Well it won’t be long now before the rut starts at my local deer park. However, if you were to see the stags at the moment they would still look quite slim and unstag like. Over the next month or so they change from almost Does with antlers to magnificent specimens of testosterone power with huge thick manes and arrogant abandonment. The antlers will thicken and take on a deep deep red colour as will the rest of their coat. They are impressive. Of course much of this is show and the females, who really rule the rut, are very choosey, quickly seeing through the bluster – much as it is the human world!

So with my thoughts turning to the rut I decided to make a painting. I have an idea as to how this will turn out but that is in the future – at the moment I’m concentrating on Mr Stag.

Simon Marchini
Web: http://WWW.simonmarchini.co.uk