All illustrations in this project were done for the 1st edition of a book about the Atlantic walrus. This project started for me when I was still a student of the Master Scientific Illustration program of ZUYD and Maastricht University. It was part of my graduation thesis project. And now, after almost two years, the illustrations I made became part of the book with scientific multidisciplinary insights into human-animal interactions. I designed the cover with my illustration on it.
The techniques of these illustrations vary from traditional watercolor and ink to vector drawing and digital painting.
If you would like to know more about the book, here is the link to the Elsevier website:
https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-atlantic-walrus/keighley/978-0-12-817430-2
https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-atlantic-walrus/keighley/978-0-12-817430-2
The original cover art and design:
Every illustration and infographic starts with a sketch. Here you can see some of the sketches from the work in progress.
Watercolor painting of a female walrus with calf:
Watercolor painting of a male walrus:
Vector drawing of the skeleton of a male walrus:
Infographic of molecular tools in archaelogical and biological research on the Atlantic walrus:
Walrus ivory has two types of dentine. The second dentine is in the center of the tusk, has a darker color and a marbely looking structure. A specialist can see from the ivory to which species it belongs: elephant, mammoth, narwhal etc.
Vector art depicting the structure of walrus tusk ivory:
Diving mechanism of the Atlantic walrus:
Infographic about feeding behavior of the Atlantic walrus. Digital painting, pencil (for the clams), vector lineart:
Vector line art depicts the feeding mechanism of the walrus:
1. Walruses explore the feeding area by slowly moving their snouts and detect the presence of prey with erected vibrissae.
2. They expose bivalves by expelling a jet stream of water from their mouths or by waving a flipper.
3. Finally, clams contents are sucked into walrus mouths using a vacuum mechanism. The now-empty shells are dropped.
1. Walruses explore the feeding area by slowly moving their snouts and detect the presence of prey with erected vibrissae.
2. They expose bivalves by expelling a jet stream of water from their mouths or by waving a flipper.
3. Finally, clams contents are sucked into walrus mouths using a vacuum mechanism. The now-empty shells are dropped.
The result of visualisation of the ice thickness areas and distribution of the Atlantic walrus stocks in summer and winter seasons (adapted for two page book spread):
Map showing the spatial extent of walrus ivory trade during the Middle Ages (adapted for two page book spread):
Walrus meat and organs are placed in bags made of walrus skin (ungirlaaq). The meat will become the Inuit delicacy 'Igunak'.
Illustrations made with a dip pen depicting a process of a typical production of an 'ungirlaaq' pouch:
1. a rectangle and a strip of walrus skin with small holes on both sides
2. meat and organs are placed on the inner side of the skin rectangle, the strip is woven through the holes
3. the strip is tightened to keep meat inside and create closed pouches
4. pouches are placed in beach gravel, covered with big and small stones and left to age for several months
