In this work a pangolin curls into its protective form while turning its gaze outwardtoward the viewer, surrounded by an atmosphere of quiet magic and possibility.Rendered in rich pastel with charcoal detail, the creature appears suspended within aluminous field, suggesting a connection between the earthly and the celestial.The piece draws inspiration from the constellation Manis, named after the pangolin,linking this endangered animal to the language of the stars. Small constellationsshimmer across the surface of the work, while areas of silverleaf catch the light likedistant celestial bodies. These “silverleaf stars” create subtle moments of illumination,reinforcing the sense that the pangolin is both grounded in the natural world andcosmically significant.Connecting to the Stars reflects on hope and protection—an invitation to imagine thatthe alignment of the stars, and perhaps our own awareness, may help safeguard thisremarkable and vulnerable creature.