I am sitting here at my drawing table
finishing up this stag charcoal drawing that
I have been working on. As I look out the widow
I see a four point buck nibbling on some
plants down by the pond.
Such strange and beautiful creatures. In a way
they are like big dogs roaming free wherever
they want to go. (In the garden too!)
I imagine the ancients viewed them in various
ways as a source of food and clothing as well
as being a sacred animal and a gift from the gods.
The stag is also linked to the arts in poetry and music
and sculpture no doubt due to its graceful form and
mysterious ways. I have read somewhere that the early
Celts worship the stag along with a variety of other animals
and thought of them as spiritual beings and brothers to
themselves. They often apologized to the animal that they
hunted and slain for giving up their life so that they may live.
I think back on a movie that was out in the nineties called
“The Last of the Mohicans” where a indian character named Chingashgook
and his white son Hawkeye slay a elk in the opening scene. Chingachgook
leaning over the slain elk tells him. “We’re sorry to kill you, Brother.
Forgive us. I do honor to your courage and speed, and strength.”
A great example of one spirit recognizing another even if it be in
animal form.
I have added some photos on Pictish stone carvings where there are
numerous examples of deer and stag engravings carved in stone thousands
of years ago. I am amazed at some of the detail in a few of them. As a
artist I appreciate the fine work.
I hope to include more art work in the future. My older brother Steve is
also a very talented artist whose craft is working in wood. I will post some
of his work in the future. My younger brother is the musician. If I can get
anything out of him I will include it as a sound bit on here.
These are charcoal renderings on gray charcoal paper
This may be a rabbit. What do you think?
Last but not least. If any of you have seen the James
Bond movie "SKYFALL" you might have noticed
towards the end of the movie when he goes back to
the home where is was raised in Scotland. There is this
magnificent sculpture of a stag as you pull into the long
road leading to his house. I thought I would include it
because I liked it so much. Cool eh!
