Re-envisioning plant phenology, from data points to painting

Engaging in the arts is an important process by which scientists can evaluate data through a new lens. We translated multi-year plant phenology data from a desert rainfall manipulation experiment into original paintings. What started as a creative outlet enabled us to capture the complexity of the dataset through art. Growing season length, plant greenness, and aboveground biomass were integrated into one image, rendering a unique impression of an ecosystem’s response to rainfall. Data-based artwork can provide alternate perspectives on ecological research while also acting as portals for the viewer to better connect with landscapes that undergo environmental change.