Guardian of the Earth: An image inspired by imagination, wonder, and the art of Schim Schimmel

Sometimes an image speaks louder than words—and “Guardian of the Earth” is one of those pieces. It was inspired by the dreamy, surreal work of Schim Schimmel, whose art always seems to place animals, planets, and the stars in quiet harmony. I wanted to capture that same sense of awe and connection.

In this piece, a lion rests peacefully on solid ground while Earth floats just behind him in space. He’s not roaring or hunting—he’s calm, wise, and quietly watching. There’s something powerful about that kind of stillness. He feels like a protector, not just of his homeland, but of the whole planet.

Of course, lions don’t really live in outer space. But that’s what I love about Schimmel’s influence—his work blurs the line between reality and possibility. This isn’t just a wildlife portrait. It’s a reminder that the natural world and our planet are deeply connected, and it’s up to all of us to look out for them.

“Guardian of the Earth” is my way of saying that strength can be gentle, and that protecting the wild places on this planet is a role we all share. The Earth might feel big, but it’s also incredibly fragile. Sometimes, it takes an image like this to help us pause, reflect, and remember what really matters.

Thanks for taking a moment with this piece—I hope it inspires you to see the wild (and our world) with a little more wonder.

-Kelley Parker