Forest Spirits Paintings: Inspired by Nara’s Sacred Deer
During one of my recent trips to Japan, I had the opportunity to visit Nara for the first time, a city where humans and deer have coexisted for centuries. I spent unforgettable days wandering through its monumental forest, sketching and drawing while absorbing the serene atmosphere and the stories that surround this unique city.
Nara is not only home to free-roaming sika deer, who approach visitors with curiosity, but it is also a space where nature, spirituality, and Japanese folklore intertwine. The environment gave me a profound sense of the connection between humans and the natural world, a recurring theme in my artworks portfolio.
The ancient temples, centuries-old legends, and the quiet presence of the forest acted as a powerful source of inspiration. Walking through these landscapes, I imagined how these elements would shape future paintings, pieces that explore both the beauty of the natural world and the spiritual balance embedded in myths.
These are two of the paintings I created after this dreamlike visit, directly inspired by Nara’s sacred deer and the stories surrounding them.
Twilight Messengers, Acrylic on linen canvas. 70 x 90 cm. 2022
Echo of the White Messenger, Acrylic on linen canvas. 70 x 90 cm. 2024
The Sacred Deer and the Legend of Takemikazuchi
According to local folklore, Takemikazuchi, one of the four gods of the Kasuga Grand Shrine, arrived around 768 riding on a white deer. Since then, the people of Nara have considered the sika deer sacred messengers and protective forest spirits guarding the city.
In ancient times, the Forest Spirit was believed to defend the Nara forests from invaders or natural disasters, taking on different forms, sometimes appearing as a towering tree, other times as a luminous deer. Travelers venturing deep into the forest were said to encounter this spirit, who would teach spiritual wisdom, natural balance, and symbolic lessons.
This mythological world, where the natural and spiritual realms coexist, continues to nourish my creative process. It allows me to explore new layers of symbolism, weaving together nature, folklore, and human spiritual experience. These stories, especially Nara’s sacred deer, remain at the heart of my Forest Spirits paintings.
If you’re fascinated by the mystical world of Nara and want to see more of my Forest Spirits paintings, visit my portfolio or explore the shop to own a piece of this inspired collection.
