Emma Nydam

Growing up on a small hobby farm in Northwest Washington, surrounded by the North Cascades and Puget Sound, fostered my deep appreciation for nature. I have been drawing and painting since childhood and launched a business in high school selling original artwork, commissions, and prints—an endeavor I continue today. My favorite medium is watercolor, but I also love ink, oils, and gouache! In college, I met my husband, Braeden, and we have been married for two years. Together, we love appreciating and learning about nature through camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, conservation, and bird-watching, and I consider it one of my greatest blessings to explore the world with him. 

Pursuing a biology degree at Dordt University in northwest Iowa, I supplemented my biological studies with art courses, using illustration to deepen my understanding of subjects such as botany, ornithology, and zoology. In the summer of 2024, I worked as an illustrator for an ecological board game, which solidified my decision to pursue scientific illustration and built my confidence as an illustrator. Driven by my Christian faith, I am passionate about the stewardship of creation, and I believe that science illustration can be used to inspire a deeper appreciation and care for the natural world.