Hiatal Hernia's: condtions

A few months ago me and my gifted dissection group sawed off the rib cage for the thorax section of our studies. After passing the pleura and pericardium we found what looked like a second heart. About the third of the size of the cadaver's (not meant to sound disrespectful legally a name can't be given) was a hiatal hernia. A condition caused by possibly a wider than normal esophageal hiatus the stomach can pull up into the thorax. I plan to turn this into a digital painting

On Self-Dissection

This quarter I worked on a project where I had demonstrate the positions of certain structures; facial artery, common carotid, internal carotid, and ventricles via palpable structures. I hope to make this interactive soon... I've gotten used to my cadaver being the focus of dissections using myself is quite eerie.

Facial Muscles Study Pre-Dissection

I found this in last summer's sketchbook. Just recently we've gone over this material in my gross anatomy course. The sketch is very very wrong. I have no intention of posting purely finished pieces on my blog (in fact I avoid it). Hopefully my process and growth would be more evident in my mistakes and quick studies, and occasionally final pieces.... Assuming I start posting regularly again ;)

Heart Study and Signatures

I've decided to start signing these illustrations before I post them. I lack the mindset of possessing my material which of course I need to get out of. My professors have been sneaking advice on their professions throughout the lectures; making a good suggestion to mentally gear ourselves for the leap.

Cadavers Yaayy

So I kicked off this fall quarter in a gross anatomy lab. The smell of the preservatives take some time to get used to and at times it can burn your eyes. But hey its not like I'm there everyday; just 5 out the 7. Yet still its a great opportunity to learn firsthand the nuances of the human form.

Back to RIght Side Up

It seems I've become addicted to working on larger surfaces, at least compared to the 8x11 that I'm used to. On my breaks at work I've been working on this still life, skeletons have so many planes it makes for good practice. Getting the contour took me roughly 30 min, the rib cage is so time consuming. And it is that lopsided or nearly as, the skeleton I used is eccentric that way. 

In a day or two I'll add the final stage to this post, to start developing the rib cage and and tightening up the skull. 18x24 on toned paper, charcoal.

On drawing skulls upside down

Started upping my scale recently. In my latest study I drew a skull upside down to get more accustomed to  observing harmonious relationships instead of from memory or what looks right. The first two are upside down and are roughly 27x36 and the last 12x24 got a bit lazy with that one.

From the recesses of my hard-rive...  I got to work at the met museum just before I left for rochester. Great perk is mondays are open to employees. I got to bust out these sketches in a visit from their american, medieval, and greek wings. All were statues