Syndicated Content

The Need to Know

By |July 21st, 2016|Syndicated Content|

Days, weeks, months and years have passed since the newly minted scientist first launched herself on this quest to uncover exactly why this particular cell acts like a normal, happy member of society most of the time, but then suddenly veers toward a d...

Data-licious?

By |July 21st, 2016|Syndicated Content|

Humans get pretty cranky when they forget the original reason behind why they’re working so hard at something. I do. But it’s easy to have happen, since working on anything that involves time, effort and thinking generates a lot of data, and that data ...

Learn more about history of medical illustration

By |June 1st, 2016|Syndicated Content|

Precise lines and rich, accurate details make medical illustration extremely useful in learning about the human body. When we turn on the computer to research a subject, we hardly stop to think how the graphic representation of the subject has evolved over time or the path it has taken to get there. Medical illustration has evolved along with medicine itself, but its progress has been impaired at times by religious and ethical concerns. For example,

Medical Legal Trial Exhibits: Working with a Medical Illustrator

By |June 1st, 2016|Syndicated Content|

Why choose a medical illustrator? Medical illustrators are professional artists with extensive training in medicine, science, communication and media technology and hold advanced degrees from universities affiliated with medical schools. As visualization specialists, they create imagery that advances medical science knowledge and empowers health literacy for patients and the public. They have the medical and […]Medical Legal Trial Exhibits: Working with a Medical Illustrator

Hamilton, and the New York Primary

By |April 19th, 2016|Syndicated Content|

It’s easy to be apathetic, throw ones hands up and say, why bother? I’ve often felt such exasperation. But we must fight to support some semblance of a vision we believe will raise the tide and with it all boats. In the words of Hamilton, when challenging Aaron Burr on his lack of convictions, “If you don’t take a stand what will you fall for?” A double entendre if ever there was one.

When was the last time someone paid for your signature?

By |January 23rd, 2016|Syndicated Content|

There is the remote possibility that I will burn in Fine Artist hell for saying this but I think Norman Rockwell is the greatest artist ever born. I also like Monet and think Robert Frost is a darn good poet! The thing about Rockwell is…the guy could really tell a story. He was a draftsman, a […]When was the last time someone paid for your signature?

Medical Conference Booth Illustration

By |January 22nd, 2016|Syndicated Content|

A client recently approached me to create an 8’ x 20’ mural of physicians from around the world who are the pioneers of endovascular aortic repair surgery. The mural was the centerpiece of their medical device booth at the VEITH Symposium, an international conference about vascular and […]

The post Medical Conference Booth Illustration appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

DNA art prints are here! October 2015

By |October 2nd, 2015|Syndicated Content|

We now offer custom art prints (without the watermark!) on a matte finish Epson cold press heavy art paper in various standard-frame print sizes. Each month we will offer 5 new art pieces by DNA. You can go to our Custom Art Prints page on our web site, click on any (or all) of the five images you like, and choose your preferred print size below the image detail and add to cart. Payment is handled through Paypal. We will email you when the prints are shipped. A quick [...]

Rectovaginal Fistula Repair with Biologic Plug

By |August 27th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

This illustration demonstrates a rectovaginal fistula repair with a biological material plug. The procedure repairs a fistula or hole between the vagina and rectum. This illustration was created for a medical device manufacturer’s marketing and educational materials.

The post Rectovaginal Fistula Repair with Biologic Plug appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

Anatomy of Sports Day 2015

By |August 25th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

Group picture Anatomy of Sports Day 2015 Anatomy of Sports Day at the National Museum of Health and Medicine 2015. Group picture of all the participating athletes, illustrators and physical therapists. It's really not often that you get a request for volunteer medical illustrators. I mean it is rare. So when I got the call for this years Anatomy of Sports Day - I was absolutely on board. This is a great yearly event attended by local area kids and parents. And I get to spend a day in one [...]

The Blood and Guts of medical Illustration

By |August 20th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

DNA Illustrations is starting a newsletter/news blog in 2015 to keep clients we have done business with up to date with our projects, past and present. Alex and I have had a busy year so far and we hope your year is moving along as well. Thank you for letting us share some of our past projects and letting you know what we are working on now. We will share our updates two to three times a year as new and ex [...]

The Blood and Guts of medical Illustration

By |August 20th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

DNA Illustrations is starting a newsletter/news blog in 2015 to keep clients we have done business with up to date with our projects, past and present. Alex and I have had a busy year so far and we hope your year is moving along as well. Thank you for letting us share some of our past projects and letting you know what we are working on now. We will share our updates two to three times a year as new and exciting projects and events happen. Completed: The following highlights some of our complet [...]

