Deer Woman in the Moonlight

Deer Woman in the Moonlight, Jessel Miller

Compromise & Consideration

I started this piece a month ago and when I felt it was not coming in clearly, I put it aside and changed my focus.

It seems like a good lesson in my life, since I am the fastest person I know and want reality right now! I even wrote the SLOW DOWN BOOK in hopes that I too would take a breath in my bones and relax in the saddle of life!

I picked the painting up this week and found a new truth in the vision.

I was driving back to the gallery and thinking about the piece. To my shock, a baby deer jumped in front of my car. I fortunately had time to slam on the breaks and then, as I was about to start up again, another baby jumped in front of my car.

I was so astonished and could barely drive on. When I did continue on Silverado Trail, I looked in my rear view mirror and one more baby jumped into the road behind me. I am happy to report that all of them made it to safety.

I knew it was a sign.... a sign for me to SLOW DOWN, to take a breath into the moment and also to think about how each experience impacts my life.

I knew then that Deer would be in this painting and so I embraced the fact that these precious creatures, like the American Indians I am painting these days, were here long before me. This was their land and I need to respect and devote time to represent them in my work.

I also realized that there are "2 sides to every story," which was the title of the painting before the Deer Woman arrived, and the only way to live peacefully in my life is with compromise and consideration.

Living in harmony with nature, animal and humankind seems to be the choice we are all faced with, both on this land and around the world.

THE DEER ARE A SIGN TO ME and I hope the painting inspires you to find

THE DEER IN YOUR LIFE
"Deer has many sides—deer is powerful and feisty, cautious, adventurous, and protective.
 But deer has great individuality, calling for people to trust their instincts and trust themselves."

Deer Woman"Two Sides to Every Story" ~ Stage 1

This Sweet, Sturdy, Silent, Soul slipped into the base of the painting and formed the foundation of the final image. At first there was a horse and a profile of a Chief beside her and then it kept changing.

I learned many lessons doing this painting. Letting go for the sake of a cohesiveness concept was the greatest lesson. When the deer arrived, I removed the spirits above because I felt they were a distraction from the core energy in this piece. I miss them, yet know under the surface, they still live on as those who have passed on in our hearts.

Deer Woman Close Up All the incarnations of this painting are available in print Contact: Jessel Miller ~707-257-2350 or email [email protected]