It Takes a Village -- An Homage to Florida's Ecosystems and Biodiversity

It Takes a Village is a drawing highlighting the biodiversity of Florida's native wildlife. The included species encompass plants, animals and fungi found in Floridian ecosystems. The swamp panel is an homage to the Florida Highwaymen, and several of the chosen species hold personal symbolism to my upbringing in central Florida and time spent with my grandparents on the Indian River in Brevard County. The species depicted in the drawing are as follows (from left to right, top to bottom): the grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus), Florida mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), tropical water-clover (Marsilea ancylopoda), Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus), purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), scaled sardine (Harengula jaguana), yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava var. cuprea) and fairy inkcaps (Coprinellus disseminatus). This drawing was created under the guidance of Professor Marisa Yow in her Spring 2025 Figure Drawing course. Completed nearly a year later, the subject of the work was influenced by the opportunity to exhibit my works at the Museum of Science and History Jacksonville (MOSH) in their native wildlife themed exhibition. Originally begun as a master copy of Jean-Léon Gérôme’s "Bashi-Bazouk," the work evolved into its final form through the guidance of Professor Yow and the influence of my parents and grandparents, who fostered my appreciation for the natural world, especially the unique environments of Florida.