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Faculty Mentor

Amy Keagy, EdD

Faculty Mentor Department

Department of Biology

Abstract

Artist Statement

The Moon Jelly is a piece I created as a part of the Scientific Illustration course I participated in during the summer semester of 2023. This piece was inspired by the livestreams of the Monterey Bay Aquarium that film these moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) in their tank. The Moon Jelly is an ink drawing created as part of a collection focused on Monterey Bay Aquarium animals. Through this artwork I hoped to draw attention to smaller marine animals that may otherwise be overlooked even though they provide a vital role in the ecosystem. Moon jellyfish are important marine indicators, as they can thrive in harsh conditions, and population increases are typically an indicator of declining ocean health.

The Moon Jelly was designed as a challenge towards myself, as I had never drawn a transparent creature. I chose stippling to depict the perradial canals and left negative space to depict the interradial canals that give the moon jellyfish its lined look. The most distinct feature of the moon jellyfish are the four semi-circle gastric pouches. I again chose to display these central features as negative space, hoping to capture the almost glowing coloration of these creatures.

am a senior at the University of North Florida, majoring in coastal marine biology. As a biology major, I had not been interested in many artistic and creative hobbies until I took Scientific Illustration. This course helped me branch outside of my comfort zone and helped me understand that there are more ways to learn about marine creatures other than pictures and papers. Taking Scientific Illustration encouraged me to start to pursue a drawing and painting minor, which I hope to use to bring more attention to smaller organisms with the goal of educating viewers and sharing the beauty of the natural world.

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