Thank you for sharing your story. I am a 67 year old retiree. When I was a child I *knew* with complete conviction that I wanted to stay single and be an artist. Unfortunately, when I hit my teens I went off the rails, made poor decisions, got married, and had kids. I kept thinking I’d make art in the side, but I never did. Or else I’d start, then give up when my lack of training and skill produced poor art. Now that I’m retired, I have finally started making art. I do mainly collage and mixed media, which are accessible to someone without art education. I work very slowly, but art has essentially became the biggest part of my day-to-day life. Do I wish I’d stuck to my original plan? Sometimes, but when push comes to shove, not very much. I have beautiful sons and a lifetime of experiences to draw upon for inspiration . But I’m so grateful that I finally got the chance to fulfill my childhood dream, even if I’m 60 years late. For you, I’m very glad you were able to course-correct while you’re still young. Best wishes! 💛
This is the channel I’ve been waiting for. I am a biologist and I’ve always loved to draw. Then, i found out about scientific illustration, and now it’s my field of study and what i aspire to do for the rest of my life. So, thank you so much for sharing your experience. Wish you the best
I am a biology student and an artist and ive been complaining the whole time "why arent biology majors required to take at least 1 drawing class when so many end up needing to draw in the field" I have repeated this over and over like a disgruntled mantra bc I keep being told I can't minor in art.... yet many colleges away from where I live support this. So I intend to transfer abroad upon finishing my AS so I can pursue biological illustration that I just found out is an actual job despite what my local college has told me.
My highschool biology teacher always said I should be a science illustrator and I didn't realize that people still actually still did it. Thanks for sharing!!
I feel exactly same right now. I’m at a crucial stage of setting my career path and I’m so torn between certain things I want to follow (medical/scientific illustration) and medical practice (I’m a homeopathic physician). I’m 25 years old and confused to a point of depression and anxiety, where I’m stupefied to make any decisions. There are very limited options for such a niche illustration career in India. I hope to work as blissfully as you do. Thank you for sharing your story 😊
Lee, so happy to find you here on youtube while I was looking for Roman Szmal paint swatchings. I have seen your work before on the internet when I first discovered botanical painting a few years ago. I’m a late bloomer and your vulnerable sharing is so encouraging to me. When you were four, I was about the age you are now, and although I drew a lot as a teen, I never dreamed that art could be my livelihood. I ended up in graphic design and now all these years later I wish so much that I had the same number of years practicing fine art that I have invested in Photoshop and code. All I can think about is getting time to practice and learn drawing and watercolor. I am so proud of you for following your dreams! Can’t wait to see how much more you do. Thank you for coming on here and sharing so transparently with us. You are an inspiration.
It’s so amazing to hear you and see you. I can hear the emotion in your voice as you’re talking about your career path, and honestly it is really great to hear both the positive and the downsides. I’m glad that you were able to realize what it is that you really wanted and go for it so spectacularly! As a child I wanted to be an artist and author, and through random series of events that’s exactly what happened lol
Seriously, I'm so glad I found your channel! I am an artist but I'm also studying to become a conservation biologist, and I want to combine art and science in the future. Thanks to your lovely videos, I see that it's possible. You're extremely talented! I can't wait to see all your other videos!
Holy moly, I had no idea they do that!! What an explosion of fluff. Your art is all so beautiful. It's great to find a fellow scientist-turned-artist :D
I just came across your video as I was searching up 'scientific illustration'. Your genuine expression drew me in at first (alongside your beautiful work) as I've been slowly but surely searching through this field to see if it's for me- I've been an artist my whole life but I'm currently in academia (pursuing a Masters of Environmental Studies) and feeling the pull to go back to my creative roots. I got a jolt when I realized you're from Toronto, as that's where I'm originally from! You posted this earlier this year but I am genuinely glad you did. I'm in the first baby steps of figuring out where I want my life to turn, but this video has really helped me feel a little bit better about the potential in this field. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
It makes me happy to hear that you were able to make your childhood dream job a reality after all. As a kid I wanted to be a field biologist and explore all the animals out there. But I never really thought that the actual way of life would be for me, so during school I've always felt completely aimless. But I had to study something, right? So my parents kind of pushed me into the media design field, since I've always been good in art and there was a design school nearby. It's been okay, but working for clients in an office turned out to be hell on earth for me, so I started doing what naturally came to me: Illustrating the animals that I love from the comfort of my own four walls. It feels a bit similar to being a field biologist, I'm sure you can relate.
So nice to meet you! I'm new to the field and I came to it in a spark of inspiration. I never thought this would be my career path, especially after children's illustration, but here I am and I looove it. I am based beautiful and green Transylvania, Romania and I hope soon to become a member of an international Botanical Society
Thank you so much for sharing! I wish I had known about scientific illustration earlier, and I'm so encouraged that you're kinda local to me! Good to know it's feasible in my area. I did a bachelor's in Zoology at University of Guelph and my favourite part was the labs where we got to create a "lab book" with our own illustrations of all the specimens.
Ok so... this is my life exactly! As a kid I wanted to be a scientific illustrator who drew dinosaurs, and in grade 12 I freaked out, thought well what if I hate it what if I can't do it and did an arts degree in history. Now I just finished a bachelor in education, but all I can think about and all I want to do is illustration and I am finally realizing that it's what I need to do, a decade later.
Just did a stalk through the content on your channel!!! Incredible!! Your videos are sooo beautiful, I’ve been wanting to get the schminke swatches for ages!
I hope you end up publishing a book. I’ve always loved natural science illustration books! I remember as a kid finding two second hand books and while many books have come and gone in my life those are still with me! Botany, especially captured through illustration, is special.
Amazing story. I too have had a rocky life. I have no idea of how I got to where I am now, fully retired. I empathize with you and your travels through life and career, good luck in future endeavors. May you find your joys & career before you are ready to retire.
It's so nice to hear your story and how much passion you have. A path in art is very unique I think to everyone that finds themselves on it. When I was a child I wanted to be a vet. I'm so glad I didn't. I love animals too much, yes I would be healing and saving lives but, I would also have to put animals down, lose animals and hurt them all at the same time. I could never do that.
