Marking 30 years as a scientific illustrator for the U-M Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), John Megahan is retiring from a role that allowed him to combine his artistic talents with his love of the natural world to help strengthen the collection’s visual storytelling.
“Seems like yesterday when I started working at UMMZ!” said John. “I've done a lot of illustrations since, and what stands out on reflection is interacting with everyone. Every project, no matter how big or small, presents visual puzzles, and working with the people at U-M to come up with solutions has been immensely satisfying.”
After studying both biology and art in college, John discovered scientific illustration, a field that brought the two disciplines together. Following several years as a freelance illustrator, he joined UMMZ in 1996. In his early years at the museum, John helped create the first versions of UMMZ’s websites, produced scientific drawings and illustrations, and designed newsletters and other communications materials. Over the decades, he continued to refine his skills in both traditional and digital illustration, using his art to communicate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Highlights from John’s career include illustrating geckos from Madagascar in collaboration with several U-M professor emeriti, including Ron Nussbaum; South American grebes with Bob Storer; and numerous fish with Gerald Smith. He also created raptor illustrations and illustrated ‘'The Network of Life,” a book on evolution by David Mindell, former director of UMMZ. Other collaborations include cuckoo anatomy and behavior illustrations for Bob Payne, professor and curator emeritus, including illustrations for his book “The Cuckoos”; mollusk illustrations for Diarmaid Ó Foighil, professor and curator emeritus; and insect illustrations for Lacey Knowles, curator of insects, and Barry O’Connor, professor and curator emeritus, among many others. Today, the walls of UMMZ’s home at the Research Museums Center feature many of John’s paintings and illustrations.
“John’s contributions to the U-M Museum of Zoology over the past 30 years have been remarkable,” said Alison Davis Rabosky, director of UMMZ. “His illustrations have helped our scientists communicate their discoveries and expanded the ways our collections can serve a global community. We value not only John’s creativity and talent, but also his generosity in sharing them with our students, staff and faculty. He will be greatly missed, but we are thrilled for him as he begins this well-deserved next chapter.”
His work has also reached audiences far beyond the museum. He has illustrated several children's books, including “W Is for Waves: An Ocean Alphabet,” “Thumping on Trees,” “The Red Fox,” and “Johnny Valentine's Blue-Speckled Hound”. Most recently, he collaborated with Gail Kuhnlein, former EEB Communications Specialist, on “Into the Thicket,” based on the story of her son's attempt to rescue a baby rabbit.
Several of John's paintings have gone viral, including Giant Haast’s Eagle Attacking New Zealand Moa, which he created for graduate student Heather Lerner in 2005. Her article was published just before the release of the third “The Lord of the Rings” movie, and the timing brought the illustration unexpected attention. “Big eagles were the ‘in’ thing, apparently, and I got calls from all over the world asking for permission to republish it,” John said. “I still get requests twenty years later.” More recently, an image John created for graduate student Quinn Moon depicting microbial activity deep underground appeared on science Anton Petrov's YouTube channel.
Teaching has also been an important part of John's career. He has taught science illustration, ornithology and marine ecology, as well as drawing and advanced illustration at U-M's Stamps School of Art. He also taught an intensive scientific illustration course each summer at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
For John, scientific illustration has offered a way to bring together his lifelong passions for art and nature. As he looks toward retirement, he plans to travel and pursue more art. “Hopefully, a lot more art,” he said. “I would like to really dive into fine art with nature and biology themes, much like the art I've been doing.” A few more illustrated children's books may be in the works as well.
Reflecting on his early days at U-M, John recalled working with Richard Alexander on illustrations depicting the biology and behavior of naked mole rats. “When I first started at U-M, a couple of my first assignments involved working with Richard Alexander to illustrate the biology and behaviors of naked mole rats,” John shared. “What amazing creatures! That's when I began to think how incredibly lucky I was to be working at U-M. Lots of illustrations and working with lots of people followed, and that’s what I remember fondly – the interactions with everyone. I've enjoyed it all.”
We’re grateful for the creativity and talent John has shared with UMMZ over the past three decades, and we look forward to seeing what he creates next!
