Art
Psychology Class Web Illustration
by Anne Kostecki
![Psychology Class Web Illustration](http://www.annekostecki.com/cdn/shop/articles/brain_1200px_{width}x.jpg?v=1593822537)
There are some subjects that are impossible or not feasible to photograph, and thankfully, illustration can save the day. While working for Loyola University Maryland, I offered my services as an illustrator to assist in promoting difficult-to-display subjects, such as spirituality, networking, and psychology. A member of the Web Communications team reached out to me and said there were a long list of illustration needs, and asked if I could design and illustrate a concept to promote an undergraduate course in adult psychology.
The class is described as "[A] course addressing the physical, cognitive, social, and psychological changes that take place from early to late adulthood, with a focus on the complex interaction between nature and nurture. Students explore generational, cultural, socio-political, and environmental influences on adult development.” The class discusses various types of relationships: intimate, family, friend, coworkers, and others, in relation to adult development.
With this in mind, I decided to draw the recognizable outline and shape of a human brain, and within it the various stages of human life and other visual representations from the class descriptions. I wanted to show the variety of human experience: travel, nature, exercise, work, love, peace, friendship, home, science, literature, music, dreaming, and so on. After my sketch was approved, I decided to paint in watercolor, so that I could blend the various elements into one another. I also wanted to keep the pillowy texture of brain lobes, so I deliberately mimicked that in the clouds, smoke, bushes, and other elements. The final piece was about 9 x 12 inches on cold press watercolor paper.