Dawn Hunter Art ®, Studio Currents : February 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Drawing Santiago Ramón y Cajal's "Structure of the Mammalian Retina" at the NIH

Had a wonderful couple of days drawing Cajal's Structure of the Mammalian Retina. I drew this drawing three times as it was a challenging work to study and draw. The work contains two different approaches to drawing within one work. Usually Cajal approaches a or each drawing with a singular attitude, either strict observation or with a sense of design (to demonstrate a theory.) The focal point or focal points of this particular drawing are the arrows. In this work Cajal is inferring the direction in which the neurons transmitted information. Some of the pathways he theorized correctly, while other pathways are incorrect. To demonstrate his theory he has combined perceptual observation within a theoretically structured design.

Dawn Hunter, study of Cajal's Structure of the Mammalian Retina #1, marker and pen on paper, 2016.

Dawn Hunter, study of Cajal's Structure of the Mammalian Retina #3, marker and pen on paper, 2016.

Dawn Hunter, study of Cajal's Structure of the Mammalian Retina #2, marker and pen on paper, 2016.

Perseverance is a virtue of the less brilliant.

- Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Dawn Hunter Art ® | Studio Currents

Dawn Hunter is a visual artist, Fulbright scholar and USC Associate Professor who shares her passions and pragmatics on this blog. Her passion project is an original and creative exploration of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, considered by many as the father of modern neuroscience. Dawn immerses Cajal in "neuron narratives," connecting him to seminal influences on his perception of a neuron as a discrete unit. Dawn shares pragmatic content, including her university teaching portfolio and "how to" professional art practice tips.

New Artist's Monograph about Cajal

Welcome, everyone. I am thrilled to unveil part of my in-depth study on the life and work of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, revered as the pioneer of contemporary neuroscience. This illustrative study explores Cajal's narrative, backed by extensive archival explorations at Madrid's Instituto Cajal and on-location visits to key places across Spain where he lived and worked. With a rich blend of illustrations, paintings, personal narratives, and college-student art projects reflecting Cajal's influence, this study caters to those fascinated by the interplay of art and science. It acts as an invaluable tool to further comprehend and appreciate Cajal's enduring impact.

Dawn Hunter Art® | Studio Currents™ | Description of blog

This blog features an inventive study focused on Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience. It examines his revolutionary 'neuron narratives' and scrutinizes primary documents related to his life and work, research conducted during my tenure as a Fulbright España Senior Research Scholar at the Instituto Cajal, Madrid. Furthermore, the blog addresses critical topics for artists navigating the scientific realm, including intellectual property issues such as copyright and trademark registration. To cite content from this blog, please use the following format: "Dawn Hunter Art, [Title], Studio Currents, [date]." For additional information or to initiate a discussion, please contact dmhunter@email.sc.edu. This platform aspires to spark interdisciplinary dialogue, appealing to neuroscientists, academics, artists and general readers.