https://www.michellebuziak.com/about-the-artist daily 0.75 2023-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1631308392570-9IVDXMU4DUFEYEP2MB84/Buziak_Portrait.jpg About the Artist - Trained in Art and Biological Sciences Michelle Buziak is a science illustrator, focused on creating art that strengthens her local community’s connection to the natural world. She completed her BFA in Visual Effects and minored in Science Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design and completed her Post Baccalaureate Certificate at California State University—Monterey Bay. She also studied Vertebrate Comparative Anatomy and Physiology at University of Illinois at Chicago. From fluffy birds to fossilized fishes, she draws inspiration from the incredible evolutionary diversity of plant and animal life. She hopes to cultivate in others a sense of wonder and an urge to protect what surrounds us, with an emphasis on the plants and animals we have the highest risk of losing. She also has great interest and takes great personal inspiration in preserving and growing heritage varieties of edible plants that allow us to find harmony through small community self-sufficiency. https://www.michellebuziak.com/work daily 1.0 2022-11-04 https://www.michellebuziak.com/work/3d monthly 0.5 2022-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595381267434-VJWVRBDMS7D1JK6SKOAG/fish.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Crown Betta Labyrinth Organ Illustration. 2019. Modeled and UVed in Maya, Textured in Mari, Rendered in Arnold. Labyrinth organ illustrated in Adobe Illustrator. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595381495132-WB9Q448BQN41618BLI5T/fishtwo.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Betta Fish Breakdown. 2018. Display of mesh and texture of crown betta model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595381839452-NY5D97KS5BQ2DUNE9ULC/AlvioliRender.png Portfolio Home - 3D Art Alvioli full color render asset for "The Heart and Lungs," an animation for a ebook and heart module application for middle school students produced by University of Georgia. Responsible for all aspects of alveoli and capillaries. Used: Autodesk Maya 2015, Zbrush, After Effects, UV Layout. Rendered in Mental Ray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595380529461-YCDC2LWCZVKCXGGXHPHB/uhhhh.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Oracle Ac-72 Wire Frame and Model. Personal project, 3d modeled and UVed in Maya. Textured in Mari and Rendering done in Mental Ray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595391432438-ORTU2YWFBSDT0WYNUABT/AcrophiliasLamentWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Taxidermist's Study revisit. September 2018. Maya, Arnold, Mari https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595380487621-3FTAIBKS1BQEWHV3UOMY/imageorchidf.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Phalaenopsis Orchid Second project for my Photo-realism class. I was responsible for all aspects. Software Used: Autodesk Maya 2014, Mari, rendered in Mental Ray, Nukex 8.0v6 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595391580922-4H78RWEDED8677TTTP7G/GiantSlothWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art "Giant Ground Sloth" Senior class project. I was in charge of direction, shooting, modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, and composting. Software used Autodesk Maya 2013, NukeX 7v6, Zbrush R6 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595393439160-TUL0UXVW0DYQYO2QAO07/dragoncompWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - 3D Art Model of the character Raqzal I made for the senior film entitled "Cazador de Tiempo" by Animation student Selina Lopez. I was in charge of modeling, creating a bumpmap and UV-ing. Softwares: Maya, Roadkill, Zbrush. https://www.michellebuziak.com/work/sculpture monthly 0.5 2022-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595670934606-G3XFFRIKJCOW53RSXJVX/CatTurnAroundWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Sculpture House Cat "Reverse-Dissection" Project. 2019. Musculature study sculpted in Plastilina. Glass eyes by Tohikon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595670977538-2GMSQNULJCZCCS7CHR3M/horse+turn+aroundWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Sculpture Winter Horse Study and Concept. 2015. Sculptey on Armature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595390281029-4Y77CMBHI6YE7QO4AHU2/Crested+WeaselWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Sculpture Crested Weasel. Concept maquette. Sculpey on armature. Winter 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595391103341-6SL144NNDHGIJCQATXTU/squirrel+scapulaWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Sculpture Squirrel Scapula Enlargement Turnaround. 2013. Three times enlargement of scapula specimen. https://www.michellebuziak.com/work/traditional monthly 0.5 2022-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1599196144543-4KT9TWRT8WWM99XD2E6Q/pumkinWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/8315c7c1-f31f-4d98-9ed9-570088f56e32/rhyzobacter_poster_02.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Portraits of Three Rhizobium Host Plants. Watercolor on 300 lb Hot Press. Poster also depicts the host plant's root systems covered in cysts caused by abrasions of the symbiotic bacteria eating their way into the roots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/670b2cdc-4ae5-4953-a8d4-a30a147ae4f4/sturgeionweb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) Adult and Juvenile. Ink on Scratchboard. This endangered species is native to the great lakes region and can grow up to 7 feet long. Their unique snout shape allows for them to effectively hunt for small animals living under the surface of the lake or river bed. The juveniles begin life covered in protective scoots that eventually become separated by smooth skin as they grow into adults, causing a drastic change in appearance as they mature. Currently on display at the Biosphere exhibition at Kokomo Downtown Gallery in Kokomo, Indiana https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595386355953-LHUQJA3VR3WL4V6TKQSL/YellowWarblerWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595388097970-4CUQJILL4RZ77JNS2VMS/BuziakMichelleProject2W13InternetSubmit.