“Peggy Macnamara: Nature Studies” presents the intricacies of science with the advanced palate of an artist.

“I come at it from an art background rather than a science background,” artist Peggy Macnamara said. “I did a watercolor book on drawing nature and another book on insects. My focus is on science.”

The exhibit is a collection of free drawings and large-scale watercolors. Her nature research is seen in many of the large-scale works, such as “Hummingbird Migration,” in which she labels all species.
“That teeny little bird goes from here to Costa Rica,” Macanamara said.

All of the works are highly naturalistic. The realistic scenes, however, are portrayed through a vast spectrum of unexpected color. “Baltimore” shows us a rainbow-colored bird’s nest, and bird species in every color.

“It’s brilliant, all those colors,” said Chandana Yaparla, a first-year graduate student who works at the exhibit.

Linda Stoklasa, sophomore fashion merchandising major, agreed the colors were outstanding. “I like it a lot,” she said. “I’m not that good with watercolors. She did it pretty well.”

Macnamara said everything in her exhibit is drawn from specimens at The Field Museum of Natural History, where she’s worked for 25 years as its artist-in-residence.

“I’m doing a book on migration, so those pages have been revised,” Macnamara said. “The big [works] are talking about migration.”

Casual drawings are also featured as “9 Sheets of Nature Studies.” Though she has been at the Field Museum, she uses the drawings when teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago.

“I’m a self-taught artist,” Macnamara said, “and like to encourage that with a little bit of practice, anyone can be a good draftsman.”

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