Shepherding Big Data

Editorial Illustration • Simons Foundation - Global Brain • 2023
Close-up of a painting: multicolored cats tangled up in yarn, forming a network graph.
Close-up of a painting: multicolored cats tangled up in yarn, forming a network graph.
Illustration: shepherd holding a staff with feathers hanging off the end in one hand and a ball of yarn in the other, leading multicolored cats who are tangled up in the yarn, forming a network graph.

FOR
The Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), 2023. Thanks to Emily Singer.

WORK
Concepts, illustration

TOOLS
Infinite Painter, Clip Studio Paint

INFO
One of the most difficult boss fights illustrations I've done recently. ~100 cats as data for SCGB: Neuroscientists Grapple With New Data Management Rules.

While neuroscientists struggle to organize diverse and messy big data, I went through numerous iterations & methods of trying to wrangle ~100 cats + network edges into a decent composition.

Sketches of a shepherd leading cats that form a network graph.

Early concept sketch, followed by a breakthrough sketch (after many failed attempts) and pre-final WIP. Happily and completely by accident, I happened upon a new painting method that helped efficiently bring this to a good finish.

Screenshot of an article on SCGB: Neuroscientists Grapple with New Data Management Rules

Screenshot of the artwork on the Simons Foundation: Global Brain website.

© Olena Shmahalo