“I love animals & nature, and exploring the undersea world as both scientist and artist. My creative work is inspired by my desire to share the beauty and wonder of our planet with others.”

The word FATHOM has two meanings that resonate with Kirsten because of her love of learning and the oceans: used as a verb it means to get to the truth of; comprehend; understand. When used as a noun it is a measurement of ocean depth, 1 fathom = 6 feet [1.8 meters]

FATHOM iT STUDIOS began as a doodle on a napkin in the 1990s—a fish blowing bubbles from the depths of the sea. Kirsten is a natural science illustrator specializing in exploring the earth’s undersea realm while sketching on SCUBA. Her university education is in ornithology and marine ecology, her research in Antarctica while pursuing a career in science inspired her to combine science and art so she could share the beauty and wonder of the undersea world with others.

Kirsten has mastered many skills — scuba diving, field research, watercolor, graphic design, photography, illustration and writing — all of which she engages to connect diverse audiences. Kirsten is a full-time freelance illustrator and author in children’s literature and visual science communication. She's been in over 20 art show exhibitions, illustrated six children's books, and invented the Artscipedia, a curious and creative interactive coloring book, with a STEAM inspired approach to understanding nature.

Kirsten developed her love of the ocean at her neighborhood swimming pool in Missouri; dedicated herself to the conservation of the oceans in Monterey Bay, California; and rediscovered her viking roots while paddling outrigger canoes in Hawaii. Kirsten lives just outside Stuttgart, Germany with her husband, two cats and two cattle dogs.

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Education

Certificate in Science Communication, Natural Science Illustration
University of California, Santa Cruz
1995

Marine Biology Graduate Studies
California State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
1991-1994

Bachelor of Science Honors Biology, Ecology Emphasis
University of Missouri, Columbia
1990

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Awards & Honors

National Science Foundation Grant
Antarctic Artists and Writers Program
Principal Investigator, Under the Ice, NSF Grant #1645127, 2017

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Grant
Work of Outstanding Progress (WOOP) Grant
Picture Book Manuscript, 2017

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Portfolio Award
1st Place - Realistic (nonfiction), International Conference-Los Angeles, 2003, 2004

Bachelor of Science with Honors
University of Missouri, Columbia, 1990

Honors Research Fellowship
University of Missouri, Columbia,1989

Curators Scholar Award
University of Missouri Curators, 1986

Phi Beta Kappa Scholar, 1986

Valedictorian
Oak Park High School, Kansas City, Missouri, 1986

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Fieldwork & Artist in Residences

Maldives. Undersea Drawing Dive Trip, 2019

Antarctica, Ross Sea. National Science Foundation, Marine Research, 1992; Artist in Residence, 2017

Pacific Ocean Transit, Hawaii to Oregon. Schmidt Ocean Institute-NASA Expedition, Artist at Sea, 2017

Fiji. Undersea Drawing Dive Trip, 2006, 2008, 2010

Southeast Alaska. Sea Otter Research Expedition, Artist in Residence, 1997

Arctic, Nunavut, Canada. Marine Research 1992, 1994

Puerto Rico, Ornithology Expedition, Bird Research 1990, Artist in Residence, 2000

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Memberships

Royal Geographical Society Fellow (RGS)

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF)

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Exhibits

2023

2022

2021

Adequate Earth, Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective, Undersea Illuminations
Online
Jan 28, 2021 to present

2018

Visualize Art Revealing Science, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators: 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Washington, D.C.
Jul 16 to Oct 15, 2018

2017
Artist-At-Sea Exhibit
Bishop Museum
Honolulu, Hawaii
Aug 29 to Sep 29, 2017

The Endangered Ark Group Art Show, Ark of the Unicorns
Chinatown Artist Lofts, Honolulu, Hawaii
May 19 to Jun 2, 2017

2016
Mixed Media Miniature XIX Group Art Show, Koa Gallery
Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii
Nov 17 to Dec 17, 2016 (read blog post)

Art-O-Mat Exhibit, Spalding House Cafe
Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, Hawaii
Oct to Nov, 2016

Ka 'Ike O Ka Moana [The Knowledge of the Ocean] Art Exhibit
Honolulu Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts,
May to Jun, 2016

2015
Pacifikology Art Exhibit
Manoa Valley, Paradise Park, Oahu
May 6 to 19, 2015

2012
Three Person Show
Ausstellung im Samariterstift
Samariterstift Leonberg, Leonberg, Germany
Mar to Jun, 2012
[read blog post…]

