Illustrating nature is always a great adventure for me.

From microbes to blue whales, the life of the dinosaurs to the yet-to-be discovered laws of the universe,

the beauty of science within invites me to create visual representations.

Every task as a science illustrator has been exciting explorations full of discoveries.

Borrowing the knowledge of the scientists, and sharing it with the viewers is always an honor and great pleasure.

Creating each illustration requires accurate understanding of the science,

appropriate interpretation of the subject matter for the intended audience,

and the technique to present the information in the most efficient form.

Based on my science background, I usually work from provided references,

sometimes conducting a research on my own.

ink, graphite

watercolor, acrylic, gouache, colored pencil

After Effects

Dreamweaver

Excel

Flash

Illustrator

InDesign

Maya

Painter

Photoshop

PowerPoint

Born in Tokyo in 1978, I grew up in the center of the city. My first encounter with science illustration was in 1997, while I was working at the National Science Museum in Tokyo. I met Yoshimi Watanabe, the illustrator at the museum. I loved visiting her workspace in the corner of one of the specimen collection rooms. She always had exciting stories of what it was like to be working as an illustrator at the museum. Once when a whale specimen arrived at the museum, she had to run out to make quick sketches before the specimen was taken apart.

After completing my undergraduate studies working in the Zoology Lab at the University of Tokyo, I flew across thePacific Ocean to study fine art at the University of Rhode Island. I also entered the world of Science Illustration through the course taught by Amy Bartlett Wright at the Rhode Island School of Design. The following year, I was enrolled in the Science Illustration graduate program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with other nine very talented fellow illustrators.

Completing the Science Illustration program in 2004, my first internship was to create a 3D animation in Maya at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. At the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, my task was to create illustrations and animations of physics concepts at the Communications Department.

Combining traditional and digital media, and to successfully communicate science through art is a never-ending quest for me.

(June 2005)

Juna currently lives in Chicago.

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