Litore Studio partners with Tampa Bay Watch

Growing up on Florida's Gulf Coast to an angler family, I was always out on the water (see below for a few fun throwbacks!).

Weaving in and out of mangrove islands, pelicans diving for mullet, a flock of ibis flying overhead, the snook, trout and redfish swimming underneath our boat as the serenade of the seagulls let our minds drift as easy as the tide. 

Life on the water taught me one clear message: our shores are both remarkably resilient ,and fragile, everlasting and in need of our stewardship. 

Tampa Bay Watch and the "Living Shoreline"

I was so thrilled to partner this year with Tampa Bay Watch, an organization that has been near to my heart, working hard to foster a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through community-driven restoration projects, education programs, and outreach initiatives. 

One of my earliest conservation memories is when my dad brought me to volunteer with Tampa Bay Watch's seagrass plantings when I was around 7 years old. I recall how amazing it felt to make a big impact with such a small act, and as such a small person.

Nearly 30 years later, I am honored to support Tampa Bay Watch in a new capacity, this time as an artist depicting the "Living Shoreline" they are such champions of.

The artwork features a thriving shoreline made of of mangroves, oyster beds, oyster reef balls and seagrass, which promotes new oyster growth and ultimately improves water quality, providing food sources and habitat for many species such as the snook, manatee, stingray pelican and heron pictured here. 

If you're curious to learn more about the science behind living shorelines, be sure to check out these great resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

I am so thrilled to offer the "Living Shoreline" through Litore Studio to all who enjoy the waters of Tampa Bay. With every order of this print, I will donate 20% to Tampa Bay Watch to help them in their efforts to restore and preserve the Bay.