Art and science are very similar disciplines. They begin with a curiosity to explore something deeply, followed by an exciting momentum to accumulate knowledge on your newfound subject. That deeper appreciation and understanding often results in synthesizing what you've learned into something new to share with the broader community, whether that be a painting or a publication. My love for making art has only made me a better scientist, providing skills such as a strong attention to detail and the ability to distill complex ideas into understandable visuals for a variety of audiences. Combined with an ability to work in and understand amazingly complex aquatic ecosystems, I am never short of ideas for the next project. I feel grateful to collaborate with fellow scientists to share the nuanced complexities of their research through scientific illustration, and am always excited to make new connections.