Neuroanatomy Self-Portrait

Neuroanatomy portrait inspired by antique scientific illustrations and baroque portraiture.

2023.

  • Procreate

  • The goal of this project was to create a self portrait with the brain ghosted in. The position of the skull must be included, and the anatomy and the position of the brain must be accurate to the cut and angle.

  • Shelley Wall (Biomedical Communications Professor, University of Toronto)

  • General

References

3D maquette built from DICOM data

Illustration brain references

Cadaver brain references

After collecting visual references for the anatomy, portrait, and visual style, as well as creating a maquette for the brain, I started production by creating a clean and refined sketch.

Linear Sketch

I approached the rendering of this illustration in the same way that I would an oil painting. I started with a “drawing” layer in a burnt sienna, and then continued with raw umber to add in cool-toned shifts to the underpainting. The next step in the process was to add in the background, which would then inform the colors that I would use to paint the skin.

Underpainting Process

Painting Process