In a special ongoing series, the Medical Illustration & Animation Sourcebook is proud to highlight recent projects from Joan Thomson.
“Mushrooms of North America” is the third featured project in the series.
View the first project here: “Native Orchids of New Hampshire”
View the second project here: “Birds of Grafton County”
Trichaptum biforme (aka Purple Tooth)
Project: Illustrations for the Field Guide to the Mushrooms of North America, By McKnight and Rohrer (Second Edition)
From the artist: “Sometime in the year 2011 I was commissioned by Karl B. McKnight, Professor of Biology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, to complete over 40 illustrations for the second edition of a Peterson Field Guide written by his father, Kent H. McKnight entitled “Field Guide to the Mushrooms.” The first book was illustrated by Vera McKnight, wife of the elder Karl McKnight and mother of the younger. The younger Karl McKnight was joined by Joseph R. Rohrer, a teacher of Botany at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, in the writing of the second edition and by his daughter Kirsten McKnight Ward in the design of the book. Five artists other than myself also joined in the illustration of this book and are acknowledged in the book. It was important that we all have a style compatible with that of Vera McKnight, which gave integrity to the presentation.
Much of my work on the book was completed in 2012 as I was recovering from a serious automobile accident and had limited mobility. Thus, the temptations of the outdoor activities I most enjoy, such as hiking and swimming were not so available to me and I was able to focus on the project. My fascination with fungi – especially their beauty and variety – also kept me on the project for a number of months. All the illustrations were executed in transparent watercolor on Arches paper and took multiple hours to complete. The book was finally published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and available for purchase on Amazon in early 2015. It is still available. If you see it you will be dazzled by the artwork!”
Chlorociboria aeruginascens (aka Blue Elf Cup)
Ramaria formosa (aka Salmon Coral)
Apiosporina morbosa (aka Black Knot)
Joan Thomson is an artist and educator based in Canaan, New Hampshire. Originally from New York State, she holds a BFA from Syracuse University and an MA in Education from the University of Kentucky. Her career spans illustration and teaching, including 19 years as a medical illustrator at Dartmouth Medical School. Deeply inspired by nature, Joan has volunteered with the New England Wildflower Society, now called the Native Plant Trust, and for years was active in the Cardigan Mountain Art Association. Joan has recently taught English to Speakers of other Languages, often weaving in her passion for the natural world. Now she is planning on a return to an art focus with illustration and may also teach some drawing and watercolor classes.
