Artist Bonnie Hofkin jokingly informs DG that “color choice in medical art certainly has its dictums when it comes to painting organs. The classic ones being:

1) blue means without oxygen
2) red usually indicates inflammation
3) yellow is saved for neurology
4) green …well don’t use it. The exception being bile.”

As the daughter of a doctor, Hofkin was immersed with images of kidneys and circulatory systems from her father’s medical journals. “When I was 10, I was indelibly moved by a series of sculptures by Michelangelo. They were essentially massive unfinished chunks of marble with parts of polished anatomy trying to emerge from the raw, unhewn marble,” says Hofkin. “These were much more exciting than his finished David down the hall. Dynamic anatomy is still my muse, so when I can’t get to the Academia in Rome, I hang out at Gold’s Gym.” Her art is as classically rich as her humor.

“With the advent of digital art, the [medical illustration] market is flooded with rich, high-impact, vibrant colors. However, the colors that I use are organic, earthy, and have an old-world, classic undertone. I think they offer a little relief from all the digital art now being used in the medical art field,” says the artist. “I gravitate toward two palettes: the first is earth tones and sepia to simulate parchment, the second is grayish teals and periwinkles to recreate a ‘blueprint’ look.”

A traditionalist (and becoming less embarrassed to admit it), Hofkin only uses a computer to convert sketches to JPEG and finished art for clients. From sketch, acrylic, airbrush, and even coffee with a dash of salt, Hofkin creates her medicinal masterpieces.

Fonts Available at www.myfonts.com, News Gothic MT Condensed Bold (hope), Hoefler Text (healing), Myriad Pro (dignity), and Adobe Garamond Pro (faith) are classic, readable fonts that work well for informing older audiences.

Symbols/Colors Employ easily distinguished medical symbols such as a mortar and pestle, heart, cross, and caduceus. Avoid dull yellow (decay and sickness) as well as yellow-green (disease, cowardice, discord, and jealousy). Image 23304797, Dynamic Graphics

Stay positive All areas of medicine need to focus on the positive side. Smiling faces, children, and landscapes make people feel at ease. Steer clear of needles, blood, etc. Image 22875313, Creatas Images

Healing colors For a quick look at ancient and modern thinking on color therapy, visit www.behr.com/behrx/inspiration/emotional_8.jsp

PALETTE: Medical

PALETTE: Combinations