What is a bookplate? You may ask... (I know I did!)
Not so common these days, a bookplate functions as the "name tag" for a book. Back in the time when owning books was a sign of wealth and social standing, the bookplate gave you the information about the owner and its collection. They were usually placed on the inside of the front part of the cover. Some of them were very simple, some of them were very elaborate.
For this commission I received instructions that they wanted something that would represent South Florida and the University itself. I decided to go with the fauna of the Everglades, especially since the Golden Panther is the school's mascot. I also included the alligator, the gator gar (fish), a blue heron and a roseate spoonbill (a beautiful bird which gets its name for its pink feathers and spoon-shaped beak). They wanted me to leave a space in the middle where they will put the name of the person to whom the book will be dedicated to (they are using this as a fund-raising tool).
I highly recommend that you visit the Everglades and do some nature watching if you are in the South Florida area. My favorite spot is Shark Valley, where you can ride your bicycle on a 15 mile circuit while being surrounded by one of America's most precious ecosystems. And pleeeease don't miss riding on an air-boat! It is awesome!!!
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