Penholder Art Yeah, that totally makes sense. My sister is a nurse and worked really hard to get into the NICU when she first started because she loves babies. But it turned out a job caring for mostly terminal or very ill babies was too much for her to handle even though she was helping babies, so she ended up switching into public health :)
What you said at the very end about rediscovering as an adult what you sort of knew all along as a child really resonates with me, particularly about drawing. I'm currently trying to navigate a career change thanks to 2020 being the year that it is and it's encouraging to hear that one can succeed in this field, even if one's degree is something else entirely. Thank you for sharing your story.
im so glad you did this video ive been with you on your live shows and you were so sweet.i didnt start painting till my 2 boys went off to school i wanted to stay home with them so i picked up a brush and paints and never stopped .the boys are now 30 and 32 im in my little apt in the city on low income but i feel rich because i now have all the art supplies i could ever want.no career just an art lover
Omg I’m so glad to have found your channel! I have a background in engineering and left art for about ten year, saddest time of my life, now Im back in art and training to be a botanical artist. Your story made me cry, it reminded my own sadness and emptiness while being an engineer. I’m so glad to see you. Have finally made it. Love.
Thank you or sharing your story, it gives me a lot of confidence that it's possible to change career paths, you hear all these stories of people who went from art college to a degree and straight into freelance work so it's so nice to hear another perspective. I've come from the other side of the field strangely, I did my degree in product design and started painting in my first year but have always had an interest in science and especially in natural science. 5 years later I find myself furloughed due to Coronavirus and painting every day! I'd love to be an illustrator professionally but it seems so far fetched at the moment.
That is so awesome. I'm so happy you are living your dream job! It warms my heart! I had the dream to be an artist as a young child and those dreams were totally crushed. I was told as a child, artist rarely survive, plus, we were so poor, I had no supplies to use, except for a pencil and school tablets. I could draw anything I saw so wouldn't give up. I thought I'd be able to take classes in high-school and I signed up. That was 1969. But I had to drop out when I learned I had to pay. I didn't have a dime and had no way to get financed for the class. I went home in tears and feeling defeated. I gave up and let it go believing it was not meant to be. I didn't go for it until 2008 after raising my children & got lots of commissions. But now I'm retired and doing it for fun. I'm just so happy things have worked out for you. It was certainly meant to be!
It´s so amazing to hear about someone who´s career is what they´ve dreamed it would be, despite the odd turns and twists life presents us! For me, it´s the other way around, I´m a designer and I´ve always loved drawing and just now I´m considering scientific illustration as a path to follow, particularly in the realm of deep ocean creatures, and I´m just trying to find my bearings in how to reach out to a scientific community which could be interested in my work!
Yes, I completely agree that reaching into new communities and markets can be a big challenge! Luckily, the natural science illustration communities are very welcoming. The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) is a very friendly and supportive American/international group, which can help connect you to scientists, museum curators and other illustrators. Their conferences are spectacular, so inspiring to meet such a wide range of artists and illustrators doing all kinds of scientific art. I just booked my tickets for this year's conference in Brisbane, Australia! Many areas also have local groups of natural science illustrators, I am also a member of SONSI (the Southern Ontario Natural Science Illustrators) who are a sweet little group of only a couple dozen people, but they organize field trips to local zoology, anatomy and ornithology labs (at the local universities and museums). There's also a range of different types of commissions and self-initiated projects you can do without established connections to the scientific world. If you start illustrating sea creatures and sharing them through a website or social media, for example, you might find that there's a significant demand for commercial products like tshirts or prints, or that local organizations start asking you for murals relating to ocean conservation. My best advice is just devote any time you have available to doing the thing you want to do, and see what opportunities open up.
Thank you so much for all that wonderful info @@LeeAngold !!! You just make my heart feel lighter and full, I swear. I am currently working on a piece for an exhibition (well, hopefully, it´s a contest, and maybe I´ll make it all the way!) and I´ve spending all my time illustrating lately, just creating a lot of material so I can put it online and start looking for opportunities and, you know, just getting to show what I can offer is an amazing thing. I will definitely be looking into the organizations you mentioned, and, hopefully, one day I´ll be as good as you are!!!
yesterday i decided to be a biological illustrator, I've been going to community college for 3 years now and I've went from wanting to major in art, to zoology to this! I love animals and plants. I think your video was so inspiring. And I'm glad that I've discovered something that I can combine both nature and art.
This is what I want to do. I'm studying botany and plant pathology right now but would love to do this on the side. I've never thought this could be a job but I recently came across it and have loved the idea ever since. I'd love to take some art classes but a lot of them are not available right now and there are pretty much no scientific illustration courses at the University I attend. Instead I just practice drawing on my own but would love to take classes sometime. Thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for sharing your story Lee. Many parts I can identify with. My husband also did Eng Sci at UofT and in BioMed no less. And of course he didn’t go down that route in the end and ended up in tech. I think we all know truths when we are kids before “real life” kicks in. I always loved art and being creative and ended up going down the science route and now in healthcare. I had become disconnected with my creative side until two years ago and I wish I had the courage like you to take the plunge and do what I love as a living. The fear is so real. But maybe one day! :) Thanks for being an inspiration and love your work!
Thanks so much for this reply! I definitely agree that kids know some deep truths. Courage doesn't feel like courage in the moment. Certainly for me, choices that in retrospect and to external observers seem like brave and calculated moves, in the moment have more often than not been uncoordinated, spur-of-the-moment panic reactions. If there's any advice I can offer regarding taking the plunge, I find it helpful to plan the rest of my life to allow the most flexibility with the bits I care most about, and then remind myself constantly that my worst case scenarios really aren't that bad. For example, back when I was still working in tech, my husband and I bought a smaller fixer-upper house that was significantly cheaper than the mortgage we were approved for. We live relatively frugally compared to the average couple in our demographic (no car, infrequent budget travel, mostly home cooked meals, thrifted clothing and infrequent gadget/housewares upgrades). We can always afford our mortgage, basic expenses and a little extra for savings on my husband's income alone. Still, I can't help panicking a little. I find it useful to remind myself that even in my unlikely worst case scenario (my husband's industry collapses entirely), realistically the worst that would happen is that I'd have to get a "day-job" for a while.