Snip Vs. Shred, Part 2

By |August 16th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

By Alexander Gelfand, for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Magazine. © Johns Hopkins University The powerful genome-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas made headlines this year—partly because many leading biologists called for a moratorium last March against using it to modify the genomes of human embryos, only to discover in April that Chinese scientists had […]

Snip Vs. Shred, Part 1

By |August 16th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

By Alexander Gelfand, for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Magazine. © Johns Hopkins University The powerful genome-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas made headlines this year—partly because many leading biologists called for a moratorium last March against using it to modify the genomes of human embryos, only to discover in April that Chinese scientists […]

Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany

By |June 3rd, 2015|Syndicated Content|

In the summer of 1909, in the beautiful Bavarian town of Murnau, nestled in the Alps, the 20th century art movement, The Blue Rider (The Blaue Reiter) had its genesis. That was the summer that artists Gabriele Munter (1877-1962) and Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) found a charming house on the hill overlooking Murnau, with stunning views of the Alps. The colorful village houses, intense light, local folk art, along with images of St. George slaying the dragon, would inspire the ground breaking works of the artists of the Blue Rider movement. Kandinsky, Munter, Franz Marc, August Mackeand Alexi von Jawlensky, painted together in this picturesque town, and influenced each other’s work.

Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
                         Munter House in Murnau. Photo by Marie Dauenheimer

Kandinsky, Munter and their friends gathered at the “Russian House”, as the locals called it, to paint en plein air.  Influenced by local folk art  (paintings on small glass panels, with a bright palette and heavy dark lines) their work became more expressive, with an abstract quality.  After disassociating themselves from the Neue Künstlervereinigung München  art movement,  Kandinsky and Marc decided to start their own group, and write an almanac of their artistic philosophy.  Kandinsky took inspiration in his favorite images of St. George slaying the dragon, while Marc drew from his love of painting animals, combined the Blue Rider was born.  The first almanac featured a cover image of an abstracted horse and rider.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
                    The Blue Rider Almanac cover by Wassily Kandinsky, 1911

The Blue Rider movement lasted from 1911-1914, and its artists shared a similar approach and sensibility to painting.  Their use of expressive, symbolic color, dramatic brushwork, and spiritual themes dominated their paintings.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
                                      Yellow Cow by Franz Marc, 1911

Kandinksy and Munter lived in the “Russian House” from 1909-1914, when the onset of WWI forced Kandinsky and von Jawlensky to return to their native land of Russia.  Tragically, both Franz Marc and Auguste Macke were killed in battle.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
                           Village Street in Murnau by Wassily Kandinsky, 1908

Gabrielle Munter lived in this beautiful house in Murnau until her death in 1962.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
Staircase in Munter House painted  by Wassily Kandinsky, 1901. Photo  by Marie Dauenheimer


The Munter House is now a museum open to the public. I had the pleasure of visiting this historic home while recently traveling through Upper Bavaria. While none of Kandinsky’s paintings are on view, there are some of Munter’s works, along with hand painted furniture made by the couple, and local folk art, which inspired the Blue Rider artists. The presence of Kandinsky and Munter is felt in this house, their palettes are displayed side by side near a window overlooking one of the beautiful views that inspired them.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
 Wassily Kandinsky and Gabrielle Munter's palettes, Munter House, photo by Marie Dauenheimer

An hour away in Munich the largest collection of Kandinsky’s work can be viewed at the Lenbachaus Museum.  In 1962 Gabriele Munter donated a vast collection of over

1,000 paintings, drawings and prints, all created by the Blue Rider artists.



Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany
                 View of Murnau from the Munter House. Photo by Marie Dauenheimer

For more information on the Munter House I recommend the book The Munter House in Murnau by Matthias Muhling and Isabelle Jansen.  There is also a wonderful chapter about the Munter House in the book Artists’ Houses by Gerard-Georges Lemaire.  


Visiting the Gabriele Munter House in Murnau, Germany

                                                 Dandelions by Gabrielle Munter

For more information on visiting the Munter House visit their website:

http://www.muenter-stiftung.de/en/the-munter-house/





Bryan Christie Design: Illustrations Featured in “Understanding The World: The Atlas of Infographics”

By |May 28th, 2015|Featured Work, Syndicated Content|

Six pieces created by Bryan Christie Design can now be seen in the [...]

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

By |May 7th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

Journal cover image about duration of dual antiplatelet therapy following angioplasty. Antiplatelet medicines work to keep platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. There have been many recent studies debating whether shorter or longer courses of dual antiplatelet therapy are better for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. 

