The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
​If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.
Jules Henri Poincaré  - 1854-1912

Photo by Victor Garcia

I began focusing on drawing and painting in 2009 following an exciting research career in marine geology at the University of Washington.  After studying natural sciences illustration I launched Ocean et Terra Studio in 2011. Weaving aesthetics and scientific rigor, I create visual stories of the world around us always wondering how one fits in and interacts with the environment.

My artwork is inspired by nature and influenced by my scientific training and fieldwork on land, at sea, and under the ocean. Fascinated by the complex interplay of biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape our environment at the microscopic to the planetary scale, the resulting beauty of nature and its poetic mystery never cease to deeply move me.

My creative process is an evolving experiment colored by personal experiences and emotions during research, exploration, and travel. In the tradition of the field journal of natural philosophers and scientific explorers, my projects start with questions, musings, and sketches jotted down in "carnets de bord". These illustrated notebooks bear the marks of field conditions and capture my impressions while immersed in the environment. They are raw records of emerging, creative impulses. Some of these field musings will turn into artworks in the studio metamorphosed into watercolor or mixed media paintings,  into geologic maps for scientific articles or scientific illustrations for trade books. Others will remain as sketches. Fine art or  illustration, my artworks encourage the viewer to slow down and  ponder observations that  one seldom has the opportunity to notice, and even less time to reflect upon in daily life.

I use traditional illustration techniques - graphite, pen and ink, carbon dust, pastel, and watercolor. But, I also play and experiment with acrylic, mixed media, mineral and botanical pigments or materials that ground my work in nature. I have exhibited in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. And continue to learn from talented   artists Mireille Racine (France) , Andie Thrams (California), Kathleen McKeehen (Washington), and   Al Gury (Pennsylvania).

Sharing stories of exploration, discovery, and how the scientific process helps better understand the workings of our planet is another passion.  I give presentations about my research experiences, and my evolution  at the interface between arts and sciences  to audiences of all ages.    I welcome collaborations with innovative spirits that revel in integrated and place-based learning that blends arts and sciences.

I relish traveling to unknown territories as much as rediscovering my own backyard with a fresh eye, exploring other cultures or immersing myself in my French roots. I share my time between the city of Seattle in Washington state and   the  medieval village of Camon in Southwestern France with my    husband, Bruce Nelson.  

RÉSUMÉ:                         Art Curriculum Vitae    -                     Science Curriculum Vitae    

MEDIA:   
• March 1999 "Volcanoes of the Deep"  - PBS NOVA Series 26-Episode 19
• June 13 1999      "Cette Toulousaine  trouve des vers géants sous l'océan"  - La Dépêche.
​• December 14 2000     "An undersea Yellowstone" -   LA Times.
•   July 11 2007  "Evolution Deep Sea Vents and Life's Origin"  -   YouTube  documentary.
•   March 21 2013 "Using the   Other Side of your Brain"   Centers   for Ocean Science   Education Excellence - Ocean Learning Communities  -  Seattle Aquarium.  
•   November 22   2013   "STEM   and the Winning Team"   University of Washington TV
•   April 25 2014        "The Symbiosis Project" 
YouTube    "The story and creation of the Symbiosis  Book" by Immy Smith, project lead artist for this international   artists-scientists collaboration. Artwork at   9:19 and 10:53 minutes.
•   July 3 2016       "Rafting through the Grand Canyon in Vintage Style" - New York Times.
•   April 1 2021 " An oasis for scholars: the Helen Rabioff Whiteley Center" -   University of Washington, College of the Environment News. 

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The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious - the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and science.

 - Albert Einstein

La plus belle chose que nous puissions expérimenter est le mystérieux. Emotion à la source du plus pur en  art et en science.

“…tout m’intéresse, tout m’étonne…”    
Montesquieu – Lettres Persanes, 1721
“… I am interested in everything, I am amazed by everything …”