Meghan Rocktopus

Spring has started!

megtopus — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:38:57 +0000

Spring quarter (my final quarter of classes!) has started. My first exercise was a botanical reconstruction from a dried specimen. This is Toxicodendron radicans, or for those in the eastern and southern United States–poison ivy! My dad didn’t recognize it at first, but I’m hoping that’s because it’s just so beautiful. Okay, let’s be honest, it’s because I’m still really learning how to draw plants. So far it’s really enjoyable.

It doesn’t have scale bars yet because it’s still in progress, but I’m pleased so far. I tried out a new material called Duralar, which is similar to another frosted mylar film I’ve used before, Duralene. I’m a little in love with the technique, I won’t lie.

There are a lot of things in the works, including another move cross-country this summer. I’ve got a short backpacking trip coming this weekend, so hopefully I’ll have sketches from the adventure!

Enjoy spring, everyone!

New works coming soon!

megtopus — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:28:50 +0000

To say that I’ve been busy is nothing short of an understatement. I’ve got an interpretive panel on bioluminescent ocean creatures, a trompe l’œil full of shells and crab molts, and a large gouache painting of a yellow longhorn beetle all in progress! It’s wonderful, but busy as anything.

I’ll post pictures as I get further along.

Visit to PG Natural History Museum

megtopus — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:21:46 +0000

Last Friday I made a visit to the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum to look at their educational collection of spiders for an assignment I was working on. It was great and I had so much fun!

I saw this black widow as well as a golden orb weaver–the first time I’ve seen one in person.

The orb weaver was particularly neat because this spider was the subject of my Nephila illustration (and part of a much larger project on silk production in spiders).

Grad School is Busy

megtopus — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:09:53 +0000

Well, I have to say that if anyone ever tells you that grad school is a breeze they are clearly doing it wrong.

So far in the second term we’ve had multiple weeks with four or five projects due. The good news? It’s been a very productive four weeks of school! The bad news? It’s been a very bad four weeks for sleep, socialization, or kitten cuddling.

Lately Momo has taken to curling up on my lap as I work on my computer at home, so I’ve been trying to split my evenings more evenly between home and studio.

That’s all for now, I’ll try and post some in-progress projects soon!