The post Dual Antiplatelet Therapy appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

Logo Redesign Part 3

By |April 23rd, 2015|Syndicated Content|

I've had some very good logo discussions already, and now I'd like to share some basic information about my business which could be represented in my logo, or elsewhere. Mission statement (written about 5 years ago) - We provide expert, high-...

Logo Redesign Part 2

By |April 22nd, 2015|Syndicated Content|

Here are some brainstorming doodles I've done. "No idea is a bad idea" at this stage. It could also be a name-only logo with no "mark" or picture associated with it. As you can see, I like brains, kidneys, cells, DNA (although I just spotted a left-han...

Logo Redesign

By |April 21st, 2015|Syndicated Content|

I'm in the process of updating my website. Along the way, I've questioned some branding elements, and of course, the logo has come up. Clint suggested a redesign and I'm not sure, but I think I am leaning towards a new one.I'd like to share t...

Hello, Readers!

By |April 21st, 2015|Syndicated Content|

Hi everyone. Ok, so it's been a while. I've been here, just not posting. And by here, I mean, all over the country again. If you follow me on facebook, you are probably in the know, but here are some updates:We have had a child. He just turned two and ...

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

By |March 31st, 2015|Syndicated Content|

This illustration was created for a May 2015 AFP article reviewing the diagnosis and management of GAD and PD in the primary care setting. While GAD and PD can develop among children and adolescents, diagnosis and care for these younger populations requires special considerations beyond the scope of this review. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and […]

Wound Care

By |March 27th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

This illustration was created for the January 15, 2015 feature article for American Family Physisician about Wound Care. This article reviews common questions associated with wound healing and outpatient management of minor wounds: BROOKE WORSTER, MD; MICHELE Q. ZAWORA, MD; and CHRISTINE HSIEH, MD, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Am Fam Physician. 2015 Jan 15;91(2):86-92.   Patient information: […]

Innovation and medical illustration?

By |February 15th, 2015|Syndicated Content|

We provided medical illustration for a leading company in innovation and best practice in the fields of surgery, radiotherapy and digital integrated O.R.s Can innovation and traditional medical illustration work together for a better communication? Surely yes. We have been asked to participate in an informative design project. Brainlab is a software company with applications ranging from patient positioning in radio surgery treatments. They also provide software-guided surgical navigation that facilitates the secure exchange of medical images. The assigned

Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York

By |November 4th, 2014|Syndicated Content|

 “Instead of drawing and then applying color, I draw directly with the color.”

These are words Matisse wrote to his friend and fellow artist Pierre Bonnard describing his paper cut- out works.


Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a prolific French artist whose career spanned six decades.  His body of work includes beautiful paintings of figures, still lives and landscapes, best known for their strong palette and varied textures.  However Matisse considered his later work--paper cut-outs- his life's masterpieces. These stunning large-scale paper cut-outs were created, as Matisse called it by, “drawing with scissors.”


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
                             The Red Room by Matisse, 1908 (oil on canvas).

Currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in NewYork is the most comprehensive Matisse cut-out exhibition ever mounted.  The show, which was on view at the Tate Modern in London, will be at MoMA until February 8, 2015, and is a must see for anyone interested Matisse's later works.


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
                       The Horse, Rider and Clown by Matisse, 1943 (cut paper)

Matisse first use cut paper in his work creating the Barnes mural for Dr. Albert Barnes’ famed Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania (now located in downtown Philadelphia). 


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
     The Dance Mural by Matisse, 1932-1933 (oil on Canvas), Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA

Henri Matisse used cut paper in the 1930s and early 1940s as a compositional aid while working on paintings.  In Still Life with Shells(1940) Matisse cut out the shape of the various objects in his composition and used string to simulate the tabletop.  This allowed Matisse to move the elements around until he arrived at the desired composition.


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
                         Still Life with Shells by Matisse, 1940 (oil on canvas)

In 1941, after recovering from abdominal surgery, Matisse found easel painting too strenuous so he started experimenting with cutting gouache painted paper into abstracted organic shapes.  With the aid of several assistants Matisse was able to “cut directly into color”. The paper cut outs were attached to the studio walls using thumbtacks.  Matisse directed the lively compositions from his bed or wheelchair.


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
                                  Matisse creating cut-outs in his studio, 1940s

The wall size “The Parakeet and the Mermaid” features animated plants, pomegranates and other organic shapes including a blue parakeet and mermaid.  “I have made a little garden all around me where I can walk. There are leaves, fruits and a bird. I have become a parakeet and found myself in the work.”


Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
        The Parakeet and the Mermaid by Matisse, 1952, wall size paper cut-out mural

In  1948 Matisse began work on a four year cut out project for the Chapel of the Rosary located near his studio in Vence on the French Riveria.  Matisse’s extensive work for the chapel included radiant stained glass windows, and expressive line drawings painted on tiles that dominate the chapel.  Matisse also designed vestments and a tabernacle for the chapel. “It is the result of all my active life.  Despite all its imperfections, I consider it my masterpiece.”

Henri Matisse: The  Cut Outs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
                The Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France, by Matisse, 1948-1952



I highly recommend a visit to see this wonderful exhibition of at MoMA!  I also recommend the catalog, Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs published by the Museum of Modern Art .  Another book of interest on Matisse and his later works is Henri Matisse, Drawing with Scissors, Masterpieces from the Late Yearsby Olivier Berggruen and Max Hollein, published by Prestel.  For a book on Matisse’s masterpiece The Chapel of the Rosary I recommend Matisse The Chapel at Vence published in 2013 by the Royal Academy of Arts

Not That Kind of Dissection

By |September 2nd, 2014|Syndicated Content|

This is a medical-legal piece showing a dissection of the internal carotid artery. In this instance the word dissection does not refer to cutting something up to study.  Here it is a tearing away of the interior wall of the carotid artery due to a spontaneous or traumatic injury. While once considered uncommon, spontaneous dissection is now known […]Not That Kind of Dissection

Did You “Photoshop” That?

By |July 14th, 2014|Syndicated Content|

I’m often asked whether I draw by hand or use Photoshop. The answer is simply that I draw – sometimes on the computer and sometimes on paper. Photoshop is just another tool to put marks on paper, or in this case, pixels on the screen. I use a […]

The post Did You “Photoshop” That? appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

The Fairmanators Team Mission Brief

By |July 3rd, 2014|Syndicated Content|

2014 Vesalius Trust Foundation Live Auction The Fairmanators Mission Brief http://www.crowdrise.com/thefairmanators What: Competitive Treasure Hunt (Live! At the 2014 AMI Meeting) When: Saturday, July 26th@ 6:30pm – 8:15pm Where: Downtown Rochester, MN – The Plaza Dear Fellow Fairmanator: This year, the VT Live Auction will consist of a competitive treasure hunt! Teams will unlock clues […]

Constipation in Children

By |June 18th, 2014|Syndicated Content|

This editorial illustration was created for a July 2014 cover of American Family Physician. The image summarizes Constipation in Children. Childhood constipation is common and almost always functional without an organic etiology. Stool retention can lead to fecal incontinence in some patients. Often, a medical history and physical examination are sufficient to diagnose functional constipation. […]

Severe Osteoarthritis of the Knee

By |June 11th, 2014|Syndicated Content|

Arthritis is an inflammation of joints. Osteoarthritis (OA) is divided into stages. The highest stage, 4, is assigned to severe OA. OA that has become this advanced is likely causing significant pain and disruption to joint movement.

The post Severe Osteoarthritis of the Knee appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

Hiatal Hernia Graft

By |May 3rd, 2014|Syndicated Content|

The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm (the muscular wall separating the chest cavity from the abdomen). Typically, the esophagus goes through the hiatus and attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening. This illustration depicts a hernia […]

The post Hiatal Hernia Graft appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

Apophyseal Avulsion Fractures of the Hip and Pelvis

By |April 24th, 2014|Syndicated Content|

Apophyseal avulsion fractures of the hip and pelvis are injuries that usually occur in the adolescent athlete. This illustration was used for a medical journal cover.

The post Apophyseal Avulsion Fractures of the Hip and Pelvis appeared first on Clark Medical Illustration.

The TMJ eBook is out

By |April 22nd, 2014|Syndicated Content|

We had the pleasure to work with FOR and bring to life an exceptional resource for those desiring in-depth knowledge of temporomandibular joint anatomy. An incredible collection of images further enhances the experience of understanding the more intricate anatomic characteristics of the TMJ. The Temporomandibular Joint  joins the existing digital textbook Single Implants and Their Restoration.

How medical infographics assist on health explanations

By |April 21st, 2014|Syndicated Content|

Wow can medical infographics help with health explanations? From prehistoric times to the digital age infographics have helped in comprehending various subjects. Medical infographics contribute greatly to today’s medicine and science. The first maps were created thousands of years before writing. Maps have been found drawn on the walls of Turkish city Çatal Hüyük in 6200BC. Christopher Scheiner used graphics to illustrate his astronomy research about the Sun and in 1786 William Playfair published his first book with statistical