Barn Owl stage 1

Hi Eveyone,
I've already put about 8 hours into this. I started as usual with pencil, but instead of the toned paper, I am using a cream colored Canson sheet. I don't know why I thought it would save me work since the barn owl has so much white, but it hasn't! And it's extremely difficult to see the white marks that you ARE putting on the paper, so I've had to do a lot of it in the bright sunlight. I prefer to draw in the evening, but couldn't see what I was doing!

Now that I am working on adding other colors for the shadows, grays, blues, oranges and browns mostly, he's starting to come together. The drawing surface is also larger than the 8.5 x 11 sheets I had been using. More like 12 x 16. The barn owl's feathers are very complicated and detailed so I may be doing this drawing for a while.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get some other artwork started, first an Alpaca I just love, in time for Christmas sales! I sold 8 prints last month and a few Halloween cards at a couple of the stores I have work at, so that made me happy! I hope you are all sharing your art with friends and family this season. It fills you right back up!

Off to work my day job. Thanks for stopping in and please leave a comment!

Winna is the Winner!

My husband picked your name out of the hat! Send me your address and I'll send you out the picture of the hawk! Congratulations and thanks to everyone for joining the contest!!!

Sleepy bees

They are slowing down on the cooler days, but still collecting!

Dahlia's in October

You need some of these beauties in your New England gardens. You have to dig them up and overwinter them in the cellar, and replant in the spring, but they are definitely worth it. Besides my Cleome, they are one of the few flowers still blooming and the most gorgeous by far. And more to come unless we get a frost. Enjoy!

I need a nap

Man next door let his dog out at 6:30 and he proceeded to bark for a half an hour. Why assume I get up that early???? There must be a law somewhere. I love doggies, all sizes, colors and ages, but not when I'm asleep! Thank goodness it's Friday afternoon and my clients seem to be off for the weekend early. Here's a little chikadee who likes like he's just been woken up. Not happy!!! But so cute!

Here's a close-up of one of his eyes!

Great Horned Owl finished

This was a great pleasure to draw. This guy is so regal and spooky that I thoroughly enjoyed myself, it being almost Halloween and all. Now if I can just get Blogger to upload the image, I'll be very happy!

Great Horned Owl stage 3

More darkening and brightening at the same time. I'm almost done! This guy was fun to draw.