Savitha Viswanathan creates exquisitely detailed drawings in colored pencil that celebrate the quiet beauty of still life. Her subjects often include flowers, cakes, fruit, and other domestic objects, rendered with a remarkable sensitivity to texture, light, and form. Working with the slow, deliberate process that colored pencil demands, Viswanathan builds luminous surfaces through layers of carefully applied pigment. Each petal, crumb, and fold of frosting is observed with an almost botanical precision, inviting the viewer into a world where ordinary objects are elevated through attention and care.Her work draws inspiration from the tradition of Victorian drawing and naturalist illustration, when artists recorded the abundance of the natural world with both scientific curiosity and poetic reverence. Viswanathan carries this lineage forward while giving it a contemporary voice. The compositions feel intimate and contemplative, balancing lush floral forms with the indulgent presence of cakes and sweets. Through this pairing she evokes themes of celebration, transience, and beauty, creating images that feel both timeless and quietly joyful. EDUCATIONBFA, Tyler School of Art, Temple UniversityMFA, Rochester Institute of Technology SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2026 Watermark, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA2026 Supertastic Art Show, Brooklyn 20262025 Winter Salon, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA 2024 Women's View2024 Winter Salon, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA PUBLICATIONSThe Journal of Life Science (editorial illustration and photo editing, 12 issues)Annual Reviews (infographics/science illustration for over 15 journals in biological, earth/planetary, and social sciences)Soomaaliya: Food, Memory, and Migration: a Cookbook (Ifrah F. Ahmed)Lido, Recipes and Stories from Italy's Beach Clubs, (Melissa Pellegrino, Matthew Scialabba)Cultured, a Global Guide to Fermenting and Preserving Fruit, Vegetables, Dairy, and Grains, with over 150 recipes (Darra Goldstein, Cortney Burns, Richard Martin)Monkey Business, the story of two mischievous monkeys (children's book) PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND / RELATED FIELDSMedical illustrator (Chicago, IL)Art director at a large pharmaceutical ad agency where I created print, television, and digital ads (New York, NY) Creative director at life science marketing agency (Berkeley, CA)Photo editor for quarterly publication on life science (San Francisco, CA)Senior illustration editor at Annual Reviews, peer-reviewed science journal (Palo Alto, CA)UI/UX designer, contractor (San Francisco, CA)Food illustrator (SF bay area)