Diatom Project

I'm so excited to be staring some pieces featuring some of my favorite little guys: diatoms. Below are some rough sketches and color layouts I'm playing around with.

If you have ever taken a microbiology or ecology class you have probably have seen lots of these. For everyone else, allow me to make introductions. Diatoms are phytoplankton (they live in waters and use the sun to make energy). Although they are are unicellular, they can form colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons, fans, zigzags, or stars. The beautiful geometric shapes they form have been captivating people since the invention of the microscope!

Check out this classic Victorian arranged composite slide sold by Watson:

You can also visit my Pintest board dedicated to them. I'll update with my work as I progress. Stay curious!

Caffeine and Molecular Representation

It's cold and dark. At the moment I am dependent on caffeine to function. Seriously, my collection of teas is expanding so much they're spilling from our shelves to the counter.

I want to create some felting/embroidery in appreciation, but right now I'm working through how I want it to look. There's the bond-lines formula, line drawing, dashes and wedges, bubbles...(excuse me for a sec, **flashbacks to orgo**). 

I'm thinking of embroidering a line drawing, but instead of  O and N on the non-hydrocarbon portions I'll use french knots in CPK coloring invented by Corey and Pauling (1952, Caltech). Check out the references below for more info on molecular representation history and conventions.

(I'll link here to where I post after I finish)

Corey Pauling Rules

CPK Coloring

History of Molecular Models

Software for Molecular Modeling