Using wet on wet, and bright golden yellow, cadmium orange and indigo, I have tried to capture the sedate beauty of this beautiful bird. The rays of autumnal sunlight follow the shape of the wings, emphasising his stillness and balance for, although it can, the pheasant rarely flies, reminding us to remain grounded in the midst of life. He is a riot of flamboyant colour - but is always ready to slip into the tall grasses or sheltering shrubbery, always ready to retract his wiles. This is a powerful metaphor for us: we can show our vibrancy and creativity- but only when it is appropriate, when the time/audience is right. The pheasant knows when to blaze, to show itself; it also knows when to hide in the shadows, to camouflage itself, as a self-protecting defence.