all about Owls

After gathering a few photos I took of Owls I saw over the past four years, I first admired them then examined each one more thoroughly to get an idea of how I could go about creating a watercolour painting of a Great Horned Owl.  I picked these four photos to use as my references. What I knew was, I wanted a front on scene, I did not want a winter backdrop, I wanted a full body, I did not want the Owl to have its eyes closed, I wanted its ears to be perked up.  This meant taking bits and pieces from each photo to create the idea I had in my head.  

after all the brain storming

my idea came to life on paper

When I was happy with the rough sketch above, I then lightly laid pencil marks on watercolour paper exactly like the rough sketch.  Time came to start laying shades to create my Great Horned Owl.  Oh boy,  I soon discovered I was too big for my britches!  What was I thinking, that I could paint an Owl with no lessons learned!  Help!

Homework was necessary, maybe a tutorial or two would be beneficial.  I needed to channel my inner Owl!  While searching for beginner tutorials I came across this from a site that shares inspirational sayings: 

"Channeling your inner owl is an invitation to embrace wisdom, keen perception, and a profound connection to the mysteries of the night. Imagine yourself soaring silently through the moonlit skies, guided by an unwavering intuition and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Embody the calm and collected nature of an owl, observing the world with keen eyes that see beyond the surface. Tap into your inner owl’s ability to listen attentively, not only to the words spoken but also to the whispers of the wind and the subtle rhythms of life. Embrace solitude and introspection, finding solace in the quiet depths of your being. Allow your inner owl to guide you on a journey of self-discovery, unlocking hidden insights and unveiling the secrets that lie within. Access a wellspring of wisdom, intuition, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all things."

That opened a whole new can of worms which took me down a path far from what my original task at hand was.  Those were a few dozen words that grabbed my attention.  I am now ready to channel my inner Owl and get back to the watercolour creation!  I perused through more of my photos to help with the channeling.  I found this photo I took back in 2019 of a Great Grey Owl. 

Owl cup holder & Owl Christmas Tree decoration

lats year's Owl macrame project

I found the perfect beginner Owl painting tutorials so set up shop and was on my way!

first tutorial for eyes

second tutorial for body 

third tutorial for background

Surely, after all that "channeling my inner Owl", I would be much wiser and better prepared to create a watercolour painting of a Great Horned Owl!  Well, all that work paid off and this is the outcome!  

my watercolour painting of a Great Horned Owl