This was great to hear. When I was about 3, my dad would take me to the lab(he was studying the effects of sink metabolism and brain function) and I helped him with his rats, mostly with chopping off their heads for preparing slides. So I wasn’t surprised to hear about your childhood experiences with your mom. It was really gratifying to hear your story, as I have had several careers in my life, and I am finally returning to art. It is a relief and I am finally happy with what I am doing.
thanks for sharing your story. It reminds me of my own.. As a child and teenager I had no idea what I wanted to do etc.. My options were either become a teacher a nurse or office admin person. I got married instead LOL.. At age 27 I started university study with a 7 year old child to look after and a house and husband and all of that. I became an architect.. So after years of trying to find my place in the archi life with my own business and increasing client base, I lost the passion for it and it fizzled out. So now at age 45 Im driving a bus to make a living and painting watercolours with the hope of becoming a watercolour artist. I was born with a creative heart and a pencil in my hand but yet was led in all kinds of directions in life. I am confident now that my road is leading me to where I was meant to be in the first place as an artist.
Hello! Thank you for sharing your struggle in finding (and living) your life’s purpose as an artist. Like you, as a child I gravitated to art as I spent my time drawing the animals on my family’s dairy farm in Wisconsin. I loved the challenge of capturing nature and I innocently wanted to become a professional artist. But unlike you, my parents felt that art was a waste of time and a useless profession. For college I was given a choice - veterinary science, engineering, or business or no degree at all! I knew my only escape from the drudgery of milking cows was through a college degree so I chose engineering. I have lived a 25-year career in computer engineering - the last 15 years in Silicon Valley where projects were interesting and the salaries high. I traveled the world and worked for companies that have changed the world! I was a good engineer, but I would have never be a great one, and that bugged me. Six years ago, I could not dig up the sincerity to do my job well anymore, so I retired at 55 before carpal tunnel robbed me of the total use of my hands. Since retirement, I have been struggling to get back into art but something holds me back. Maybe it is that when I was an engineer everyone was impressed and thought I was smart and valuable. As an artist, people look at me as say, “oh, that’s nice.” But I was frustrated because my hands didn’t work very well when it came to drawing so I just got myself busy with other artistic pursuits (like quilting and photography). Two years ago, I decided not to to get CT surgery and rebuild my hands by learning the piano - yeah, another distraction but something I find I really enjoy. Luckily, it has helped me to regain the strength and flexibility in my hands! Currently, I am considering putting aside my other activities to focus on art again - which is why I found you. FYI - I have no regrets regarding my time as an engineer. I was never depressed or anxious about it. I just did what I needed to do to the best of my ability. I have subscribed to your channel and I hope to learn a lot from you! Also, I didn’t want a Tesla either, I am happy with my Mercedes.
I don't really have regrets about my time as an engineer - it was not the right longterm path for me but I would not be the person I am today, or have the life I have today, if I had not taken that path. I don't have a Mercedes either, in fact, I don't own a car at all right now. I have a very nice bike :)
Thank you so much for sharing! This was so helpful. I am currently trying to build a portfolio in order to apply for the illustration program at my University. This video was so helpful.
This is like a creepy mirror of what I’m feeling. I’m just starting a degree in biomedical engineering and am wondering if it is the right choice, when I could be doing botanical illustration
First your sketchbooks are amazing, and I have a recommendation for drawing people. Figure Drawing Design and Inventions by Michael Hampton. I was looking up botanical Illustration, and then I found your RUclips channel. As a kid I always loved magazines and illustrations, and I could not read until I was in the third grade. I always knew that I was good enough to do art , but I went through several phases of self doubt. There were various people in my life that had told me, "I don't draw every day, and I would never be good enough.", like I had to prove myself to them. Well, fast forward to age 27, and I am finally back on track. I decided to major in Graphic Design , and I love every moment of it. I look forward to watching more of your content. Thanks,
Your studio looks so lovely (aside floofsplosion, yikes!!!)! I LOVE the look of your palette, I immediately wanna stare at it and ask about the colors in it, haha XD As a kid, I wanted to be a geologist, then a medical examiner (Scully is a good role model, ok?), then IDK. I wish I had a clearer "dream" in mind, but I don't.
Haha...although I was pretty steadfast in my “biology illustrator” plans..my backup plans included astronaut and “the Jane Goodall of wolves”. PS the palette is this one, with a couple of colours swapped out leeangold.com/2018/10/04/palette-tour-atlantis-watercolour-palette/
I always wanted to be an artist and I am finally in an art academia. I still don't know what kind of art I want to make, I think more illustration kind of work. I really like your videos!
Thanks for sharing! I had almost a similar life experience. I wanted to be an artist but before college I ended up choosing something else. Now I am a language teacher and a I like it despite I never wanted to be one, but I’m not sure I longer enjoy it. These days I’ve been doing some art and selling them and I was wondering if this was a real path to follow! Now I know it’s possible, thanks! 🍁
Hi. This is my first video of you. ❤️ I searched botanical drawing career on youtube so that's probably saying something about me at the moment... I've a bachelors in marine biology and now on a 7-year attempt at finishing my masters in the same field. Obviously, it's really not doing well. It's been a long winding road for me up to this point. I've been in and out of depression, anxiety, self doubt and hermitage for years now. Okay, I've actually typed a reaaally long story after that last sentence but after a while I realised it was getting depressing. So scrapped that and what I wanted to really say was I really appreciate this video and your story. This whole botanical illustration thing, although not an entirely new concept to me, it's something I've only recently truely realise is a real thing people do as a career and life choice. I hope I'm any good at it and have the courage, patience and perseverance to do it. I hope I'll learn more from you and wishing you the best of all things. Hugs and kisses from Malaysia.
lol That's part of the life cycle of a Cattail. Once the stalk dries out it signals to the plant that it's time to release the seeds which are super compacted in the casing (there's a reason they're called "water sausages" lol). If you want to bring some in to draw/paint then liberally spray the heads with a super cheap and stiff setting hairspray like Aquanet, spray them with clear coat spray paint, or you can dip them in matte varnish.