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/491aca6c-8c60-470f-a4ba-3c2dd652bae2/parakeetweb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Watercolor on paper, digitally edited. 13”x13” Before being driven to extinction in the early 1900’s the Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) thrived all throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States. They loved to eat nuts, seeds and fruits, including the seeds of the toxic cocklebur that is also pictured. The birds were largely unaffected by the toxins in the seeds, and also managed to become toxic themselves if they consumed enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595388109224-E1MY377SBQCH7N81ESHM/leaves001.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Various Leafs Study. 2013. Watercolor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/9eb81289-fe97-472e-8aea-add6391c4799/microweb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Persistent Growth. Watercolor and pencil on illustration board. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is an invasive plant from Europe that is found in much of North America. Here leaves of ground ivy are seen not only growing but thriving in patches of snow in the middle of a Chicago Winter. Despite their edibility, it is best not to snack on plants found in urban environments as they are often sprayed with herbicide [in vain]. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595388181270-I6GI4QLTKHVDYFGLDR3Q/Malasian+Wolf+SpiderWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Wolf Spider Perspective Study. 2014. Carbon Dust on Vellum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/df8b0173-c5fe-4739-87c4-85240b143511/honeyvine_Text_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Honeyvine milkweed (Cynanchum laeve) is native to the great lakes region of North America. Unlike its relatives, this species of milkweed grows as a vine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595388280104-P8RIX6LZJBP99I1KS1AE/MachairodusWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Machairodus giganteus Reconstruction. 2014. Carbon dust and color pencil on vellum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/68b1044c-ce75-47a8-8166-b8874679ecc7/kirtlands+snakeweb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Grabbing Some Lunch. Watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) is known for its bright red belly scales and its small size. Their rarity provides them a spot on the endangered species list for every state it is found in. They are oftentimes only as long as your forearm (about 14 inches) and eat primarily worms and slugs. In order to navigate through water they are able to flatten their bodies and chase down juvenile frogs like the one in this painting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595388517426-4JI2ADFJSL6FGZL68YQD/angiospermWeB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Various Flowers Study. 2014. Watercolor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/ef102f68-af6b-4fd2-acdf-31cd8bc25793/bobolink_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Bobolink. Color pencil on Duralar. This migratory bird is one of hundreds of endangered species of North America. It is known to migrate as far as South America for the colder months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595390859041-OTCQ83ZCIHQHK5VO5MIQ/Buziak_2016_EucalyptusStudy.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Eucalyptus Study. Carbon Pencil and Dust on vellum Winter 2016 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/90a66576-15c1-484a-bc20-2109fed9f33d/trompWeb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Aquarist’s Toolkit (New ‘Scape Prep). Gouache on 300 lb paper. Prepared workspace for an afternoon well spent planting new foliage and rearranging driftwood in a hobby fish tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1608348940780-4KFKPJNXGFNT6N6TJIFJ/PHAL2.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Phalaenopsis Study. 2014. Watercolor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/ccd54d2f-b473-4adf-92ee-48df8ef37c9c/Buziak_1.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Checkered Lily Dissection Plate. Watercolor and ink on paper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/a112b24b-54f1-447f-b48c-95b11155087c/vert_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Horse Cervical Vertebrae. Graphite on coquille. [sold] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1608352044980-8MP4YNNWQB5LR3NE7JBN/wabikusaInstructableWeb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Wabikusa Construction and Planting. Ink on bristol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595386309449-QBRSVG34JMOEAKLFW2Q0/IonathaWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Tillandsia ionatha Dissection and Study. June 2020. Watercolor. Examination of trichome and flower structure of Ionatha. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595386338429-PBI46LLIZRS99YALXKL4/RedTailed+HawkWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Red Tailed Hawk Pair. January 2020. Watercolor on Clayboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595386374645-EWZGGJL38PZEHEDHC4UJ/creek+1.