This painting evolved from a photo of my niece, Eleanor. Her pose was so confident and determined, and I knew immediately that I would use it in a larger scene, although the bigger picture wasn’t clear at the time. 6 months later, I was photographing elephants at a preserve in Bali when one laid down nearby. Just looking up with soft, kind eyes. I was imagining what kind of life a captive elephant might lead, and it was then that I remembered Eleanor’s passionate love of elephants – and the photo of her. The resulting scene became a story of innocence. Of a child’s belief that she can always protect and nurture those things that she loves the most. And a prayer that the adult Eleanor’s of the world never stop cherishing whatever calls to them.