Cool how the cattails just fluffed out xD Liked that I discovered your channel. Would be very interested to move further into scientific (and also fake-fantasy-scientific) drawing, so I think I‘ll enjoy your content here. Subscribed :D
Ps. Go easy on yourself, you sound like you’re nervous infront of the camera. No reason to be, what you tell is of a good merit and you have skill. You can openly share it ^^
I'm soooooo glad I found your channel. I just got my degree as a biologist and I love scientific botanical illustration. Hearing about your path as an natural science illustrator is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey and you knowledge ♡ I got curious.. is your mom brazilian? Your accent was very great when you read "órgãos de uma pessoa" hahaha
I love this. Thank you for sharing. I never comment on videos but this was really inspiring . I was also all about art back in high school and didn’t unfortunately stick to painting or drawing after that, I actually took a completely different career that I hated as well. Lately, I’ve been wanting to back down the art path again after 10 years. So after engineering , did you obtain another other certificates or degrees in art in illustration? Ive been wanting to go back to school for botanical illustration but not sure if that’s needed, so my question to you is, what advice would you give to those that haven’t had an art background in a while and want to go into illustration ?
Hi Angie! I don't have any degrees/diplomas in illustration and mostly I'm self-directed, but I've definitely found it useful to take courses and workshops from artists I admire. I started (but didn't complete, for a variety of reasons) the Society of Botanical Artists Diploma program. It is absolutely not necessary to have an illustration degree to get hired for illustration jobs, and ultimately building your illustration skills is a self-directed process, lots and lots of practice. However, a degree/diploma program can help you find the gaps in your own knowledge/skill set, and is also a great way to connect with the network and clients that will eventually enable you to find work (but not the only way). If you're the sort of person who needs regular assignments to keep yourself motivated, formal education can give you big boost in building your portfolio. Whether or not you choose to pursue formal education, I would strongly recommend joining professional associations for the type of illustration you're interested in, take workshops with artists and illustrators who you admire (online or in person), start creating artwork to practice and build a portfolio (commission yourself!), and find a way to start connecting into your local creative community (community art centre programs, urban sketching groups, etc are a great place to start).
What documentary is this that you're talking about? I'd love to watch it. Happened upon your channel today and was really pleasantly surprised. Thankyou for putting yourself out there! Subbed! To answer your question... When I was a kid all i wanted to do was draw. I loved animals and from a very young age and from a very young age i was drawing them. When I was about 7 or 8, I declared to everyone that I wanted to be a veterinarian. That goal continued on until I got to about grade 10, after I aligned all my subjects to follow this path. Went to my first biology field trip to a hospital and the blood centrifuge made me throw up and faint. It was a very disappointing natural response. I thought for a while maybe I could be a veterinary nurse... then I gave that up all together. I now work as a motion graphics designer.... a path that kind of makes sense for me, but I am still drawn back to the roots of my childhood where I was drawing animals. I'd love to get into natural history illustration - it still blows my mind that it can be someones full time job...
If I find out what the documentary was, I'll let you know! I've tried looking it up, but this was 25 years ago and I can't find it anywhere. There's a range of work within the umbrella of natural science illustration, from children's science books to commercial applications for botanical art, to legal medical graphics, creature design for films, paleo-art, scientific illustrations for textbooks. It can be a tricky field to get into, but there's quite a few people working full-time in scientific illustration fields. However, like a lot of illustrators, I also have other income streams - I teach workshops, earn affiliate income online, etc I'll also admit I've been very lucky to have another primary income in the household as well as savings, so I've had a long takeoff ramp and safety net in terms of building my income over several years.
Hi Im in highschool. I don't like biology, but I feel I could fall for it. When I was little, I really liked insects and documentaries about it. I still like animals, insects and plants. Now, biology seems so random. I can lear seemingly random names, but I hate it. I hate it so much. It feels like such a waste of time. I love animation and drawing, maths and textbooks. I am considering animation, but I'm reluctant. It seems not enough? I want to dive in something. Dive in maths, Dive in biology, really see its core. See the code of the world, per say. What should I do? Remember I live in Brazil, so a lot of americans options do not suit me
There's definitely people out there making animations of scientific topics, but that's a very different path from what I took. My training and experience wouldn't prepare me personally for animation at all.
Ha, when I was a kid I wanted to be an engineer. Trouble was, I didn't really know what an engineer was until I started university and I quickly realized that it wasn't for me. I left academia and didn't return for more than a decade. Eventually I got a PhD in evolutionary biology and worked as a research scientist. In retirement I realized why I'd wanted to be an engineer. I liked the drafting part. I liked to draw. So now I draw and it fills my days. What buckets are you using to hold all your pointy devices? They seem to have some sort of special handle that you use to hook them to the wall.
Nice! The design and creative problem solving aspects of engineering, along with drafting, also appealled to me, but I also found out that is not a big part of life as an engineer. My buckets and rail are both from IKEA. They're the Fintorp series of kitchen storage. There's a rail, hooks that slide onto the rail, and baskets that hook onto the hooks. I liked them so much for holding my cutlery in my kitchen I got 2 more sets for holding studio bits.
@@LeeAngold That was the big surprise to me. If I'd thought it through I might have figured it out sooner but... Thanks for the info on the buckets. I may have to talk with Madam IKEA about a set of those for my pointy devices.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am a 67 year old retiree. When I was a child I *knew* with complete conviction that I wanted to stay single and be an artist. Unfortunately, when I hit my teens I went off the rails, made poor decisions, got married, and had kids. I kept thinking I’d make art in the side, but I never did. Or else I’d start, then give up when my lack of training and skill produced poor art. Now that I’m retired, I have finally started making art. I do mainly collage and mixed media, which are accessible to someone without art education. I work very slowly, but art has essentially became the biggest part of my day-to-day life. Do I wish I’d stuck to my original plan? Sometimes, but when push comes to shove, not very much. I have beautiful sons and a lifetime of experiences to draw upon for inspiration . But I’m so grateful that I finally got the chance to fulfill my childhood dream, even if I’m 60 years late. For you, I’m very glad you were able to course-correct while you’re still young. Best wishes! 💛
This is the channel I’ve been waiting for. I am a biologist and I’ve always loved to draw. Then, i found out about scientific illustration, and now it’s my field of study and what i aspire to do for the rest of my life. So, thank you so much for sharing your experience. Wish you the best
Hi helena! I am shinta. I am recently gradute from biology, glad to know u. So can i ask you about your study at scientific illustration?
