" One of the very special things about elephants is their sense of family. 
Elephant society is matriarchal and is generally ruled by one of the older
and wiser cows. I have seen a herd rally around a wounded member,
showing great courage and loyalty in an attempt to protect one of their
own from harm. Herds are usually composed of females and young.
Sometimes bulls are tolerated for a time, depending on their attitude.
As the young males mature and become more troublesome, they are
rejected by the herd. Then they wander around alone or in
small bachelor groups.

In this painting, I wanted to show an unremarkable mother elephant
facing a potential threat with her trusting calf at her side. In the
foreground is a trampled termite mound. The viewer might notice
that the grass near the fallen tree is not trampled; no animals
would walk or feed in that area because the tree is in the way. "