Nature Up Close: Science Illustrator Kristin Link

Kristin Link is a science illustrator and an artist living off the grid in McCarthy, Alaska. She shares about her life there, why she loves helping people see the natural world up close through science illustration, and her tips for applying to artist-in-residencies at National Parks.

Women featured in this episode: Kristin Link, science illustrator, with a special intro segment with Chevon Powell, founder of Refuge Outdoor Festival.

Hosted by Gale Straub

In this episode, you'll hear

Chevon Powell share her vision for the Refuge Outdoor Festival coming to Tolt-MacDonald Park September 28 - 30, 2018
About Kristin's life off the grid near McCarthy, Alaska
What brought Kristin to Alaska and how it lead her to a career in science illustration
What science illustration is and the different ways you can pursue it as a career
Why Kristin focuses on the environmental aspects of science illustration
About artist-in-residencies programs through the National Park Service
What the application process is like for artist-in-residency programs
The goal of Kristin's work, whether it's science illustration or fine art
How it's difficult to live sustainably, even when you're living off the grid
How Kristin's relationship with the land and its history has evolved in her time living in Alaska
Why science illustration will never go away as a profession and why she recommends it for others interested in art and the environment

Sponsored by RxBar, Otterbox, uBiome, and Victorious

Resources:

Kristin Link: Portfolio Site and Instagram
Refuge Outdoor Festival

Artist-Residencies info from Kristin:

Call For Entry is a website that

lists calls for visual artists. There are several residencies in

national parks that post there, including Gates of the Arctic
The Wrangell Mountains Center, the nonprofit where I used to work, also has a residency application there and hosts a two-week residency in McCarthy and the Wrangell-St. Elias. Their application is also on CaFE.
Voices of the Wilderness is a

collection of artist residencies on public lands and wilderness areas

in Alaska. It is one application where people can apply to many

opportunities. In 2017 I did a residency in the Nellie Juan – College

Fiord Wilderness Study Area with the Forest Service in Prince William

Sound. There is no fee to apply which I appreciate.
The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency has it’s own application hosted on the Yukon Arts Center’s website. Also no fee.
Some artist residencies are just listed on NPS websites or organizations that work with them, so it can be worth searching around. A surprising number of places have artist residencies, and it seems like there are more becoming available. Here is the Joshua Tree one, which I did in 2016.

Sponsor Websites & Codes

UBiome
Victorious
RxBar: Use code "SHEEXPLORES" for 25% off your first order!
Otterbox

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Music is also by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Jason Shaw, Doctor Turtle, and Steve Combs using a Creative Commons Attribution license.