Shinta Magdalena ofc! You can message me on Instagram @helena.xb
I am a biology student and an artist and ive been complaining the whole time "why arent biology majors required to take at least 1 drawing class when so many end up needing to draw in the field" I have repeated this over and over like a disgruntled mantra bc I keep being told I can't minor in art.... yet many colleges away from where I live support this. So I intend to transfer abroad upon finishing my AS so I can pursue biological illustration that I just found out is an actual job despite what my local college has told me.
My highschool biology teacher always said I should be a science illustrator and I didn't realize that people still actually still did it. Thanks for sharing!!
I feel exactly same right now. I’m at a crucial stage of setting my career path and I’m so torn between certain things I want to follow (medical/scientific illustration) and medical practice (I’m a homeopathic physician). I’m 25 years old and confused to a point of depression and anxiety, where I’m stupefied to make any decisions. There are very limited options for such a niche illustration career in India. I hope to work as blissfully as you do. Thank you for sharing your story 😊
Hey your situation is exactly like mine!! I hope we both find out what’s best for us😊
Lee, so happy to find you here on youtube while I was looking for Roman Szmal paint swatchings. I have seen your work before on the internet when I first discovered botanical painting a few years ago. I’m a late bloomer and your vulnerable sharing is so encouraging to me. When you were four, I was about the age you are now, and although I drew a lot as a teen, I never dreamed that art could be my livelihood. I ended up in graphic design and now all these years later I wish so much that I had the same number of years practicing fine art that I have invested in Photoshop and code. All I can think about is getting time to practice and learn drawing and watercolor. I am so proud of you for following your dreams! Can’t wait to see how much more you do. Thank you for coming on here and sharing so transparently with us. You are an inspiration.
Good luck! I believe in you :)
It’s so amazing to hear you and see you. I can hear the emotion in your voice as you’re talking about your career path, and honestly it is really great to hear both the positive and the downsides. I’m glad that you were able to realize what it is that you really wanted and go for it so spectacularly! As a child I wanted to be an artist and author, and through random series of events that’s exactly what happened lol
Seriously, I'm so glad I found your channel! I am an artist but I'm also studying to become a conservation biologist, and I want to combine art and science in the future. Thanks to your lovely videos, I see that it's possible. You're extremely talented! I can't wait to see all your other videos!
Holy moly, I had no idea they do that!! What an explosion of fluff. Your art is all so beautiful. It's great to find a fellow scientist-turned-artist :D
Loved your genuine storytelling. It was really helpful. Thank you ❤
I just came across your video as I was searching up 'scientific illustration'. Your genuine expression drew me in at first (alongside your beautiful work) as I've been slowly but surely searching through this field to see if it's for me- I've been an artist my whole life but I'm currently in academia (pursuing a Masters of Environmental Studies) and feeling the pull to go back to my creative roots. I got a jolt when I realized you're from Toronto, as that's where I'm originally from!
You posted this earlier this year but I am genuinely glad you did. I'm in the first baby steps of figuring out where I want my life to turn, but this video has really helped me feel a little bit better about the potential in this field. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
You’ve given me new fire to pursue my dream. Thankyou so so much
It makes me happy to hear that you were able to make your childhood dream job a reality after all.
As a kid I wanted to be a field biologist and explore all the animals out there. But I never really thought that the actual way of life would be for me, so during school I've always felt completely aimless. But I had to study something, right? So my parents kind of pushed me into the media design field, since I've always been good in art and there was a design school nearby. It's been okay, but working for clients in an office turned out to be hell on earth for me, so I started doing what naturally came to me: Illustrating the animals that I love from the comfort of my own four walls. It feels a bit similar to being a field biologist, I'm sure you can relate.
I love your work! I'd love to do more fieldwork and collaborate with scientists!
So nice to meet you! I'm new to the field and I came to it in a spark of inspiration. I never thought this would be my career path, especially after children's illustration, but here I am and I looove it. I am based beautiful and green Transylvania, Romania and I hope soon to become a member of an international Botanical Society
Thank you so much for sharing! I wish I had known about scientific illustration earlier, and I'm so encouraged that you're kinda local to me! Good to know it's feasible in my area. I did a bachelor's in Zoology at University of Guelph and my favourite part was the labs where we got to create a "lab book" with our own illustrations of all the specimens.
Ok so... this is my life exactly! As a kid I wanted to be a scientific illustrator who drew dinosaurs, and in grade 12 I freaked out, thought well what if I hate it what if I can't do it and did an arts degree in history. Now I just finished a bachelor in education, but all I can think about and all I want to do is illustration and I am finally realizing that it's what I need to do, a decade later.
I'm glad I discovered your channel. Beautiful artwork by the way :)
Thank you so much 😀
Just did a stalk through the content on your channel!!! Incredible!! Your videos are sooo beautiful, I’ve been wanting to get the schminke swatches for ages!
What a history! Your expressions speaks more than a thousand words!!! I got emocionate!!
You work is scientifically and artistically beautiful
I hope you end up publishing a book. I’ve always loved natural science illustration books! I remember as a kid finding two second hand books and while many books have come and gone in my life those are still with me! Botany, especially captured through illustration, is special.
Aww, thank you! Publishing a book is a goal for me, I'm glad other people are excited about it too!
Amazing story. I too have had a rocky life. I have no idea of how I got to where I am now, fully retired. I empathize with you and your travels through life and career, good luck in future endeavors. May you find your joys & career before you are ready to retire.
It's so nice to hear your story and how much passion you have. A path in art is very unique I think to everyone that finds themselves on it. When I was a child I wanted to be a vet. I'm so glad I didn't. I love animals too much, yes I would be healing and saving lives but, I would also have to put animals down, lose animals and hurt them all at the same time. I could never do that.
