Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Universe Looks Good From Here
Anyone can daydream about traveling through space or visiting other worlds. But to be able to pull those dreams out of one’s head and put them down on paper in the form of highly detailed and inspiring illustrations takes talent—and lots of it.
That’s why space agencies around the world seek out artists like Pat Rawlings when they need to illustrate concepts for new missions to far-off planets.
The 49-year-old is a member of an elite group of designers, engineers and scientists who create space art—the surreal, yet technically accurate, images of astronauts and spacecraft exploring newfound landscapes. Over the past 25 years, Rawlings has produced approximately 500 of these images, combining a love of technology and a talent for illustration into a career that inspires the masses.
It is not only a space lover’s dream job, but also one that carries a great deal of responsibility.