Exploring nature through art: interview with Ainhoa Lekuona
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Nature and art have always been closely linked, and few people embody this connection as beautifully as Ainhoa Lekuona. With a background in Biology and a Master's degree in Zoology, she has worked on conservation projects that have brought her closer to the natural world, especially birds. But beyond research and fieldwork, she has found another way to share her love of wildlife: with a digital tablet and a passion for illustration.
In this interview, Ainhoa tells us how she merges science and art, shares her creative process, and reveals the inspiration she finds in birds for her work. She also talks about her favorite species to illustrate, her relationship with birdwatching, and her artistic aspirations for the future.
Hello Ainhoa! Tell us, how did your passion for birds and scientific illustration begin?
My passion for birds began in the summer of 2018 when I went to Tarifa to do an internship during my Biology degree. I worked at the Migres Foundation, where I learned a lot about bird migration, participated in the Egyptian vulture conservation project, and learned about scientific bird ringing. It was a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. I felt that the role I wanted to play as a biologist had to be focused on the conservation of animals. My passion for birds came from my internship mentor, Alejandro Onrubia, who instilled this passion in me during that very pleasant stay.
I started with scientific illustration in the fourth year of my degree, during the laboratory practices of the Terrestrial Vertebrates subject, where we had to analyze and learn to identify all types of vertebrates. My notes were drawings and one day in the laboratory, my teacher saw me drawing, and explained to me that what I was doing was called scientific illustration.
I continued taking notes through my drawings because it helped me memorise what I was seeing,
but I started getting serious about being a scientific illustrator after spending six months in Argentina. I worked at CECARA (Center for the Study and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Argentina), where I realized how valuable scientific illustration is as a communication tool.
Do you usually go out to the field to watch birds before illustrating them?
Before, I did go out to the field more often, but to get to know them rather than to draw them. Now, with my job as an environmental educator at the Txingudi Environmental Center, my studies, and the commissions I receive, I unfortunately spend less time in the field than I would like. For this reason, when creating an illustration, I base my work on photographs, illustrations by other artists, videos, bird identification guides, and books on scientific bird banding.
Have you tried out traditional techniques like watercolour along with your digital art?
Yes, I sometimes draw with traditional tools, mostly to get an idea of what I want to see in the final illustration, but during the pandemic I switched to digital, and honestly, after a long time of practice, I feel better drawing digitally. Still, the surface of a screen is completely different from that of paper, as is the feeling of drawing, so from time to time I like to pick up a piece of paper and pencil to feel the strokes as I draw.
How has your way of seeing birds changed since you started illustrating them?
Illustrating birds forces me to study each species and know more about them, like when I took notes with drawings during my degree. Drawing them definitely helps me learn more about them, which makes them more appealing. The bad thing is when I study their conservation status and I realise that many of the birds I draw are in danger.
How long does it take you to illustrate a bird in all its details?
This big question that everyone asks actually has a simple answer: it depends. It depends on the species, the posture, the size, and most importantly, the plumage. If you ask me to draw a Robin, that can take me between 4 and 6 hours. If I have to draw an Eagle-owl, it takes more than 10 hours.
What are the biggest challenges when illustrating birds compared to other animals?
For me, the plumage of some species is a challenge, as depending on their age, they have one plumage or another, or they can be in the transition from juvenile to adult and the feathers of both ages are intertwined, or they might have really intricate feather designs... That's why, for me, it's important to first study the bird in question, as I said before, with guides and books on scientific bird banding, watching videos, photographs, etc., before I start drawing them.
Are you inspired by any illustrator or nature artist in particular?
Of course! You learn a lot by observing other people's work! I don't just focus on one person's work. In fact, I often look at how many other artists draw. But first, to mention some of the artists I greatly admire and whose work I pay close attention to on birds, I would say: Nacho Sevilla, Blanca Martí, Jaime de la Torre, and Elena Moreno, among others.
Have you got a favourite bird?
I'm not sure if it's my absolute favourite since there are still so many more to explore, but the Cetti's Warbler is definitely one of my top picks. It's fragile and simple, but also different from other birds because of the number of tail feathers it has, and I think that makes it a special bird. I am very attracted to simplicity.
If you could travel anywhere in the world to observe and illustrate birds, where would you go?
I'm very interested in Costa Rica for its great biodiversity, but I'd also love to go to Australia to see birds of paradise. That would be a dream.
Is there a bird you've been wanting to draw but just haven't got around to yet?
So many! All the ones you see in a bird guide! But if I had to choose one, lately I've been thinking a lot about drawing some kind of eider. I love those colours!
Have you worked on any projects or written anything related to scientific outreach?
Yes! For example, I participated in a SEO Birdlife project, but it won't be published for another three months. I can't wait to show it because it turned out so cool! I have also made illustrations for information panels on hiking routes, and now I'm working together with some neuroscientists from the University of California to make illustrations for a recent research they have done.
Have you thought about publishing a book with your illustrations?
Many times! I guess it's something all scientific illustrators dream of... I hope one day I'll have the opportunity to do it.
If you could collaborate with any organisation or conservation project, what would it be?
I really like the idea that my illustrations help people become more aware of animals. They help ordinary people understand the nature that surrounds us and show how important it is to preserve it, both for the animals and for ourselves. I recently met some members of DIRUS, the Scientific Society for the Study and Conservation of Large Predators and their Natural Habitats, who are very active in working to protect wolves. I'm really excited to team up with them to spread the word about the species and grow their audience using scientific illustration. That would definitely be a project that would fulfill me greatly.
Finally, do you have any favourite bird drawings?
Out of all the ones that I've drawn, I prefer the Eagle-owl that I made as a commission for the cover of a Master's thesis. I love drawing the covers of projects and theses, as this is your chance to get creative while still keeping things scientifically accurate. I also really like the illustration I did of the Crag Martins.
Thank you so much for your time, Ainhoa!
You can see more of Ainhoa's work on her website: https://ainhoalekuona.com
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