About the Artisit

Katie George, from Astoria, OR, focuses on realism and scientific illustration in her work. Although primarily self-taught, George took a handful of art classes while studying at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. It was during her undergraduate years, as a student of biochemistry and molecular biology, that she became interested in scientific illustration.

She was awarded a research grant to travel to Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon to create illustrations of local medicinal plants. The series of drawings that resulted were displayed at the College’s Watzek Library in 2014 and helped raise awareness of the deforestation and oil extraction occurring in Yasuní. Since creating these illustrations, George has changed her primary medium to pyrography (wood burning), although she also works in watercolor, oil, pen and ink, graphite, charcoal, pottery and sculpture.

“Creating art has been a part of me since I can remember,” says George. “As a biochemistry molecular biologist, I now look through a scientific lens when creating art. By using natural matter such as wood and plants, I aim to capture the intricacies the natural world has to offer and remind the viewer of the importance of conservation, of the treasures of the natural world, and of what remains to be discovered.