a NEW Mixed Media Owl Painting - IN DREAMS

Title: IN DREAMS. (SOLD)
Prints available in my etsy shop.

i painted this owl as one of the projects for my latest online workshop HOW TO PAINT AN OWL 2. 

i had in mind that i wanted to paint a spirit owl that would blend and merge with the background, but i had no idea just what this painting might teach me about my creative process.

the background fell into place quite beautifully. i played a lot with acrylic paint markers, inks and paints, making patterns, defining symbols like flowers and feathers and adding thin layers for an ethereal effect.

but once i began adding my owl, i got stuck. i didn't want to ruin any of my background. so i played it safe.

at this stage i had an owl, but i knew i wasn't fully committed to it. i'd been painting with reserve, fully afraid to mess this painting up. and as a result, i painted an owl i really did not like.

and the eyes alone told me that.

so i left it like this for a few days. and if you're a regular reader of this blog, you know i can't leave a painting much longer or i end up painting over the entire thing piece.

but this painting was different. giving myself a few days away from it made me detach. and the logical side of me kicked in and knew i couldn't leave this owl. 

i had to cover it up, working with what was already on the canvas.

Title: IN DREAMS. (SOLD)
Prints available in my etsy shop.

i started covering up what i hated most... the eyes. 

that led me to further defining the owl's body with white. and from there i knew the rest of the painting needed white too for balance.

so i went in with one of my new favorite art supplies- a white shiva oil paintstick - and slowly colored in my background with a sheer layer of oil color. 

with each step, i got over my fear and creativity returned, knowing i could make this owl into something that felt right.

and seeing the final painting, this owl offers such a great sense of peace. that's how she got her story...

with so much hope, this owl is at peace, knowing that anything is possible with positivity and faith IN DREAMS.

have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

.....................

ps. if you're interested in painting owls like IN DREAMS, join me for HOW TO PAINT AN OWL 2. 

REGISTER NOW.

pps. the PRINT AND PAPER PACKS are sold out... thank you!