Classroom visit from Barbara Wright - RSD Did You Know coverage

Did You Know a local artist guest-taught scientific illustration to elementary art classes in Ridgefield?
March 2-6, 2015

Barbara Wright, a Ridgefield artist, guest-taught art classes at Union Ridge Elementary School

Barbara Wright, a Ridgefield artist and representative for the Clark County Arts Commission, visited art classes at Union Ridge Elementary School to teach students the art of scientific illustration and to
help kick off Youth Arts Month.

Alan Adams, Union Ridge's art teacher, met Wright at a meeting for Youth Arts Month and invited her to visit his classes. "My students have been studying John James Audubon, famous for accurately painting birds and other wildlife," said Adams. "With the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge located right next to us, having Barbara visit the class to talk about scientific illustration seemed like a perfect fit to bring the project to life."

Wright taught the students about the art of scientific illustration. "I've always had a love for both art and science," explained Wright. "After teaching mathematics at Bellevue College for several years, I discovered that the University of Washington offers a certification program in Natural Science Illustration." Wright received her certification and now creates scientific illustrations.

Barbara Wright taught students the process of Scientific Illustration

In order to accurately illustrate her subjects which include birds, spiders, frogs, and plants, Wright uses a combination of media including graphite, ink, and watercolor, sometimes all in a single piece, to bring her subject to life. Wright brought several examples of her work including drawings of a Bald Eagle, Canadian Geese, owls and other birds, all of which can be found on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Wright explained artistic terms to the class including the use of "artistic license"

In addition to birds and other animals, Wright illustrates plants. "If I'm not creating a piece for a client, I will use 'artistic license' to place the plants the way I think they look the most beautiful," she explained to the class. Wright taught the students about a variety of different artistic techniques including artistic license which happens when an artist reimagines her subject to create a piece she envisions in her mind.

After her presentation, students asked questions about Wright's life including how she discovered her love for art; where she has traveled and lived; why she chooses the subjects she draws; and what attracted her to move to Ridgefield. "I moved to Ridgefield three years ago because of the Ridgefield refuge," Wright explained. "The refuge is a treasure trove of artistic subjects with its variety of wonderful wildlife."

Nathaniel Wade's group selected the Golden Eagle as their subject

Prior to Wright's visit, Adams split his classes into groups and had each group select a bird found in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to use as their subject to draw. "We chose the Golden Eagle because we all like eagles and we particularly liked how it was named 'golden,'" said Nathaniel Wade, a fifth grader. "The hardest part was determining and drawing the position of our eagle's wings."

For her first time studying birds, Mariella Newell's group drew the Dunlin

For some students, studying birds was a new topic for them. Mariella Newell's group selected the Dunlin. "I really enjoyed learning about birds for this project – I'd never learned about birds before," she said. "The hardest part is trying to draw the background in perspective."

Sincerely,

Eric Jacobson

Communications & Production Manager | Ridgefield School District

Ridgefield School District Office

2724 S. Hillhurst Road

Ridgefield, WA 98642

Tel: 360-326-8433

Email: eric.jacobson@ridge.k12.wa.us