Birds to Buffalo

“I've always been interested in nature and natural science art of all types. I do all sorts of artwork but when I get to illustrating something live, I really enjoy it," says Gail Guth, natural science illustrator.

“I've been doing African animals ever since I went to Africa in 2000. Giraffes are a challenge because they're so odd. You start to draw them like a horse, but that doesn't work. They're oddly proportioned and they move in an odd way. With most animals, you have to think of how they move.

“The Cape buffalo, warthog - they're fun. They're neat because they're ugly. My daughter's a zookeeper and she likes working with warthogs. They're lumpy."

Guth works in traditional and digital media and draws from a variety of sources: reference books, photos, the real animal. “I try to look at as many things as I can."

A member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators since 1976, Guth has painted songbirds, waterfowl, and game birds - some for Ducks Unlimited.

She paints pet portraits, textbook illustration, and book covers, especially of birds, that she exhibits. As a freelance designer for 28 years, she paints interpretive signage for arboreta among other work, and paints botanicals mostly for herself, as notecards, and for exhibit. Her prints and notecards are for sale.

* All images Courtesy of Gail Guth.

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published February 15, 2006