my feet on the dash

My professional website portfolio's had a face lift! Huzzah!

Wow - I can't believe I did it! I FINALLY sorted out my portfolios over at www.megalo-media.com (my professional art/medical illustration website, as they say).

I've been searching and searching for a clean, readily update-able, gallery app or bit of code and I finally found it! Pictobrowser was the answer to my prayers! They make such a clean and functional (free!) flash gallery app. There's a nice option for a disappearing thumbnail gallery that can overlay the viewing area with a space for a title. And a useful 'notes' link for each piece where you can add more information; I used it for additional facts, media used, and the date the piece was created. Lastly, I like the fact that, with the 'link'... er... link, you can click through to the Flickr page of the image and leave a comment, if you so desire.

It was a SNAP to set up AND since it takes your images from Flickr sets, as you update those sets, it AUTOMATICALLY updates the relevant website gallery! I cannot begin to relate how awesome that is. My online portfolio will be SO much more up-to-date now.

And, the MOST EXCITING bit-o-news, the 'mine' section of my megalo-media portfolio is now open! It's only taken me something like 3 years to get it up and running ;)  I like having the portfolio split into 'mine' and 'yours' so that I can have both sides of my artistic repertoire showcased on the same site without it confusing the viewer.

Feedback is always welcome, so, let me know what you think!

IN PHD-LAND, next week is my last week with my current lab before I start my next rotation. I'm going to miss them so much. From this perspective, I really hope I can make it my permanent home for the next 3 years.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

These doilies took my breath away

(the Herpes virus)

Laura Splan amazes me. I mean, I'm at once speechless when I look at her work and supremely jealous that I never thought of this (as usual) being the crafty science illustrator that I am! She's approached 'anatomical art' in a way I've never seen before and it's subtlety just floors me. My favourite sort of blend: deadly and gorgeous. Mega-kudos to you, Laura. Seriously.

Jeni Fairman profiled me on her awesome blog!

I heart Jeniiiiii, I heart her, I heart her, I HEART HER!!!!!  (that's a gush, girl!)

So, my dear medical illustration colleague and friend, Jennifer Fairman, profiled my work on her blog, Willow Street Creative. I am SO full of pride and donning a huge grin! Thank you SO much, my friend. Good lord, I don't know where I'd start if I blogged about you, you're such an inspiration to me. :)

So yes, my readers, head on over to her blog - you will love every ounce of it!

Here's a jumping off page for ALL of her outstanding gifts to the rest of us. I warn you! It'll knock your proverbial socks off!

Nominate me for a Shorty!

If you like my Twitter updates, or follow me over there, think about nominating me for science Twitter-er of the year :)  I will love you forever.

I've nominated (not only myself - dork!), but Anne Ruthmann in the personal category, shivvy in politics, and woxy_live in music.

I'm truly certifiable now!

Hee hee & Woo hoo!, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

"Certification is a program endorsed by the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) to encourage lifelong learning and to measure professional competency for those illustrators and clients who voluntarily desire such credentialing. Similar to specialty certification for physicians, the competency evaluation consists of a written test and a practicum. The Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators (BCMI) objectively measures and evaluates the examination results and awards certification on successful completion."

Guess I can think about a rate change for my services ;p

I'm SO PROUD!

An Urgent Plea to All of My Friends! (Orphan Works Is Evil!)

An Urgent Plea to All of My Friends!, originally uploaded by redmeg8.

The following was written by Dena Matthews, fellow medical illustrator:

Dear friends and artists,

I encourage you to support all American artists by voicing opposition to the Orphan Works Acts that are being fast-tracked through Congress. It’s important that you act now – because Congress (both House and Senate) could be voting on this legislation this month.

Here is a brief summary of the problem.

• The Orphan Works Acts, if enacted would change copyright law in such a way that it would be too costly (time and money) to make a living as a visual artist. There would be less of a need for new art because all one’s existing and new work would be open for others to use for free. Today we call those people- who use art without asking- infringers, those who steal art for their own profit.

• The Orphan Works Acts would affect visual artists who do not make a living from their art (create just for the joy of it). Someone, an infringer, would be able to use your art anywhere they like to make a buck and potentially in ways you would object.

• The Orphan Works Acts would also affect anyone who takes snapshot photos and shares them through email or on the web. Your personal family memories could be used by unscrupulous people or in ways you may object - again just to make a buck. The Orphan Works Acts also opens up privacy issues- by allowing others to distribute and sell pictures of your family members and friends.

The Copyright Act of 1976 was created to allow artists to profit from their work thereby encouraging artists to create- a priceless gift that we presently are able to give to the world.

There may be a desire for libraries, museums, etc to acquire truly orphaned works - those in which the author will never be located. Most visual artists would support this cause for the greater good. But these Orphan Works Acts being pushed through congress are written so broadly, they do not take into account the devastating impact they will have on living and available (who can be located) artists.

Please ask your congressmen to vote in opposition to this act- in both house and senate.

Here’s a link to a web tool that allows you to do so effortlessly: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/

Select the letter that best represents you and edit it as you see fit. Then click to submit – and your letter will be sent immediately electronically to all your congressmen.

Please forward and crosspost widely.

Thank you,
Megan

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?