Luísa Crisóstomo (Portugal, 1993)
Ever since a young age, I've always been fascinated by both science and art. However, art had been nothing more than a hobby until an opportunity came up in 2016, right after I finished my Master's degree, to enrol in a course about nature drawing and illustration. It didn't take long until I realized I wanted to pursue a career as a scientific illustrator.
Nowadays, I consider myself a Biologist and a Scientific Illustrator. I'm creating different kinds of illustrations, mostly of the natural world. I usually make very detailed drawings, from classical intricate illustrations to more naturalistic artworks. My goal goes past doing what I like the most; through my work, I also want to help educate and raise awareness towards the preservation and conservation of nature and wildlife.
My favourite mediums are watercolour and Indian ink, and I particularly like bird and botanical illustration. However, I enjoy drawing any biology-related theme, and I find it important to vary my subjects to keep the creativity running.
Career
Education
2011 - 2014 B.Sc.in Biology
2014 - 2016 M.S. in Conservation Biology
2016 - 2019 Nature Drawing and Scientific Illustration with Pedro Salgado at MUHNAC
2019 - Ilustra Disecciones (Illustraciencia)
Several webinars and online courses related to Biology of Conservation
Volunteering work
Scientific Illustrator
2018/2019 - Scientific illustrator in Clube Ciência Viva: Camões à Experiência
Currently - Freelancer
Illustration commissions and publications
Art prints and merchandise
Workshops at Universities and Elementary Schools
Mural painting
Collaboration in Scientific Illustration projects
Grants & Awards
2019 - Highly Commended - The Margaret Flockton Award (Australia)
2021 - Special mention - Illustraciencia 8 (Spain)
Exhibitions
2018 - International Exhibition of Orchids of Oeiras (2nd Edition - Oeiras)
2018 - Short Films Festival of Biodiversity (FIIN - 5th Edition - Vila Real)
2019 - The Margaret Flockton Award (Australia)
2019 - Lepidópteros (Collective Exhibition - Almada, Portugal)
2020 - Illustrare (MUHNAC, Lisbon)
2021 - Illustraciencia 8 (Spain)
2021 - GNSI’s Visual SciComm Conference - Members Juried Exhibition (USA)
2020/22 - Illustrare - Journeys of Scientific Illustration in Portugal (MUHNAC, Lisbon)
Participation in Publications
2018 - Peixes de Portugal, by Maria José Costa (40 fish illustrations)
2019 - The Eagle Owl, by Vincenzo Penteriani & María Del Mar Delgado (Figures and graphs from Master's Dissertation)
2021 - Illustrare - Journeys of Scientific Illustration in Portugal, by Nuno Farinha, Ana Bígio, Diana Marques and Pedro Salgado