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Reclamation of White Ditch Creek. June 2020. Watercolor. Environmental study of a flooded creek located in southwest Michigan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595386436334-QOSQY7VQY9R29GT41ONT/SootyWevThumb.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Sooty Owl Pair. December 2019. Watercolor on Clayboard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1596572940759-CZCH7E5D5CIKU4SITVHC/marshlakeWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Traditional Art Midwestern Marsh Enviromental Study. 2020. Watercolor https://www.michellebuziak.com/work/digital monthly 0.5 2023-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/09c8fa63-216c-44b4-bbca-d5271c5b795e/MesicPrarieWeb_1.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration "Noble Native Pollinators: Bees of the Tall Grass Prairie" This interpretive panel illustration was created for the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve owned and run by the University of Illinois Biological Sciences Department. The panel depicts three species of bees and their nesting habits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/87d8829d-7981-4611-b624-9ec00d659dfd/WebComp_3.gif Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Canal Street Railroad Bridge Animation. This bridge, located at Ping Tom park is one of the last vertical lift bridges in the entire Chicago area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/77c4f744-01ac-43cd-b78a-4cd0edb4a87b/dnaScinotes_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Conceptual illustration for "Animal forensic genetics," written by Carolina Cuellar. Science Notes 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/e6f0b3ad-7c0f-4d04-95c8-1d6263b80e2e/Buziak_13.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Opening Doors at the End of Life: the Potential of Psychedelics in Palliative Care Digital Media. Terminally ill patients often struggle with anxiety and depression after learning their time on earth is more limited than they may have thought. A number of drugs are being studied to help alleviate these patients of this psychological pain and allow them to come to terms with death and make the most of their remaining time. The most prominent drug is derived from the fungus Psilocybin cubensis, also known as magic mushrooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595389377833-EDYWMQ41LPA4D7Q1RT8E/Buziak_Rabbit.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Rabbit Thorax layer excerpt illustrated for anatomy mobile application developed by University of Georgia—Athens. Photoshop. Fall 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/0142eef8-2b4d-4b76-a77b-50fa9c245c3c/Trifold_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration "Protecting Grand Beach Marsh" Informational Pamphlet on the nature trails near Grand Beach, Michigan and why preserving the surrounding forest is so important for protecting the local ecology. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595389367918-AXTRQ4LR0LSGIN1SYLM1/ugaAssetv2.png Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Full Updated Asset from Bloodflow Animation for University of Georgia —Athens. Created in 2015 and updated in 2018. Illustrated in Photoshop and animated in After Effects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/1595391206379-WW56OM28ZYBLTJULTCTO/23+secs+lungs.png Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Alveolar Capillary Animation Asset. 2015. Asset for ebook published by University of Georgia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/a59b9043-aa92-42fe-b510-bd612683d6b8/sierraNavada.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Cut-away diagram of the paleovalleys found under the surface of the Sierra Navada and how it feeds water into the surrounding aquifer system. Illustrated for Bay Nature Magazine's Winter 2021 Issue. Photoshop, Illustrator. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/ffca8654-cdd2-4422-84bf-9387df166f87/GambelsQua_web3.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) is native to the warm dry climates of the North American southwest. Like their cousins, one of their most prominent features is their "topknot" is made of six black feathers and this species is noted for its blue-grey plumage and the male's black patch of feathers on the lower breast. Sketched on coquille and colorized in Photoshop. Fall 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/ff2f3a56-d320-448c-8484-1a40bb03c51f/inPlainSight_DrySandPrairieWEB.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration "In Plain Sight" panel represents various fauna that thrive in the dry sand prairie habitat. This prairie depicted on the panel is populated with dewberry shrubs, bluestem grasses and jack pine trees that feed and house eastern box turtles, Kirtland's warbler and the short-tailed shrew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/c6769255-05e5-43e3-b205-87651f218061/Dune_text.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration Ecological Succession at Indiana Dune National park. This cutaway shows the gradual reclamation of vegetation and building of soil over catastrophic disturbances as seen at the Indiana Dunes National park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f14cc935e2c117be49f07fb/87a26349-f8f7-4f94-83fb-cc7362aa2edc/keystone_web.jpg Portfolio Home - Digital Illustration "Whats a Keystone Species?" Interpretive panel exploring the importance of protecting seemingly common animals for the benefit of rare and endangered species located higher on the food chain.