Donna Miskend

My work is nature and literary themed. I've added scientific and botanical illustration to my portfolio to deepen my understanding of individual species. And I integrate nature themed and environmental issues into my teaching programs wherever possible. My non scientific work is influenced by the organic fluidity of Art Nouveau and many historical artists. I primarily work in watercolor, but I enjoy other mediums and teach a variety of traditional 2D art mediums and 3D projects using up-cycled materials to children through senior adults. I think art is for the curious and should be fun, inspiring and engaging!

I participate in citizen science programs and as an educator, encourage public engagement. While my focus today is more environmental based with programs supporting environmental advocacy as in a recent exhibit highlighting fall/winter species, nature and literature are the recurring themes in the group exhibits I curate. Eye on Nature, Artists Explore the World of Plants and Animals introduced audiences to scientific illustration. Dickens, A Celebration in Pictures brought together a wide range of artists, performers, and scholarly collaborators who shared their expertise on Dickens in programs for kids and adults. The catalogue and exhibit information is included in the bicentennial archives of The Dickens Museum in London by invitation. In a contemporary take on Fairy Tales, participating artists reflected on multicultural stories. Edgar Allan Poe Illustrated traveled from NY to join a larger exhibit in Philadelphia, exploring both fan favorites and lesser known titles at the Poe Festival.  

A multi grant award recipient for teaching children through senior adults, professional memberships include American Society of Botanical Artists, The New York Mycological Society, SCBWI, and a current board member and former president of the Children's Book Illustrators Group.

In addition to art workshops, I lecture on art and develop public programming as part of exhibits. I am also a contributing writer to the Botanical Artist journal. As a guest judge, I participate annually for the Scholastic Writing Awards.   Other programs I've been involved with are: the Morgan Book Project and the Irish Arts Center's Book Day. 

An exhibiting artist throughout the US, I continue to work on commercial design, illustration and writing projects. Visit my website  for a selection of artwork and news. A teaching artist resume is available upon request. 

BA, Art History (minor: psychology), New York University.  Additional education courses for commercial and fine art: New York Botanical Gardens; School of Visual Arts/Pratt/Parsons School of Design/Fashion Institute of Technology and New School For Social Research (teaching ESL).