For several years I have been on a nature connection journey. In 2019 I enrolled in a 9 month long nature connection program with Thriving Roots Wilderness School in Victoria. After the first weekend in the program we all were given a nature name which represented an animal which would be our mentor and guide throughout the journey, and who we would study and learn about as well as be known as for the duration of the program. I received the name "Grey Wolf", and for reasons I could not at the time identify, I was uncertain, uncomfortable and also humbled by this name. Within days of that assignment I first learned of the story of Takaya, watched the short film, and began to follow Takaya's story as it happened. The later news of Takaya's relocation and subsequent death was absolutely heartbreaking, and as an artist I knew that I wanted to do a painting both honouring him and helping myself and others to process the loss. This painting is now the last/or culmination in a series of animal portraits which I call the Luminaries Series, each painting celebrating the inner light, guidance and wisdom that shines from within the wild animals who we so often fear or disregard. My hope is to cause us to reassess how we perceive the beings who share this planet earth with us, and to realize that they have much more to teach us than we have acknowledged. May Takaya's death not be in vain, may we learn, grow and change and may many wild animals be protected from our thoughtless ways.