my feet on the dash

Two drawings from about a decade ago...

Elder-wise Eye, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

I've been cleaning my studio and re-discovering "old" work. It's quite nice. Makes you think, "hmm... not half bad" at times. And sometimes, you need that, you know?

Portobello Mushroom, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

I have a Wikipedia page... jealous?? ;p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Redmeg8

That's right people. Watch out! :)

No, actually, the genesis of this apparent ego-stroking comes from the fact that I'm now an active editor on Wikipedia and they give you the option. Because I'm not just doing it for the pure fun of it, I figure it'd be good for folks to see a little of my credentials.

Why?

Well, last year I was charged with the maintenance and up-to-date-ed-ness of both the MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR and THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL ILLUSTRATORS' Wikipedia pages (I'm a member of the AMI's PR committee).

Exciting, no?

No? Well, pthb! I quite enjoy learning the coding and making tables, etc. ;p

This medical illustrator just had a surreal 'woah' moment

OK... I am cognizant of the fact that I do illustrations that go out into the world and people see them & use them for studying or whathaveyou. Despite that, I've never seen anyone literally studying from a textbook, etc. with one of my pieces in it.

Well, I just witnessed one of my illustration being used... randomly... and it's FREAKING ME OUT. I was just strolling through a cafe here at Eastern Michigan University (where I'm taking classes) and I glanced at a fellow student's computer screen as I passed (tsk! tsk!). Lo and behold - I see an illustration of a pituitary gland on the screen of a CD-ROM I worked on back in '02!!

I literally stopped, interrupted this poor girl from her studying, and asked to take a closer look. I am so lame!! Anyway, she didn't really understand what I meant by "I drew that!" I had to elaborate and when I did, she was kind of stunned. People really don't think about the professional of medical illustrator all that much and this was proof.

Cool random happening, right?? :)

Confirmed: I've infultrated hipster-land!

Weeehooo!!! Beegirl was right!, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

Check it out! My Knock Knock book was spotted by a Flickr friend of mine, so, Eric and I sojourned to our local Urban Outfitters to confirm her finding. As you can see from above, the report was true!

Of course, none of the staff could get past their cooler-than-thou apathy to care too much. Although, one guy was nice about it and asked to shake my hand.

Anyway, I thought it was exciting... and that's all that matters, right?

My book's in ReadyMade!!

My book's in ReadyMade!!, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

I guess it's OUR book (me & Knock Knock's)... but, I feel so attached to it, I can't help but call it that, forgive me ;p

Anyway - isn't this the coolest?!

If you don't know what book I'm talking about, see my Knock Knock set on Flickr.

My sister Erin and her pal Erin tipped me off to this awesomeness. Thanks, guys!
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Now playing: The Knife - Heartbeats
via FoxyTunes   

The book I illustrated... is... in Entertainment Weekly...

The book I illustrated... is... in Entertainment Weekly..., originally uploaded by redmeg8.

Holy jeebus on crutches.

My Knock Knock book is available...

My book is available and on the front page of the website!!, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

... AND on the front page of their website!! Woo hoo!! This was the best project. Knock Knock was a wonderful client, the subject matter was awesome, and I was constantly hearing, "Make it grosser!! More gore! More gore!" Which... hello?... is sweeeeeeeet. Honestly, I had NO idea it was a 192-page tome! Woah! I can't wait until my copy arrives here shortly.

In other news, my hell-on-wheels semester of pre-requisite med school courses started last Wednesday. Holy crap am I gonna be a busy bee. Sigh.

And, in true I'm-an-academia-addict form, I decided to go for my 2nd Bachelors while I'm completing this coursework at EMU. Why on earth would I put myself thru that, you ask? Well, because I only have 36 credits hours to achieve to garner the credential & that is pretty cool.

Honestly, despite the busy-ness, I've been extraordinarily happy this last week. Like, I'm back in my element, or something. Sure, I feel a wee bit old compared w/ most of my classmates, but, beyond that, it feels home-y being back on a campus. I'm sucha nerd, aren't I??

Anyway - wish me luck. I'm trying like hell for a kick-ass GPA this semester and I feel as if I'm going to have to be "on" almost 18 hrs. a day to achieve that. :o

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Now playing: M.I.A. - Paper Planes
via FoxyTunes   

MRS. Crick, I presume

I wish I had known this before she died. I'm not sure why I feel that way, but, unsung "heroes" have always been interesting to me. And, as a medical illustrator, I'm shocked I didn't know this before...

Odile Crick drew the first published version of the double-helix, her husband's Nobel Prize-winning discovery ... she died last week of cancer.

At least Canada gives me credit

Lookie there! I'm on the AMAZON.CA website.
That's moderately surreal. Sweet.

Funny how the US version of Amazon doesn't give the illustrator credit. Hmm...

"My" conjoined twins are on the mend at home

It's a lull for me, but, a time of healing for the subject(s) of one of my latest projects:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-11-conjoined-twins_N.htm?csp=34

I'm the illustrator for this case concerning Ani & Tati, two Romanian twins who are joined at the head and are undergoing separation surgeries at Children's Hospital in Cleveland. Apparently, one of the twins had brain swelling and the process needed to be halted for a little while.

It's a fascinating case and the girls seem to be so wonderful. You can read more HERE and see some video as well. It's truly an incredible situation and I'm honored to be involved.