Penholder Art Yeah, that totally makes sense. My sister is a nurse and worked really hard to get into the NICU when she first started because she loves babies. But it turned out a job caring for mostly terminal or very ill babies was too much for her to handle even though she was helping babies, so she ended up switching into public health :)
What you said at the very end about rediscovering as an adult what you sort of knew all along as a child really resonates with me, particularly about drawing. I'm currently trying to navigate a career change thanks to 2020 being the year that it is and it's encouraging to hear that one can succeed in this field, even if one's degree is something else entirely. Thank you for sharing your story.
im so glad you did this video ive been with you on your live shows and you were so sweet.i didnt start painting till my 2 boys went off to school i wanted to stay home with them so i picked up a brush and paints and never stopped .the boys are now 30 and 32 im in my little apt in the city on low income but i feel rich because i now have all the art supplies i could ever want.no career just an art lover
Omg I’m so glad to have found your channel! I have a background in engineering and left art for about ten year, saddest time of my life, now Im back in art and training to be a botanical artist. Your story made me cry, it reminded my own sadness and emptiness while being an engineer. I’m so glad to see you. Have finally made it. Love.
Thank you or sharing your story, it gives me a lot of confidence that it's possible to change career paths, you hear all these stories of people who went from art college to a degree and straight into freelance work so it's so nice to hear another perspective. I've come from the other side of the field strangely, I did my degree in product design and started painting in my first year but have always had an interest in science and especially in natural science. 5 years later I find myself furloughed due to Coronavirus and painting every day! I'd love to be an illustrator professionally but it seems so far fetched at the moment.
That is so awesome. I'm so happy you are living your dream job! It warms my heart! I had the dream to be an artist as a young child and those dreams were totally crushed. I was told as a child, artist rarely survive, plus, we were so poor, I had no supplies to use, except for a pencil and school tablets. I could draw anything I saw so wouldn't give up. I thought I'd be able to take classes in high-school and I signed up. That was 1969. But I had to drop out when I learned I had to pay. I didn't have a dime and had no way to get financed for the class. I went home in tears and feeling defeated. I gave up and let it go believing it was not meant to be. I didn't go for it until 2008 after raising my children & got lots of commissions. But now I'm retired and doing it for fun. I'm just so happy things have worked out for you. It was certainly meant to be!
It´s so amazing to hear about someone who´s career is what they´ve dreamed it would be, despite the odd turns and twists life presents us! For me, it´s the other way around, I´m a designer and I´ve always loved drawing and just now I´m considering scientific illustration as a path to follow, particularly in the realm of deep ocean creatures, and I´m just trying to find my bearings in how to reach out to a scientific community which could be interested in my work!
Yes, I completely agree that reaching into new communities and markets can be a big challenge!
Luckily, the natural science illustration communities are very welcoming. The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) is a very friendly and supportive American/international group, which can help connect you to scientists, museum curators and other illustrators. Their conferences are spectacular, so inspiring to meet such a wide range of artists and illustrators doing all kinds of scientific art. I just booked my tickets for this year's conference in Brisbane, Australia! Many areas also have local groups of natural science illustrators, I am also a member of SONSI (the Southern Ontario Natural Science Illustrators) who are a sweet little group of only a couple dozen people, but they organize field trips to local zoology, anatomy and ornithology labs (at the local universities and museums).
There's also a range of different types of commissions and self-initiated projects you can do without established connections to the scientific world. If you start illustrating sea creatures and sharing them through a website or social media, for example, you might find that there's a significant demand for commercial products like tshirts or prints, or that local organizations start asking you for murals relating to ocean conservation. My best advice is just devote any time you have available to doing the thing you want to do, and see what opportunities open up.
Thank you so much for all that wonderful info @@LeeAngold !!! You just make my heart feel lighter and full, I swear. I am currently working on a piece for an exhibition (well, hopefully, it´s a contest, and maybe I´ll make it all the way!) and I´ve spending all my time illustrating lately, just creating a lot of material so I can put it online and start looking for opportunities and, you know, just getting to show what I can offer is an amazing thing. I will definitely be looking into the organizations you mentioned, and, hopefully, one day I´ll be as good as you are!!!
yesterday i decided to be a biological illustrator, I've been going to community college for 3 years now and I've went from wanting to major in art, to zoology to this! I love animals and plants. I think your video was so inspiring. And I'm glad that I've discovered something that I can combine both nature and art.
This is what I want to do. I'm studying botany and plant pathology right now but would love to do this on the side. I've never thought this could be a job but I recently came across it and have loved the idea ever since. I'd love to take some art classes but a lot of them are not available right now and there are pretty much no scientific illustration courses at the University I attend. Instead I just practice drawing on my own but would love to take classes sometime. Thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for sharing your story Lee. Many parts I can identify with. My husband also did Eng Sci at UofT and in BioMed no less. And of course he didn’t go down that route in the end and ended up in tech. I think we all know truths when we are kids before “real life” kicks in. I always loved art and being creative and ended up going down the science route and now in healthcare. I had become disconnected with my creative side until two years ago and I wish I had the courage like you to take the plunge and do what I love as a living. The fear is so real. But maybe one day! :) Thanks for being an inspiration and love your work!
Thanks so much for this reply! I definitely agree that kids know some deep truths.
Courage doesn't feel like courage in the moment. Certainly for me, choices that in retrospect and to external observers seem like brave and calculated moves, in the moment have more often than not been uncoordinated, spur-of-the-moment panic reactions.
If there's any advice I can offer regarding taking the plunge, I find it helpful to plan the rest of my life to allow the most flexibility with the bits I care most about, and then remind myself constantly that my worst case scenarios really aren't that bad. For example, back when I was still working in tech, my husband and I bought a smaller fixer-upper house that was significantly cheaper than the mortgage we were approved for. We live relatively frugally compared to the average couple in our demographic (no car, infrequent budget travel, mostly home cooked meals, thrifted clothing and infrequent gadget/housewares upgrades). We can always afford our mortgage, basic expenses and a little extra for savings on my husband's income alone. Still, I can't help panicking a little. I find it useful to remind myself that even in my unlikely worst case scenario (my husband's industry collapses entirely), realistically the worst that would happen is that I'd have to get a "day-job" for a while.
