Wise Old Owl

Barn Owl  Acrylic on hardboard 

September is here and birds are getting ready to migrate.  Hummingbirds are drinking from the feeder like there is no tomorrow. They have a long flight ahead of them.  I also have gold finches, morning doves and cardinals eating hungrily at the feeder, keeping me busy replenishing them often.
I recently tried my hand at painting a Barn Owl.  I like owls in general.  I like the fact that the ancient Greeks associated owls with Athena, the goddess of wisdom.  They even incorporated the owl in their coins with Athena on one side and an owl on the other.  Hidden knowledge and superiority lies behind the stare of this "wise old owl."

Owl Surprise

This is a little 6"x6" painting on masonite that I did from a photo that was taken from a motion activated camera near Northwood, Iowa.  The photo was taken at dawn when this owl flew into view of the camera.  The camera was originally set up to photograph deer but there are many creatures out and about in the predawn morning.
I am painting a series of wildlife as I find the variety of creatures in this amazing world so diverse and interesting to study.