Hello world! Thanks for visiting my new blogspot. I invite you to come along on a journey with me, my artistic journey. As time permits, I will be posting my ideas and thoughts about what I am thinking, doing and experiences I am going through.
I am going on an artistic journey of discovery to become a more knowledgeable and skilled artist. You see, I am a classically trained medical illustrator with 25 years of professional experience. I was trained in the atelier system with the exception, the subject matter was medical in content. Of more than 100 applicants, I was one of 6 students accepted into the medical illustration program at The Ohio State University through the School of Allied Medical Professions.
Michael A. Cooley, Orthopedic Surgeon, 2002, Digital Color.
This illustration depicts an Orthopedic Surgeon working on the right glenohumeral joint (shoulder) of his patient.
The program at Ohio State started in 1948 and closed in 1995. I graduated earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Communication concentrating in Medical Illustration in 1987. In 1988 I began working as a professional medical illustrator. In 2009 I decided to return to school to further my education. I enrolled in the Low Residency MFA in Illustration program at the Hartford Art School through the University of Hartford in Connecticut. 2011, I finished my course work and graduated with a cumulative gpa of 3.94.
The Hartford Art School is no ordinary program (http://hartfordillustrationmfa.org/)! It is successfully run under the direction of Murray Tinkelman (b. 1933). This prestigious program is the ONLY Low Residency MFA in the country that is dedicated exclusively to Illustration. It is designed for highly motivated professional illustrators looking for an environment where they can experience artistic stimulation and an infusion of new ideas, graphic designer/illustrators looking to enhance their illustration skills, and illustrators seeking to obtain an advanced degree for a career in education.
At Hartford I began to discover my interest in art other than that which pertains to medicine. Through the wonderful history of illustration lectures given by Murray Tinkelman I began to think more broadly about art/illustration and the possibilities waiting for me to discover. Dennis Nolan (b. 1945), one of my professors opened my eyes to classical fine art, the apprentice and atelier system with his presentation tracing his artistic lineage to Jacques-Louis David (1748 – 1825).
I have embarked on an intensive independent study of classical art in drawing and painting. I believe the best way to attain a classical fine art education is to enroll in one of the Artist Renewal Center approved atelier programs. Since there are no atelier programs here in Columbus Ohio, I will commit to follow the very intensive curriculum of the Charles Bargue’s (1826 – 1883) Drawing Course and the best art atelier programs in America, Canada, and Europe. Additionally, I will seek out and take workshops and study with living painting masters such as Marvin Mattelson, Dennis Drummond, Jacob Collins and Stephen Gjertson. My training in medical illustration will serve me well in my quest. So join me as I chronicle my artistic progress. I will try not to write so much on future posts.
Michael A. Cooley, Detached Retina, 2004, Digital Tone.
This illustration depicts a detached retina and treatment via vitrectomy. These illustrations were create for patient education for Dr. Rex Hawkins of Retina Vitreous Associates in Houston Texas.
Michael A. Cooley, Inguinal Hernia,2010, Crowquill Pen and Ink, Surgical Atlas.
This Illustration depicts a hernia in the inguinal canal. The cecum has protruded into the inguinal canal through the defected deep or internal inguinal ring. This is one of more than 1200 illustrations created for the Atlas of General Surgical Techniques – Courtney Townsend, MD., and Mark Evers, MD. Client: Elsevier
To learn more about medical illustration and the father of modern day medical illustration, Max Brodel (1870 – 1941), please click on this links listed below:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/medart/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC200894/pdf/mlab00259-0010.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_illustration
thanks for taking this journey with me,
Michael