Kirsten is combining her love of art, science, animals and nature into a lifelong career of connecting people with nature. As a child, she spent much of her time drawing. In middle and high school, the introduction of math and science captured her imagination. Learning and understanding how the world works and doing something that made a difference on the planet became important pursuits. She decided to pursue a career in science and drawing became a hobby. While getting her undergraduate degree in Missouri, she narrowed her interest to marine biology and moved to California to attend a graduate school specializing in marine sciences. While in graduate school, she travelled to Antarctica for research and her experiences underwater there caused her to come full circle back to drawing. She found her passion was in combining science and art, communicating stories about the natural world through illustration and making a difference by bringing people closer to nature through illustration. Since then she has been combining science, art and design as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. She also spent part of the last 10 years at Monterey Bay Aquarium as a graphic designer in web, print and exhibit design. Currently, she is creating illustrations for children's books, art galleries and continues to explore the natural world for inspiration and stories. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington with her husband, 2 cats, 2 dogs and her jeep, Hazel. Kirsten with authors Ron Hirschi (left) and David Ufer (right). Education 1995 Certificate, Science Communication, Scientific Illustration University of California, Santa Cruz 1991-1994 Marine Biology Graduate Studies California State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 1990 B.S. Honors Biology University of Missouri, Columbia Exhibits and Awards 2006 Honu and Hawaii Art Show. Java and Clay Cafe, Gig Harbor, WA 2005 Hectic Eclectic Art Show. Cafe Noir, Monterey, CA 2004 1st Place Realistic Portfolio, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators 2003 1st Place Realistic Portfolio, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators 2000 Oceans: Illustrating Marine Life. Sagres, Portugal 2000 Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Members Exhibit. Lisbon, Portugal 1999 "In the Spirit of the Holidays", Holiday Card Exhibit. Carmel, California Published Illustrations Winter 2006 "Whales, Whaling and Ocean Ecosystems" Summer 2006 "The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights" 2002-2004 Monterey National Marine Sanctuary Threatened and Thriving Poster Series 2002 The Shape of Life 1997-2002 Holiday greeting cards, First Impressions Card Co. 2001 Monterey Bay Aquarium Souvenir Guide 1999 Story Illustration, “The Splash Zone”, Shorelines, Monterey Bay Aquarium 1999 Illustration, “Birds and Mammals of the Polar Seas”, Current, National Marine Educator’s Association 1995 Cover illustration, Western Society of Naturalists Symposium 1995 Story illustration, Science Notes, Publication of Science Communication Program, “Mountain Mystery” 1995 Newsletter Nameplate, The Squid Pen, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley 1995 Newsletter Nameplate, The Sanderling, Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society 1994 Kelp forest illustration, Diving in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Brochure 1994 Cover illustration, Western Society of Naturalists Symposium July 1993 Cover illustration, Phycologia, Journal of the International Phycological Society