GNSI: DC

GNSI Donation Matching Opportunity extended to Jan 3rd!

Dear GNSI-DC members, we are very close to reaching our funding goal. The Griswold Fund has agreed to support a 1:1 match for the final push through this weekend until Jan 3rd 11.59pm. If you still would like to give toward the goal, now is your last opportunity!

GNSI Fundraising for the Future:
The GNSI Mission to promote science education through the creation of accurate art has never been more important. Beautiful art conveying accurate information brings us all into a shared understanding of our world.

We are 3/4th of the way to our goal. Help use make it in the last few days.
Please contribute today! Anything over $5 will be matched.

2025 Griswold Matching Gift (GNSI Future Fund) GNSI 2025: Fundraising for the Future The GNSI Mission to promote science education through the creation of accurate art has never been more important. Beautiful art conveying accurate information brings us all into a shared understanding of our worl

The Virginia DWR Restore the Wildlife Art Competition is now open for submissions! This year’s animal is Rafinesque’s big-eared bat. Art must be received in person by Feb 2, 2026.

Before you ask...no, he didn’t break into anything. He’s just here to spread the word about this year’s Restore the Wild Artwork Competition. 🦇🎨

The Department of Wildlife Resources invites artists and aspiring artists to enter the sixth annual Restore the Wild Artwork Competition. This year’s featured subject is the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, a medium-sized bat found in Virginia’s Coastal Plain and listed as state endangered. Artists of all ages are encouraged to submit original pieces in the Artistic Expression or Natural History Illustration categories, along with two youth categories for ages 11–17 and 10 and under. All artwork must be received by Monday, February 2, 2026.

Selected pieces will be displayed in The Gallery at Main Street Station, Richmond, VA from March 6 through March 29. An opening reception on March 6 will announce the category winners and reveal the artwork chosen for the official Restore the Wild fine art print and sticker.

Ready to get inspired? Full details, rules, and submission instructions are linked in the comments.

📷: James Kiser

It was great seeing friends and colleagues at the holiday party! If you have ideas for events fellow members may enjoy, or have art in an upcoming exhibit, contact us and we can help get the word out!

A week from today, GNSI member Erica Beade will be presenting "Drawing on Nature: an Artist and Educator Explores Art, Science and the Natural World." This is a free online lecture hosted by the Museum of American Bird Art and Mass Audubon on December 17 at 7pm EST. For more information and to sign up for the lecture, visit the link below.

https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/museum-of-american-bird-art/news/the-art-of-birds-fall-online-lecture-series

This Giving Tuesday, consider a donation to support the future of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators! Check out the generous donation matching opportunities from the Griswold Fund below.

2025 Griswold Matching Gift (GNSI Future Fund) GNSI 2025: Fundraising for the Future The GNSI Mission to promote science education through the creation of accurate art has never been more important. Beautiful art conveying accurate information brings us all into a shared understanding of our worl

Join us Wednesday, December 10th for our annual Holiday Party! 5:30-8:00 PM at the National Museum of Natural History (1000 Constitution Ave NW).

It's important that you RSVP to [email protected] by Dec 8th for badging via security. Congregate in the Constitution Ave Lobby, and we'll send down an es**rt every 15 min till 6:30pm to bring folks up to the Kerby Cathy room. If you will not be able to arrive by 6:30pm, let Liz know so we can get you a phone number to contact someone to come to the Lobby.

Bring your portfolio, some recent works, and a dish to share! Open to all members, family and friends.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

2026 Pollinator Partnership Poster call

Calling all artists!

We are excited to announce that Pollinator Partnership is currently looking for an artist to create the 2026 Pollinator Poster. This year's theme will focus on host plants and caterpillars and is called "Life on a Leaf: Celebrating Caterpillars and Host Plants". You can see examples of past posters here.

The compensation for this project will be $2,000 USD. To apply, please send your proposal package to Shannon Farmer at [email protected] by Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. For more details and to apply, please visit our Careers page.

https://www.pollinator.org/careers

Timeline: A poster concept idea with a draft sketch is due to Shannon Farmer at [email protected] by Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Once an artist has been chosen, the final illustration will be due by Friday, March 6, 2026.

Poster Size: There is flexibility with the size of the poster, but past posters have ranged from 30 in x 12 in to 30 in x 32 in (including a gallery at the bottom of the poster for partner logos). We suggest using a standard poster size so that the poster may easily be framed.

Careers | Pollinator.org Pollinator Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and the largest in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of ...

GNSI DC Chapter is always looking for ways to connect our members to local events, resources, and each other.

Have an upcoming exhibit or event? Contact us with the details (date, time, location, tickets and pricing, a promotional image if you have one) and we’ll work with you to get the word out.

Contact us at:
[email protected]
on Instagram
GNSI: DC on Facebook

GNSI Member Exhibition: Taina Litwak has work in the “Women Artists of the DMV” exhibit held at McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean VA).

The opening reception is this Thursday, Sept 18th from 7-9PM at McLean Project for the Arts and the show runs through November 1st. There are a variety of locations hosting this expansive exhibit, so you can learn more at www.mpaart.org

GNSI Member Exhibit: see Michelle Gate’s and Alice Tangerini’s botanical illustrations at the “Autumn Splendor” exhibit at Montclair Library (5049 Waterway Drive, Dumphries, VA).

The exhibit is on display through October 30th, and you can meet the artists Oct 4th from 2-4PM. This exhibit is held by the Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our field trip to see the fantastic “Frida: Beyond the Myth” exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 🌺

A special thank you to Janine Higgins and Bill Easton for generously hosting!

To stay in the loop for future natural science illustration events, follow “GNSI: DC” on Facebook, on Instagram, or email [email protected] to join our mailing list!

Hey 2025 Visual SciComm Conference attendees! We'd love to hear your feedback about your experience at the conference to help us continue to refine and improve future conferences. We sent out a survey shortly after the conference and it will soon close! If you haven't yet answered it, please search your inbox for "Post-Conference Survey" (sent July 21) and give us your perspectives by September 19. Unless you leave your email for further contact, responses are anonymous.

Need the email sent to you again? DM us!