"Violetear Hummingbird" by Barbara Bell

Meet the Artist: Barbara Bell

Barbara Bell is a queer, disabled scientist and artist who grew up doodling in the margins of every piece of paper put before her. She is primarily a self-taught artist, though she had the privilege of taking a bioillustration class while in graduate school for biological science studies. During that class, she fell in love with stippling: the art of creating patterns with tiny dots. She was delighted to discover bioillustration, because it combined her two loves: science and art. Barbara works primarily in pencil, pen and acrylic paint.

Barbara’s artwork reflects her deep connection with nature, particularly cold-blooded animals. She enjoys creating art that reflects the essence of her subject while balancing realism with a soft touch of artistic license. She hopes that her art will spark an appreciation for her often-unappreciated subjects in its viewers.