Whoooo Goes There! Many Paintings of Owls...

I recently did some illustrations for a book about owls. It was a very enjoyable project and I was given permission to share some of them.

There is something enjoyable about illustrating raptors, owls in particular. Perhaps the attraction is in their big luminous eyes.

The book will not be out for a long time. I will post when they are available.

Sketching Visit to Raptor Inc.

My name is Earl... The initial owners of this bird though she was a he.

My friend Kelly and I have been talking about going to Raptor, Inc where she volunteers for a long time. I have been so busy that it was very difficult to coordinate.

Finally, we were able to get together a couple weeks ago.

It is a wonderful facility. I really enjoyed taking in all the birds there. Sylvester, the Great Horned Owl and Earl, the Turkey Vulture were my particular favorites.

I did some quick ink studies there (it was a little too cold for me to paint outside) and did some watercolor/acrylic sketches later.

Some quick ink studies

Sylvester, silent and watchful...

Trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and Other Animal Sketches

We saw these llamas in Missouri...

 I have a couple books about animals coming up, so I have been going to the zoo and other animal places to take pictures and sketch.

Sorry this is not a wordier post, I am still beyond swamped pretty much through the end of the year.

Snow leopard sketch from the Cincinnati Zoo… These are such weird cats. This one would come to the fence, touch it with both paws and chew on her left paw, limping off on the other three. At the Bronx Zoo a couple years ago, one was staring at the toddlers looking in by the fence and chewed on her tail… They seem to be frustrated by close but inaccessible prey.

A selection of ink gesture sketches...

Starting to think about bison??!!

And owls...