Here you see an ant, pausing to realize the many options before them. Portals, each with their own nuances and potentials. If you look closely, within the white surrounding the portals are peonies. Peonies and ants have a unique connection. Ants love to enjoy the nectar the flower provides. In exchange for the sweet sustenance, the ants protect the peonies from insect pests, like aphids. This is a beautiful example of biological mutualism.

My personal connection with ants inspired this painting. As a child I would take the stale bread outside and crumble them over ant hills to watch them gather bits. Diligently they gathered the crumbs and carried them into the earth. I was fascinated by these tiny creatures working so hard for their communities.

This was also a contemplation on how we can often feel alone at moments of choice and decision. But, with wider awareness we realize all the paths lead to connection. There is a mutualism that runs throughout our lives. Becoming aware of how we are connected...not only to those in our community, but beyond, through space and time, even across species. We are intrinsically connected to this planet and all that inhabit this place. That feels like ant wisdom, pointing the way.