Carol Abraczinskas A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Carol Abraczinskas began her career as a professional artist in 1989 at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, documenting Egyptian and Nubian artifacts. Later that year, she joined Paul Sereno's team at the University of Chicago, accompanying him on field expeditions to Texas and Niger as a scientific illustrator.

Photo © C. Abraczinskas

Her award-winning drawings have been featured in exhibits at the Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, as well as in national magazines and scientific journals such as Science, Nature, National Geographic and Newsweek.

She has contributed her expertise to workshops for Project Exploration as well as to graduate classes at the University of Chicago, where she has taught advanced courses since 1994. Most recently, Carol has worked as an artist for the Epigraphic Survey of the Oriental Institute from 1998-2000 in Luxor, Egypt, where she recorded wall reliefs from the 18th dynasty chapel at Medinet Habu for publication.

A plate of Carol's pencil drawings recently won the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology John J. Lanzendorf Paleoart Award for Scientific Illustration for 2005.

Vertebra in 5 views—scale bar equals 5 mm.
Illustration © C. Abraczinskas