1. Time for a change of pace in my ever-expanding portfolio of paintings with Northern Saw-whet Owl. I am fortunate to have thousands of fabulous bird images at my fingertips since my husband is a devoted and prolific photographer of our fine feathered friends. See his photos here:
Owls have a mysterious, awe-inspiring air about them. With their piercing gaze, they are at once Halloween spooky and old-soul wise. Those who study human nature claim it is the owl's flattened face with both eyes facing forward rather than one on each side of the head that influences our perception that they are human-like and therefore wise.
The first paint glazes (layers) are a warm rust color which will set the underlying tone for the darkest feathers. I couldn't resist filling in the blazing yellow which is the base color of the iris of the eyes. These peepers are ultimately the focus of the painting.
2. More definition and depth is developed by additional glazes of the rust color. Outlines of stems, needles and cones make their appearance.
The masking fluid used to preserve the white tips of feathers is nearly the same color as the rusty-gold paint and is impossible to distinguish in this photo. The fluid is removed in step 4 below to reveal the white paper.
Northern Saw-whet Owl - owl watercolor demonstration
5. Completing the background with murky blues and greens, and adding more detail to the boughs of the tree portrays the owl in a cool, dim evergreen forest.
Getting the eyes "just right" was the key to making this painting memorable. Even I was a little spooked by the way the eyes seemed to follow me at every angle I viewed the painting - just like one of those Halloween haunted house portraits. How fitting!
Northern Saw-whet Owls are strictly nocturnal hunters and stay well hidden during the day. At no more than 8" from head to tip of tail, these bits of fluff are a wonder to behold. Only a lucky few people have the amazing experience of seeing one up close.
4. Heightened contrast between light and dark areas of the feathers is created by removing the masking fluid and adding deeper browns which reduce the intensity of the rust color. The white paper is now visible, particularly in the white feathers on the owl's head.
Needles and cones of Douglas Fir impart the woodsy feel of evergreens enveloping the owl.
3. Layers of darker brown are applied to begin depicting the exquisite patterns created by the owl's overlapping feathers.
Most of the background is a soft-focus blend of green and blue created with a wet-on-wet technique. Clean water is brushed over the background areas, and while the paper is still damp, paint is applied which will creep over the wet paper into a soft-edged shape.
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