Beginnings in New York City
Growing up in Manhattan, Monica Schroeder found inspiration in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney and the exhibits of the American Museum of Natural History. These childhood haunts would shape her future as a scientific illustrator and environmental advocate.
Illustration Career
After studying Fine Art Drawing at Hunter College and taking additional courses at Pratt University, the School for Visual Arts, the Art Student's League, and the Society of Illustrators, Monica was fortunate enough to merge her love for art with her fascination for science. Her illustrations combine detail, vibrant colors, and scientific accuracy. They have graced the pages of textbooks, digital media, and educational manuals. You can find them in textbooks by publishers such as Wiley, Pearson, Elsevier, Scholastic, Cengage Learning, McGraw Hill, and many others.
Giving Back to the Community
She is committed to environmental conservation and has used her artistry and scientific expertise to educate and inspire others. Through her environment-themed art classes hosted by the Parks Department, Queens Public Library, and local environmental education nonprofits, Monica empowers students to explore the natural world through the lens of creativity.
These classes cover techniques such as watercolor, collage, bookmaking, and drawing while imparting knowledge about their local waterways, wildlife, climate change, nature fauna, and the impact of the city's infrastructure and government policies on the natural world.
Beyond mastering new artistic skills, Monica hopes people emerge as stewards of the environment with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around them.
As a certified kayak guide with the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse, she takes the public on the water to experience dolphins, herons, cormorants, jellyfish, and other wildlife firsthand. People can also capture zooplankton to examine under a microscope and learn about the effects of climate change on the food chain.
Inspiring Stewards of Urban Nature
Monica Schroeder combines art, science, and education to support the environment. Through her presentations, she aims to cultivate eco-conscious individuals and inspire positive change and stewardship of urban nature.