2011
German-American Art Show
Bad Canstatt, Germany

United States Army Arts & Crafts Contest
Honorable Mention

Regional United States Army Arts & Crafts Contest, Germany
1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place

See Sea Underwater | Mehr Meer Unterwasser, Solo Art Show
Der Kunstclub, Leonberg, Germany
Mar to Apr, 2011

2010
Kunamokst Mural
West Coast Sea Life Mural Mosaic
Permanent Home: Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa on Galiano Island, British Columbia

Drawing on Nature Exhibit
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jun to Sep, 2010

2009
Art & Espresso Show
Stuttgart, Germany

2006
Honu and Hawaii Art Show
Gig Harbor, Washington

2005-2006
Monterey Bay Aquarium Sharks: Myth and Mystery Exhibit
Monterey, California

2005 to present
Monterey Bay Aquarium Nearshore Exhibit
Steelhead Life Cycle Interactive
Elkhorn Slough
Arcata Marsh Poster
Monterey, California

2005
Hectic Eclectic Art Show
Monterey, California

2001-2002
Art House Gallery
Pacific Grove, California

2000
Oceans: Illustrating Marine Life
Sagres, Portugal

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Members Exhibit
Lisbon, Portugal

1999
In the Spirit of the Holidays Art Show
Carmel, California

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Children's Books

Luminous Finds Her Aura, 2019

The Skeleton’s Knife, 2011

Where the Land and Sea Meet, 2011

Sea Secrets: Tiny Clues to a Big Mystery, 2008

Ocean Seasons, 2007

The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, 2006

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Books

The Call of Antarctica: Exploring and Protecting Earth's Coldest Continent, 2021

50 Markets of Illustration: A Showcase of Contemporary Illustrators, 2014

Whales, Whaling and Ocean Ecosystems, 2006

Great White Sharks Guide, Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2005

The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific, 2002

The Shape of Life, National Geographic 2002

Monterey Bay Aquarium Souvenir Guide, 2001

A Field Guide to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 1998 

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Art Licensing

First Impressions Card Company, 1997-2002
Season Greeting Cards (18 designs), Everyday Greeting Cards (11 designs)

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Posters

Monterey National Marine Sanctuary, 2002-2004
Threatened and Thriving Poster Series (6 designs):
- Blue Whale & Krill
- Sea Otter & Kelp
- Leatherback Turtle & Sea Nettle
- Right Whale & Sea Gull
- Elephant Seal & Snowy Plover
- Coho Salmon & Sardine

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Magazines, Brochures, Newsletters

MUSE, Cricket Media, Deep Freeze, 2019

Western Society of Naturalists Symposium, 2007

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Annual Report, 2003

Shorelines Magazine, Monterey Bay Aquarium, 1999

Current Magazine, National Marine Educator’s Association, 1999

Western Society of Naturalists Symposium, 1995

Science Notes Magazine, Science Communication Program, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1995

MARE, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1995

Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, 1995

Diving Brochure, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 1994

Western Society of Naturalists Symposium, 1994

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Scientific Journals

Raskoff, K.A. and G.I. Matsumoto. 2004. Stellamedusa ventana, a new mesopelagic scyphomedusae from Monterey Bay, CA representing a new subfamily, the Stellamedusinae. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 84(4274):1-6. 

Matsumoto, G.I., K.A. Raskoff, and D.J. Lindsay. 2003. Tiburonia granrojo n. sp., a mesopelagic scyphomedusa from the Pacific Ocean representing the type of a new subfamily (class Scyphozoa: order Semaeostomeae: family Ulmaridae: subfamily Tiburoniinae subfam. nov.). Marine Biology. 143 (1): 73-77

Harbison, G. R., G. I. Matsumoto, and B. H. Robison. 2001. Lampocteis cruentiventer gen. nov., sp. nov.: A new mesopelagic lobate ctenophore (Phylum Ctenophora, Class Tentaculata, Order Lobata, Family Lampoctenidae). Bulletin of Marine Science. 68(2): 299-311

Hopcroft, R.R., & B.H. Robison. 2005. New mesopelagic larvaceans in the genus Fritillaria from Monterey Bay, California. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. 85: 665-678.

Hunt, James C.. 1999. Laboratory observations of the feeding behavior of the cirrate octopod, Grimpoteuthis sp.: One use of cirri. The Veliger 42(2):152-156 (April 1, 1999)

Konar, B. 1993. Demography and morphology of the geniculate coralline, Bossiella californica ssp. schmittii (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in a central California kelp forest. Phycologia. 32:284-291.