VISUAL JOURNALISM &
SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION
for
Art Directors, Editors,
Writers & Scientists*
*& others in need of visual explanations
I am an illustrator who helps art directors, writers, editors, and scientists transform complex, nuanced, and multidimensional concepts into clear, elegant, and compelling images and infographics.
My approach and style is a combination of scientific accuracy and a fine art practice inspired by masters such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Piero della Francesca, rooted in a reverence for the physics of the universe we live in and embody.
Three things I aim for with every project:
TRUTH. No matter the subject, my foremost concern as a visual journalist and illustrator is a truthful depiction of the subject at hand. When that is achieved, quite often there’s
BEAUTY. A most dangerous and maligned of words. But the beauty I love has to do with evidence of truth, form, and function. Information presented beautifully offers an invitation to learning and deeper understanding. And this is all in the name of
JUSTICE. A mystery solved, a truth told, a lie dispelled, an unknown made known — these are the forms of justice within visual journalism’s sphere of control.
“The phrase ‘It’s an art, not a science’ has always rubbed me the wrong way. Every advance in knowledge, from the microscopic to the galactic, is made more understandable by making it more relatable and human. Conversely, effective human expression and communication is grounded in laws and patterns of human behavior and aesthetics. No one understands this better than Violet Frances. Her work illustrates emphatically that the world is illuminated and explained best by consistently emphasizing the overlap of these disciplines. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her for the better part of two decades, and each project is a new opportunity to exchange ideas, inspiration, and references, all in the service of elevating each story. She is a true editorial partner, and I’ve relied on her for the full gamut of editorial storytelling: pitching stories, refining ideas, editing narratives, and superlative, elegant illustration. She’s a master of visual explanation and draws on a deep well of scientific knowledge, aesthetic and cultural references, and editorial experience.”
—Jason Treat, Senior Graphics Editor, National Geographic