Apr 26, 20242 min read

Twilight Owl

Updated: May 1, 2024

I think we all know that owls are adorable and should be featured in as much art as possible. With this one I wanted to see just how small I could paint a realistic owl, and the answer is, extremely small! I chose a Northern Saw-whet owl as my inspo, because it doesn't get much cuter than that! This was also my first time using this canvas shape, and I loved it! The unbroken center helps focus the viewers attention the middle, and the outer cut-out bits really prove that unique canvases only add to the appeal of the finished piece.

Applying the Base Coats

Started by applying two coats of Liquitex brand gesso. (Before filming started)

Painting the Sky

Blended Winsor & Newton Winsor (Phthalo Blue) and craft brand turquoise for the sky.
Mixed some permanent rose with the blue for the lower portion of the sky.

Painting the Tree

Used a Princeton Select 1/4" angular shader to paint the tree with phthalo blue and mars black.
Filled in leaves on the tree using a #3 round brush.

Adding Clouds and Details

Used the angular shader to add clouds with Golden brand light magenta.
Added Liquitex cadmium-free orange and cadmium yellow for additional cloud details.
Added depth to the clouds with a tint of titanium white and phthalo blue.

Drawing and Painting the Owl

Used a 20/0 round detail brush by Princeton Select to draw in the owl.
Painted the owl's feathers, beak, and eyes with Winsor and Newton brand raw umber, cadmium-free orange, titanium white, and mars black using the same brush.

Considerations on Varnishing

If varnishing, I would choose a matte, satin, or semi-gloss spray-on varnish for a protective finish.