About the Artist
Known as Jamie to friends, family & colleagues, A. James Gustafson is a science & natural history illustrator specializing in biological illustration, with an emphasis on zoological anatomy & prehistoric restoration. Jamie's personal work & collaborative efforts have received international awards, and he was the 2021 winner of the International Award on Scientific Illustration, awarded by Academia Illustraciencia & the National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid. His illustrations have appeared in a wide range of publications, digital platforms & institutions around the world. And through his artwork, he has been able to share his love of science & the natural world.
Though born & raised in the city of Chicago, IL, Jamie spent much of his childhood retreating “back to nature”, traveling though North America's national parks & with extensive visits to the respective birthplaces of his parents – both of whom dedicated their lives to science & education. Whether exploring the rural wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his late father, or finding sanctuary in his mother’s family farm in the mountains of Puerto Rico, Jamie’s love for Earth’s rich biodiversity was instilled at a young age. Today, as the father of two young boys, he eagerly shares with them all that nature has to teach us – from those same north woods of his childhood, to the lush tropical forests & seascapes of the Caribbean.
Working primarily in colored pencil, Jamie’s artwork is focused on recreating realistic, life-like portrayals of natural specimens, while maintaining artistic, illustrative qualities that captivate the viewer’s eye. He believes that even in a day & age where virtually everyone has access to high quality cameras & detailed photographic images are available at the click of a button, the attention & thoughtfulness of finely crafted, hand-illustrated artwork brings a unique attention to the awe-inspiring beauty that exists all around us. That philosophy is the inspiration behind the scientific illustrations of A. James Gustafson; works of art designed by nature…and drawn by hand.
Though born & raised in the city of Chicago, IL, Jamie spent much of his childhood retreating “back to nature”, traveling though North America's national parks & with extensive visits to the respective birthplaces of his parents – both of whom dedicated their lives to science & education. Whether exploring the rural wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his late father, or finding sanctuary in his mother’s family farm in the mountains of Puerto Rico, Jamie’s love for Earth’s rich biodiversity was instilled at a young age. Today, as the father of two young boys, he eagerly shares with them all that nature has to teach us – from those same north woods of his childhood, to the lush tropical forests & seascapes of the Caribbean.
Working primarily in colored pencil, Jamie’s artwork is focused on recreating realistic, life-like portrayals of natural specimens, while maintaining artistic, illustrative qualities that captivate the viewer’s eye. He believes that even in a day & age where virtually everyone has access to high quality cameras & detailed photographic images are available at the click of a button, the attention & thoughtfulness of finely crafted, hand-illustrated artwork brings a unique attention to the awe-inspiring beauty that exists all around us. That philosophy is the inspiration behind the scientific illustrations of A. James Gustafson; works of art designed by nature…and drawn by hand.
