With Drift: An Art Expedition, artists Andrea Dingeldein, Emily Hess, and D.J. Jackson present a bridge between the worlds of scientific exploration and fine art. Drawing inspiration from the natural world around them, these classically trained artists – all three are graduates of the prestigious Science Illustration Program at California State University Monterey Bay – invite viewers to suspend reality for an expedition of discovery, leading them from the shallow coastal waters, into the Twilight Zone, before diving deeper and deeper to dark ocean depths where nature illuminates from within.
Scientific Illustrations from:
Andrea Dingeldein
Andrea’s fascination for the natural world was sparked by the diversity of life found in the backyards and neighborhoods of her childhood home in the piedmont of North Carolina. Her interests quickly expanded to the ocean realm, when she became a certified SCUBA diver at the age of twelve. Annual trips to the Caribbean to explore the warm, tropical coral reefs with her family inspired her to pursue a career as a marine biologist. She graduated college with dual bachelor’s degrees in Marine Biology and Studio Art and continued her scientific training by completing a M.S. in Marine Biology at UNC-Wilmington. Her thesis research was focused on larval development and post-settlement behavior of coral reef fishes in St. Croix, USVI. Peers and mentors in the sciences discovered that she had a knack for creating illustrations that could clearly communicate their scientific findings. Following the publication of her first science illustrations in academic journals, she attended the prestigious Science Illustration Graduate Certificate Program at CSU-Monterey Bay. She is now an Instructor and the Program Assistant for the Science Illustration Program, and also maintains her own freelance business (“The Local Naturalist”) creating engaging science illustrations.
Emily Hess
Emily Hess was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, but was an ocean lover right from the beginning. She became a certified SCUBA diver at age 12 and spent much of her land-locked childhood drawing ocean creatures that inspired her and learning as much as possible about them.
She attended the University of Tampa in Florida, where she began her BS in Marine Biology, and transferred to Seattle Pacific University in Washington during her senior year to complete her final credits. This gave her a valuable marine science education with experience in both cold-water kelp forests as well as coral reefs.
Following graduation, Emily took a position as a marine science instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, where she taught labs, led snorkels, kayaks, and other ecological adventures. As assistant director of the program several years later she was able to bring her affinity for art to her work and began creating educational tools for the different science labs in the facility. Creating murals, interactive visuals, and illustrations made Emily develop a deep appreciation for effective and compelling visual aids in the service of science.
This led her to apply for a coveted position in the Science Illustration program at CSUMB, which she attended in 2016-2017. Since completing this program she has worked on a number of gratifying projects for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, California State Parks Department, Communities for Sustainable Monterey County, and others, and she also currently works with the local community-supported fishery Real Good Fish and is completing a Masters in Design Management from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Life in Monterey, being a part of both the artistic community, as well as the marine science community, is incredibly fulfilling and Emily is committed to continue bringing attention to the vast and wondrous natural life that exists in our little corner of the world and moving scientific awareness and sustainability forward in the process.
D. J. Jackson
D.J. was born and raised in coastal South Carolina, and spent most of his childhood in or near the ocean, always exploring and looking for wildlife. Taking inspiration from all around him, he was captivated by artists, naturalists, archaeologists, and adventurers.
He got his BA in Fine Art from Eckerd College in 2012 and completed the CSUMB Science Illustration program in 2014.
He creates for a variety of clients both in and outside of the scientific community. From technical illustration to abstract painting, to sculpture, D.J. balances many different styles of visual art/communication.
His work has taken him as far as Australia, where his work was used in research projects and informational signage for The University of Queensland. He has been featured on the Mission Blues website, created content for conservation programs in Yosemite and Zion National Parks, and taught marine science and scientific illustration at camps and schools across the United States.