"Barn Owl, Southleigh Wood" by Olivia Clifton-Bligh

Image used with the permission of the artist. Check out more of Olivia Clifton-Bligh's work on her website.

The use of gold and this particular blue combined with the beautifully stylized treatment of the feathers gives this a magical and  otherworldly appearance, which seems particular appropriate for the Barn Owl. There are two families of owls, Tytonidae and Strigidae. The latter are more common owls, with a more familiar, cuddly cat-like appearance to their face. The Tytonidae, or Barn Owls, are characterized by their heart-shaped faces. While they are just as strikingly beautiful a creature, they are also more alien in their appearance (which is perhaps why the makers of the film The Labyrith chose a Barn Owl as the animal alter-ego of the Goblin King).

"Owls" by Fred Jinkins

Image used with the permission of Fred Jinkins. More work by the "Happy Old Artist" can be viewed at his website.

It's a gathering
of the utmost importance. 
A cool breeze slips by. 

"Long Eared Owls" by Andrea Rich

Image © Andrea Rich

Image used with the permission of the artist. More of Andrea Rich's woodcuts and sculptures can be found on her website.

While my 12 Owls campaign is going on (through Nov. 6) I've been now posting owl linocuts and woodcuts by other printmakers. Last time I posted a print of a short-eared owl, so it seems appropriate to now post one of long-eared owls.

Intensely they watch
From high in their canopy
Shielded by branches 

"Short-Eared Owl" by Lisa Hooper

Image used with the permission of the artist. More of Lisa Hooper's artwork can be viewed at her website.

...Just today a friend was telling me about her one unexpected encounter with a wild owl. She noted how this large and fearsome bird of prey's plumage blended so well against the background that it seemed to be just a spooky set of eyes peering out from the trees...

12 Owls Gallery

African Wood Owl

 Here are all the linocuts for the 12 Owls Project I've just completed. The original artwork as well as signed color wall calendars and black and white coloring/keepsake booklets are being offered at a discount through this Indiegogo campaign through Nov. 6. All pre-orders will be filled by the first week of December in time for the gift-giving season.

Please share this campaign through social media and to whoever you think might be interested. The best method for reaching new fans and collectors of my work is word of mouth. Thanks!

Barn Owl

Barred Owl

Bay Owl

Black Banded Owl

Burrowing Owl

Great Grey Owl

Great Horned Owl

Long Eared Owl

Screech Owl

Snow Owl

Spectacled Owl

"Night Flight" by Celia Hart

©CeliaHart

Image used with the permission of the artist. See more of Celia Hart's work at her website.

The trees bend back, rabbit and birds flee, as the owl gazes upward and rises with the wind.
All night and sky are her domain.

K-2nd Grade Dinocuts Collages

These are relief prints of dinosaurs that were then cut out and integrated into collages by K-2nd graders at the University City Arts League for my Art and the Animal Kingdom class. Students took some of their inspiration from Matisse's The Parakeet and the Mermaid, and a picturebook by the same name written by Veronique Massenot and illustrated by Vanessa Hie.

Because why should I be the only one having fun making dinosaur art?

Hand-Colored "Spectacled Owl", "Great Horned Owl", and "Burrowing Owl"

These are the final three color owls for the 2018 owl calendar project I've been working on. Will be launching the pre-sale campaign soon!

Black and White "Spectacled Owl", "Great Horned Owl", and "Burrowing Owl"

Last three owls for the calendar. I will post the hand-colored ones tomorrow.

Hand-Colored "Snowy Owl", "Great Great Grey" and "Barred Owl"

Here are the three owls in flight that I posted yesterday with hand-coloring with watercolors.

Black and White Owls In Flight: "Barred Owl", "Great Grey", and "Snowy Owl"

Here are black and white proofs of the three owls that are in flight for the owl calendar I am working on. Hand-coloring these today and will post those images tomorrow. I especially love these in black and white because all the busy mark-making deliberately emphasizes how these predators blend in with their surroundings. I imagine that most of their prey never even see what's coming.

Hand-Colored Bay Owl, African Wood Owl, Long-Eared Owl

Here are the finished versions of the three linocuts I posted about yesterday, hand-colored with watercolors.

Black and White Proofs: Bay Owl, African Wood Owl, Long-Eared Owl

I have proofed all the owl linocuts for the calendar I'm working on, but these three are the only that I'm satisfied and finished with the cut. It is quite an interesting challenge to create images that will read well in both black and white and hand-colored. More to come soon.

Linocuts by 2nd and 3rd Graders at UCAL

More linoleum cuts from my wonderful 2D Mixed Media after school class at the University City Arts League. These are by 2nd and 3rd graders. None had carved linoleum blocks before. The first image here is by Audra (who works fast and always finishes before everyone else), who got creative with tissue paper chine colle and printing the block multiple times on the same piece of paper.

Sketchbook Sunday: Two Nests

This is a continuation of the studio play from Friday and my decision to start drawing on paper I made this year. White acrylic paint and ball point pen on paper made from day lilies.