-
MEDIUM: Scratchbord™ with Inks
-
SIZE: 10" x 8"
-
STATUS: Sold
"When I came across a photo of a Northern Whitefaced Owl it struck me as the perfect subject for a new scratchboard painting. The eyes were captivating, the covered yellow beak was intriguing, and the variety of feather shapes created loads of interest. I liked the touch of greenery overlapping his body and in the background. The scene looked wintery to me. Every year I print a Christmas card featuring one of my paintings, but I have never featured a black scratchboard. I was overdue to share this favorite media and the owl would be ideal!
I chose a horizontal format, focusing primarily on the owl’s face (the original photo showed his entire body). My Scratchbord™ panel was 10” x 8”, so the artwork would reduce beautifully to the size of the folded card, about 7” x 5”, making it look even more detailed. Some of my scratchboards are left just in black and white, but this one screamed for color, to accent the orange eyes, tint the feathers, and better suggest the foliage even if it was softly out of focus. As always, the eyes brought my critter to life, especially when I scratched in the highlights. My title fits with this popular (and wise!) quote: 'A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?'"
Reference photo © Edwin Butter.
