What prompted the artist to create this work was to show light contrasts: the unfiltered, direct sun light on the doe in the foreground and the more dramatic, emerald green light filtering through the majestic oak in the background. While a portrait of a doe is not normally thought of as interesting enough to paint, the artist desired to get a closer study of the animal in natural light and shadows. One would think that a house full of little girls would not normally include venison as a staple. However, the favorite food craved by the five girls of the artist includes deer and duck. The request for deer meat is gladly taken to heart by the artist.
 
“And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground
— everything that has the breath of life in it —
I give every green plant for food.
And it was so.”
Genesis 1:29-31