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Summer of Science Illustration

Learn, sketch, and create—no matter your experience level.

Science Illustration

Each summer, instructors from the Science Illustration Graduate Certificate Program offer condensed, immersive courses designed to inspire creativity and sharpen observational drawing skills. Courses are open to all experience levels—from curious beginners and working professionals refining their craft, to high school and college students eager to sketch the natural world and learn to draw what they observe.

Registration

Registration for Science Illustration Summer 2025 courses is now closed. Registration for Summer 2026 courses will open in late spring 2026.

How to Register

  • Complete the registration form.
    • Login if you have a current CSUMB account.
    • Create an account if you're a new student and/or do not have a CSUMB account. 
    • Please note: Instructor permission, signatures, or permission numbers are not required to register for Science Illustration Summer courses.

After You Register

  • You will receive a confirmation email from Extended@csumb.edu once your registration is processed.
  • Be sure to check your CSUMB email regularly. Instructors will use this email address to share important updates, including supply lists, course materials, and classroom locations.

What is the cost of the Science Illustration summer courses?

  • Cost: $300 per unit + $39 per term campus fee
  • Total: $939 per class

Payment Instructions:

  • Non–CSUMB Degree-Track Students: Once registered and granted account access, you have four business days to submit payment online through OASIS. Detailed payment instructions will be sent via email after registration.
  • CSUMB Degree-Track Students: Register and submit payment directly through OASIS.

Summer Course Offerings

Course offerings vary by year.

Course Number: 32776
Units: 3
Number & Section: SICP 301 (30)
Dates: June 15 – June 26, 2026
Schedule: M-F, 9:00am-1:30pm
Instructor: Andrea Dingeldein (adingeldein@csumb.edu)

This field-intensive course will invigorate your sketchbook pages and inspire curiosity about natural subjects. We will cover basic drawing and watercolor techniques for accurate representation of plants and animals, gain a deeper connection to the local landscape through the practice of sketching outdoors, and use a variety of identification tools to learn more about our subjects. Inclass instruction focuses mostly on pencil, watercolor, and colored pencil, but the use of a variety of materials is encouraged.

Course Number: 32777
Units: 3
Number & Section: SICP 395 (30)
Dates: June 1 – June 26, 2026
Schedule: Asynchronous 
Instructor: Elena Hartley (esohnhartley@gmail.com)

Dive into the world of digital art with this beginner-friendly course. Whether you have experience with traditional art or are curious doodler, this class will introduce you to the essential tools and techniques used to create digital art. Students will learn how to use Photoshop's tools to sketch, ink and paint just like on paper. No previous digital experience is required and all concepts can be applied to other programs like Procreate, Clip Studio or Krita.

Course Number: 32779
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (32)
Dates: June 15 – June 26, 2026
Schedule: M-F, 2:00pm-6:00pm
Instructor: Erin Hunter (erin@eehunter.com)

Hone your skills of observation, as well as drawing and painting techniques, by sketching flowers and plants. Brief lessons in botanical anatomy will help you identify and understand the parts of flowers and plants. Students will create pages of detailed notes and sketches; learn to match color from flowers and leaves; and practice using various media like graphite, pen, colored pencil, and watercolor. We'll cover some field sketching techniques, and discuss how to create a more formal botanical plate. All skill levels welcome; previous drawing experience is helpful but not necessary.

Course Number: 32778
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (31)
Dates: June 29 - July 24, 2026
Schedule: Asynchronous
Instructor: Reid Psaltis (rpsaltis@csumb.edu) 

Paleoart is the practice of bringing extinct animals to life through art. In this class we will discuss some of the techniques and challenges of turning fossils into living animals. Students will get a crash course in vertebrate anatomy, and will learn how to visualize muscles and skin on a skeleton, get tips for rendering fur, feathers and scales in a digital workflow, and will build a small model of a prehistoric animal of their choice. Students working digitally may use their preferred apps and software, but instruction will be focused on Procreate. 

Course Number: 32780
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (33)
Dates: June 29 - July 24, 2026
Schedule: Asynchronous
Instructor: Nicholas Ta

This course focuses on the use of software and technology to create 3D digital sculptures and 3D printed models of wildlife. Each student starts the process with modern sculpting software such as Blender and Zbrush. Or creating a digital model from the use of scanning tools. These models are then fabricated using different printers to best represent their model’s features. The use of these programs will introduce students to numerous workflows within education and media industries. The beauty is that each 3D model can be repurposed for whatever their goal is. No class prerequisite to enroll as the content and products from the course can be enjoyed on any level including recreationally.

Course Number: 32782
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (35)
Dates: June 29 – July 10, 2026
Schedule: M-F, 9:00am-1:30pm
Instructor: Kristen Burroughs (KBurroughs@csumb.edu)

Over the course of the class, students will learn how to navigate the media of watercolor while learning about extant vertebrates (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles & amphibians) and invertebrates (mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms, cnidarians, etc). Additionally, students will learn how to create effective study pages through researching, using online resources, sketching techniques, using a variety of materials and tools, transferring drawings, color matching, creating textures, building layers, using mixed media with watercolor, and more! At the end of this class, students will have completed study pages packed with illustrations of multiple animals across different phylogenetic classes of wildlife, and will have completed at least one final watercolor piece of their chosen wildlife subject. This class is especially geared towards those that are in the beginning through intermediate levels, but is open to all skill levels.

Course Number: 32783
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (36)
Dates: June 1 – June 12, 2026
Schedule: Asynchronous
Instructor: Kristen Burroughs (KBurroughs@csumb.edu)

Learn to observe and draw birds with accuracy and confidence through a blend of science and art. This class is perfect for bird watchers who want to learn to draw, as well as artists eager to better understand birds, combining avian anatomy with practical drawing skills. Students will build fundamental drawing abilities while learning to establish posture, structure, and proportion, draw birds in flight, illustrate species from any angle, and render texture such as feather detail. The course emphasizes traditional media, while also encouraging exploration of digital tools and a variety of materials.

Course Number: 32781
Units: 3 
Number & Section: SICP 395 (34)
Dates: June 1 – June 26, 2026
Schedule: Asynchronous
Instructor: Erin Ellis (e@erinellis.com)

In this course, learn how to use hand-drawn typography in your artwork. Practice a variety of hand lettering styles for titles, labeling, captions, notes, numbering, signing your work, and more. Learn tips and tricks to create expressive, easy-to-read lettering that complements your art style and helps your compositions flow. Use these new skills to have more fun with your field sketch pages, take that infographic to the next level, add personality to your creative brand, and more!