A piece from my Intaglio Printmaking class project, Pine Rockland Ecosystem! All the pieces from this series are etchings, and many also utilize monotype techniques (a process that produces singular, unique results with a traditional press). It received the Friedland Project Grant from FAU (a grant for students) in 2016, and I used the funds on framing!
 
This one depicts lightning striking the habitat and starting a fire.
 
Pine Rocklands are a rare habitat only found in South Florida, The Bahamas and Cuba, and fire is super important for this habitat! The plants and animals here evolved to rely on frequent, low-grade fires (every 1-5 years). The fires clear away tall plants and leaf litter, allowing sunlight to reach the small flowers and grasses. People have been starting and managing fires here for thousands of years, and today we call them "prescribed burns"! The fire cycle was one of the most fascinating thing to me when I learned about this habitat, so I had to include it in this piece. 
 
A resource for learning more about Pine Rocklands: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e4be54329f8e4acf872339f8ddb6f1c0