process?

    -Pedro uses markers on transparent acetate, tracing paper, sharpened graphite pencils, and erasers to create his drawings.

  • How does Pedro prepare for the final illustration in pen and ink?

    -Pedro spends considerable time working on detailed, accurate preliminary studies, which include all morphological features and tonal values for the final art.

Outlines
00:00
🎨 Scientific Illustration of a Fish with Pedro Salgado

Hannah introduces the master class on scientific illustration of a fish, led by Pedro Salgado, a marine biologist and professor from Lisbon. Pedro has been instrumental in training a new generation of scientific illustrators in Portugal and has had his work featured in various publications and on stamps. The video showcases Pedro's process of creating a preliminary pencil drawing of a fish, with assistance from photographer and filmmaker Steve Stoer. They embark on an adventure to Mallorca to observe a bluefin tuna, which is crucial for obtaining accurate references. Pedro discusses the importance of studying the fish's anatomy, including fin rays and body structures, to ensure scientific accuracy in his illustrations. He uses photographs taken at various angles to create a detailed drawing, focusing on the fish's proportions, fin positions, and pigmentation patterns. The preliminary drawing serves as the foundation for the final black and white ink illustration presented in the second video.

05:02
🔍 Detailed Preliminary Studies for Final Illustration

This paragraph delves into the meticulous process of creating detailed preliminary studies for the final ink illustration. Pedro emphasizes the significance of spending ample time on these studies to accurately represent the morphological features and tonal values essential for species identification. He uses tracing paper and drawing paper to create scaled-down copies for further study, maintaining reference lines for guidance. Pedro's approach involves using graphite pencils on smooth drawing paper, which has been pre-printed with outlines to facilitate the tonal study. The paragraph highlights the iterative process of drawing and erasing to refine the illustration, ensuring that all features are represented in their definitive forms before transitioning to the final pen and ink illustration.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Scientific Illustration
Scientific illustration is a specialized field that combines artistic skills with scientific knowledge to create accurate and detailed visual representations of various subjects, often used in academic and educational contexts. In the video's theme, Pedro Salgado, a marine biologist and professor of scientific illustration, uses this technique to meticulously depict a fish, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and detail in capturing the species' characteristics.
💡Marine Biologist
A marine biologist is a scientist who studies organisms living in the ocean and marine environments. Pedro Salgado, the illustrator featured in the video, is also a marine biologist, which gives him a deep understanding of the fish he illustrates, allowing him to accurately portray their biological features and behaviors.
💡Pedro Salgado
Pedro Salgado is a central figure in the video, identified as both a marine biologist and a professor of scientific illustration. He is renowned for his work in training a new generation of scientific illustrators in Portugal and for his illustrations appearing in various publications and on stamps. His expertise and passion for art and adventure are highlighted through his involvement in the master class.
💡Preliminary Drawing
A preliminary drawing is an initial sketch or draft made before the final artwork is created. In the context of the video, Pedro Salgado uses a preliminary drawing in pencil as a foundation for his final black and white illustration in ink. This step is crucial for planning and capturing the essential details of the fish's anatomy.
💡Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna is a species of tuna fish known for its size and commercial value. In the script, Pedro and Steve embark on an adventure to observe a bluefin tuna up close as it is brought out of the water, providing them with a unique opportunity to study its features for their scientific illustration.
💡Fin Rays
Fin rays are the bony or cartilaginous structures that support the fins of fish. The script mentions Pedro looking for the outline of each fin ray of the 2nd dorsal fin, which is an important detail for identifying the species and ensuring the accuracy of the scientific illustration.
💡Pectoral Fin
The pectoral fin is a pair of fins located on either side of a fish's body, used for steering and balance. The script describes how the pectoral fin fits perfectly inside the cavity in the body and how the body surface is evenly covered when the fin retracts, illustrating the importance of capturing such details in scientific illustration.
💡Dorsal Fin
The dorsal fin is the fin located on the back of a fish, which helps to provide stability and prevent rolling. The script refers to the 2nd dorsal fin and its rays, which are significant for the fish's identification and are carefully studied and depicted in the illustration.
💡Tonal Study
A tonal study in art is the process of creating depth and dimension through the use of shading and gradation of tones. In the video, Pedro works on a tonal study to represent the volumes and pigmentation patterns of the fish, which is an essential part of creating a realistic and scientifically accurate illustration.
💡Ink Illustration
An ink illustration is a type of artwork created using ink, which is often characterized by bold lines and stark contrasts. The final step in the video's process involves creating the final black and white illustration in ink, which requires precision and skill to capture the details and tonalities previously studied.
💡Morphological Features
Morphological features refer to the physical characteristics and form of an organism. In the context of the video, these features are crucial for the identification of the fish species. Pedro spends considerable time ensuring that all morphological features are accurately represented in the preliminary studies before moving on to the final ink illustration.
Highlights

Hannah introduces a master class on scientific illustration of a fish led by Pedro Salgado, a renowned illustrator and marine biologist.

Pedro Salgado has trained a new generation of scientific illustrators in Portugal over the past 30 years.

His illustrations have been featured in numerous publications and even on stamps in Portugal.

The first video showcases Pedro's preliminary drawing process with the help of photographer and filmmaker Steve Stoer.

The preliminary illustration serves as the foundation for the final black and white ink illustration presented in the second video.

Pedro and Steve embark on an adventure to Mallorca to observe a bluefin tuna up close as it's brought out of the water.

Pedro emphasizes the importance of good references for scientific illustration, including the challenge of working with preserved specimens.

He details the process of observing and touching a perfect tuna to study its features for illustration.

Attention to detail is critical, as Pedro searches for the outline and interruptions of the 2nd dorsal fin.

The pectoral fin's relationship with the body cavity and how it fits perfectly inside is highlighted.

Photos are taken to capture the tuna without deformation, with the head appearing shorter when hanging.

Pedro mounts the best photos at the same scale on top of the entire body of the hanging tuna for accurate proportions.

Each fin is printed separately, and scientific publications are consulted to verify identification features.

The drawing process involves interpreting photos and capturing almost invisible structures with scientific accuracy.

Lines are drawn on transparent acetate and tracing paper to define contour lines and details.

Multiple copies are made at 50% scale for preliminary studies, maintaining the same scale as the final illustration.

Pedro uses graphite pencils on smooth drawing paper with printed outlines for his tonal study.

Detailed preliminary studies are crucial for representing morphological features and tonal values for volume and pigmentation.

Pedro is soon ready to begin the final illustration in pen and ink, after extensive preliminary work.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Scientific IllustrationFish DrawingPedro SalgadoMarine BiologyArt MasterclassLisbon ArtistMallorca AdventureBluefin TunaSpecies IdentificationIllustration Process