My parents’ home in the mountains of South Carolina is surrounded by the wildlife that makes the Blue Ridge so special. Deer regularly wander just beyond their windows—beautiful to watch, although slightly less beloved by my mother when they discover her flowers.
In November 2025, she asked me to paint a stag for their mountain home. I wanted to capture the stateliness of the animals they see outside while giving him a personality all his own. Instead of traditional woodland tones, I reached for turquoise, cobalt, crimson and chartreuse, allowing the color and loose brushwork to make him feel a little unexpected and untamed.
The Stag now brings the landscape outside their windows indoors—a colorful tribute to mountain life, hungry garden visitors and all.