This was great to hear. When I was about 3, my dad would take me to the lab(he was studying the effects of sink metabolism and brain function) and I helped him with his rats, mostly with chopping off their heads for preparing slides. So I wasn’t surprised to hear about your childhood experiences with your mom. It was really gratifying to hear your story, as I have had several careers in my life, and I am finally returning to art. It is a relief and I am finally happy with what I am doing.
thanks for sharing your story. It reminds me of my own.. As a child and teenager I had no idea what I wanted to do etc.. My options were either become a teacher a nurse or office admin person. I got married instead LOL.. At age 27 I started university study with a 7 year old child to look after and a house and husband and all of that. I became an architect.. So after years of trying to find my place in the archi life with my own business and increasing client base, I lost the passion for it and it fizzled out. So now at age 45 Im driving a bus to make a living and painting watercolours with the hope of becoming a watercolour artist. I was born with a creative heart and a pencil in my hand but yet was led in all kinds of directions in life. I am confident now that my road is leading me to where I was meant to be in the first place as an artist.
Hello! Thank you for sharing your struggle in finding (and living) your life’s purpose as an artist. Like you, as a child I gravitated to art as I spent my time drawing the animals on my family’s dairy farm in Wisconsin. I loved the challenge of capturing nature and I innocently wanted to become a professional artist. But unlike you, my parents felt that art was a waste of time and a useless profession. For college I was given a choice - veterinary science, engineering, or business or no degree at all! I knew my only escape from the drudgery of milking cows was through a college degree so I chose engineering. I have lived a 25-year career in computer engineering - the last 15 years in Silicon Valley where projects were interesting and the salaries high. I traveled the world and worked for companies that have changed the world! I was a good engineer, but I would have never be a great one, and that bugged me. Six years ago, I could not dig up the sincerity to do my job well anymore, so I retired at 55 before carpal tunnel robbed me of the total use of my hands. Since retirement, I have been struggling to get back into art but something holds me back. Maybe it is that when I was an engineer everyone was impressed and thought I was smart and valuable. As an artist, people look at me as say, “oh, that’s nice.” But I was frustrated because my hands didn’t work very well when it came to drawing so I just got myself busy with other artistic pursuits (like quilting and photography). Two years ago, I decided not to to get CT surgery and rebuild my hands by learning the piano - yeah, another distraction but something I find I really enjoy. Luckily, it has helped me to regain the strength and flexibility in my hands! Currently, I am considering putting aside my other activities to focus on art again - which is why I found you. FYI - I have no regrets regarding my time as an engineer. I was never depressed or anxious about it. I just did what I needed to do to the best of my ability. I have subscribed to your channel and I hope to learn a lot from you! Also, I didn’t want a Tesla either, I am happy with my Mercedes.
I don't really have regrets about my time as an engineer - it was not the right longterm path for me but I would not be the person I am today, or have the life I have today, if I had not taken that path.
I don't have a Mercedes either, in fact, I don't own a car at all right now. I have a very nice bike :)
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing! This was so helpful. I am currently trying to build a portfolio in order to apply for the illustration program at my University. This video was so helpful.
Hi Lee, I don't usually make comments but I found your video really timely and it really touched me. Thank you for sharing
This is like a creepy mirror of what I’m feeling. I’m just starting a degree in biomedical engineering and am wondering if it is the right choice, when I could be doing botanical illustration
First your sketchbooks are amazing, and I have a recommendation for drawing people. Figure Drawing Design and Inventions by Michael Hampton. I was looking up botanical Illustration, and then I found your RUclips channel. As a kid I always loved magazines and illustrations, and I could not read until I was in the third grade. I always knew that I was good enough to do art , but I went through several phases of self doubt. There were various people in my life that had told me, "I don't draw every day, and I would never be good enough.", like I had to prove myself to them. Well, fast forward to age 27, and I am finally back on track. I decided to major in Graphic Design , and I love every moment of it. I look forward to watching more of your content.
Thanks,
Omg your voice sounds super nervous. But this content is amazing. I hope you continue to post about your work and art. Subscribed!
Thanks for subbing!
Your studio looks so lovely (aside floofsplosion, yikes!!!)!
I LOVE the look of your palette, I immediately wanna stare at it and ask about the colors in it, haha XD
As a kid, I wanted to be a geologist, then a medical examiner (Scully is a good role model, ok?), then IDK. I wish I had a clearer "dream" in mind, but I don't.
Haha...although I was pretty steadfast in my “biology illustrator” plans..my backup plans included astronaut and “the Jane Goodall of wolves”.
PS the palette is this one, with a couple of colours swapped out leeangold.com/2018/10/04/palette-tour-atlantis-watercolour-palette/
I always wanted to be an artist and I am finally in an art academia. I still don't know what kind of art I want to make, I think more illustration kind of work.
I really like your videos!
Thanks for sharing! I had almost a similar life experience. I wanted to be an artist but before college I ended up choosing something else. Now I am a language teacher and a I like it despite I never wanted to be one, but I’m not sure I longer enjoy it. These days I’ve been doing some art and selling them and I was wondering if this was a real path to follow! Now I know it’s possible, thanks! 🍁
Beautiful aesthetic!! Thank you for sharing your story! New subscriber here 🎨 👋
Hi. This is my first video of you. ❤️ I searched botanical drawing career on youtube so that's probably saying something about me at the moment... I've a bachelors in marine biology and now on a 7-year attempt at finishing my masters in the same field. Obviously, it's really not doing well. It's been a long winding road for me up to this point. I've been in and out of depression, anxiety, self doubt and hermitage for years now.
Okay, I've actually typed a reaaally long story after that last sentence but after a while I realised it was getting depressing. So scrapped that and what I wanted to really say was I really appreciate this video and your story. This whole botanical illustration thing, although not an entirely new concept to me, it's something I've only recently truely realise is a real thing people do as a career and life choice. I hope I'm any good at it and have the courage, patience and perseverance to do it. I hope I'll learn more from you and wishing you the best of all things. Hugs and kisses from Malaysia.
Good luck on your journey!
lol That's part of the life cycle of a Cattail. Once the stalk dries out it signals to the plant that it's time to release the seeds which are super compacted in the casing (there's a reason they're called "water sausages" lol). If you want to bring some in to draw/paint then liberally spray the heads with a super cheap and stiff setting hairspray like Aquanet, spray them with clear coat spray paint, or you can dip them in matte varnish.
how have I only come across you in 2020! love you already ^_^
Cool how the cattails just fluffed out xD
Liked that I discovered your channel.
Would be very interested to move further into scientific (and also fake-fantasy-scientific) drawing, so I think I‘ll enjoy your content here. Subscribed :D
Ps. Go easy on yourself, you sound like you’re nervous infront of the camera. No reason to be, what you tell is of a good merit and you have skill. You can openly share it ^^
I'm soooooo glad I found your channel. I just got my degree as a biologist and I love scientific botanical illustration. Hearing about your path as an natural science illustrator is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey and you knowledge ♡
I got curious.. is your mom brazilian? Your accent was very great when you read "órgãos de uma pessoa" hahaha
Oi Letícia - sim, a minha mãe é brasileira. Eu nasci no Canadá mas falando português em casa :)
Really amazing stuff, I really want to try my hand at some plant illustrations, but feels somewhat complex
The first step is always the hardest. I believe in you!
I didn’t want to laugh, but it really made me chuckle😂😂😂
I love this. Thank you for sharing. I never comment on videos but this was really inspiring . I was also all about art back in high school and didn’t unfortunately stick to painting or drawing after that, I actually took a completely different career that I hated as well. Lately, I’ve been wanting to back down the art path again after 10 years. So after engineering , did you obtain another other certificates or degrees in art in illustration? Ive been wanting to go back to school for botanical illustration but not sure if that’s needed, so my question to you is, what advice would you give to those that haven’t had an art background in a while and want to go into illustration ?
Hi Angie! I don't have any degrees/diplomas in illustration and mostly I'm self-directed, but I've definitely found it useful to take courses and workshops from artists I admire. I started (but didn't complete, for a variety of reasons) the Society of Botanical Artists Diploma program.
It is absolutely not necessary to have an illustration degree to get hired for illustration jobs, and ultimately building your illustration skills is a self-directed process, lots and lots of practice. However, a degree/diploma program can help you find the gaps in your own knowledge/skill set, and is also a great way to connect with the network and clients that will eventually enable you to find work (but not the only way). If you're the sort of person who needs regular assignments to keep yourself motivated, formal education can give you big boost in building your portfolio.
Whether or not you choose to pursue formal education, I would strongly recommend joining professional associations for the type of illustration you're interested in, take workshops with artists and illustrators who you admire (online or in person), start creating artwork to practice and build a portfolio (commission yourself!), and find a way to start connecting into your local creative community (community art centre programs, urban sketching groups, etc are a great place to start).
Wow your cool
im looking at staring up as a freelance illustrator, focusing on natural history, do you have any advise on how to start that off?
What documentary is this that you're talking about? I'd love to watch it.
Happened upon your channel today and was really pleasantly surprised. Thankyou for putting yourself out there! Subbed!
To answer your question...
When I was a kid all i wanted to do was draw. I loved animals and from a very young age and from a very young age i was drawing them. When I was about 7 or 8, I declared to everyone that I wanted to be a veterinarian. That goal continued on until I got to about grade 10, after I aligned all my subjects to follow this path. Went to my first biology field trip to a hospital and the blood centrifuge made me throw up and faint. It was a very disappointing natural response. I thought for a while maybe I could be a veterinary nurse... then I gave that up all together.
I now work as a motion graphics designer.... a path that kind of makes sense for me, but I am still drawn back to the roots of my childhood where I was drawing animals. I'd love to get into natural history illustration - it still blows my mind that it can be someones full time job...
If I find out what the documentary was, I'll let you know! I've tried looking it up, but this was 25 years ago and I can't find it anywhere.
There's a range of work within the umbrella of natural science illustration, from children's science books to commercial applications for botanical art, to legal medical graphics, creature design for films, paleo-art, scientific illustrations for textbooks. It can be a tricky field to get into, but there's quite a few people working full-time in scientific illustration fields. However, like a lot of illustrators, I also have other income streams - I teach workshops, earn affiliate income online, etc
I'll also admit I've been very lucky to have another primary income in the household as well as savings, so I've had a long takeoff ramp and safety net in terms of building my income over several years.
I collected cattails like 7 years ago and I’m still cleaning them out of my car trunk 🤣
Oh wow!
Hi
Im in highschool. I don't like biology, but I feel I could fall for it.
When I was little, I really liked insects and documentaries about it. I still like animals, insects and plants. Now, biology seems so random. I can lear seemingly random names, but I hate it. I hate it so much. It feels like such a waste of time.
I love animation and drawing, maths and textbooks. I am considering animation, but I'm reluctant. It seems not enough? I want to dive in something. Dive in maths, Dive in biology, really see its core. See the code of the world, per say.
What should I do? Remember I live in Brazil, so a lot of americans options do not suit me
Sorry I’m not sure if I missed it, but did you end up going to school for scientific illustration?
I've taken some courses and workshops but not a degree program. I'm mostly self-taught.
Do you have to know about biology to be a botanical illustrator?
I wanted to be a marine biologist couldn’t handle the chemistry courses 🐠
Hey I’m wondering if you become a scientific illustrator, can you be an animator?
There's definitely people out there making animations of scientific topics, but that's a very different path from what I took. My training and experience wouldn't prepare me personally for animation at all.
@@LeeAngold ahhh ok, thank you for letting me know!! This was very helpful!
You're so sweet :)
Ha, when I was a kid I wanted to be an engineer. Trouble was, I didn't really know what an engineer was until I started university and I quickly realized that it wasn't for me. I left academia and didn't return for more than a decade. Eventually I got a PhD in evolutionary biology and worked as a research scientist. In retirement I realized why I'd wanted to be an engineer. I liked the drafting part. I liked to draw. So now I draw and it fills my days.
What buckets are you using to hold all your pointy devices? They seem to have some sort of special handle that you use to hook them to the wall.
Nice! The design and creative problem solving aspects of engineering, along with drafting, also appealled to me, but I also found out that is not a big part of life as an engineer.
My buckets and rail are both from IKEA. They're the Fintorp series of kitchen storage. There's a rail, hooks that slide onto the rail, and baskets that hook onto the hooks. I liked them so much for holding my cutlery in my kitchen I got 2 more sets for holding studio bits.
@@LeeAngold That was the big surprise to me. If I'd thought it through I might have figured it out sooner but... Thanks for the info on the buckets. I may have to talk with Madam IKEA about a set of those for my pointy devices.
I want to work as scientific illustrator but I don't like to touch insects.
Then don't specialize in entomology :) Lots of scientific fields don't involve insects.