Thursday, December 18, 2014

Owl

We've had a few surprises crop up lately (relatively good ones) but meeting those obligations meant a large time commitment from me. Never let it be said that I cannot multi-task however, because as 4.30 this morning, when my son decided he was going to wake-up, I did some drawing.






It's a simple watercolour pencil illustration, from something my daughter described to me a few years ago. At a local craft market, she saw an owl at a stall I must've missed. She was enamoured with it, and so I thought of making her one. Between us we made a simple sketch - but I never got around to making it.

This morning, I turned that wee picture into an illustration to remind me owls don't need to sleep at night - and that I would do something with my daughters conversation with me.

I like him. His expression hints at knowing my toddler is nocturnal too.

When my daughter saw the picture a few hours later, laying on the breakfast bar, she knew straight away. "Hey, that's my owl," she said. Then it was time to make toast.


10 comments:

  1. I love owls. I collect owls...drawings, photos, ornaments. There's a bookshop in my local town that has an owl as it's logo (read books...gain wisdom). They have a huge collection of owls on one of the top shelves. That's what started me off.

    Maybe I'll draw an owl. ;-) I like yours. A great gift for your daughter to frame for her bedroom wall.

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    1. You share a common interest with my daughter then. She also collects owls. :)

      No problem with you drawing owls, they are somewhat addictive and you may not be able to stop at just one! Lol.

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  2. This is so awesome! Its odd as I have had owls on my mind lately-I woke up too early today and my first thought was to remember to locate the photos of my dead owls-our iPhoto files area mess so its easier to find them on my old blog. I have an idea for a self portrait but I'm not quite ready to go that route.
    And the other coincidence is that I also spent yesterday coloring an animal with pencils-a toy slinky dog for that Facebook group I told you about. The theme was childlike and I don't think I hit the nail on the head with it so am hesitating to submit it.

    I love your pattersn and the belly of your owl is so cute I want to pet it. lol. I think its touching that you kept that conversation with your lovely Sarah at the forefront of this work.

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    1. Do you mean a self-portrait, with owls? That would be very interesting if it was. :)

      I saw your slinky dog and hope to comment on your blog soon. Don't hesitate to submit, unless you actually want to submit something else. I often felt dead-pan when we were given assignments at school too. It's like, what the???? But after a few practices, you start to get the flow of what it is you want to do.

      I've been doing plenty of second and third pictures lately, just to find something remotely like I want to capture. Thankfully, this little owl though, well he just turned up on the page first time, lol.

      It was a little addictive doing that pattern. I didn't entirely know what I was going to do. I started with the first row of half triangles, and then though, no, they need to be diamonds. Happy accident. ;)

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    2. No, I mean something else sort of. I like the idea of incorporating some of my spiritual practice into my self portraits. Whether I am skilled enough to portray what is in my head is another matter. I am thinking more along the lines of fusing and morphing-sort of like my coffee pot and trivet but in a more nature inspired way.
      I think that the mistake I made was to jump in thinking that I had to come up with something really fast. In school we did lots of brainstorming-free form stuff-work association for example. Even if the word "childlike" is meant to be spontaneous-not all of us are ready to be so and thats okay. I am not especially thrilled with colored pencils to begin with-just not a favorite medium so that didn't help me. I chose it because i knew I had all the colors I needed unlike my paints and pastels which need updating. lol
      Patterns are really important to notice actually-they are addictive for sure. Its one of the prompts that I missed in my other group actually and might make a good one for us at some point too.

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    3. I know what you mean about updating supplies. I had to throw away a kneadable eraser, some impasto, texture paint and some other mediums I forget the name of now. I did that yesterday, but I've also order some new supplies, so I can use more than watercolour pencils - as like you, they are what I have a good range of.

      I wouldn't mind participating in a pattern prompt either. I've also go some strange ideas for my self-portrait. ;)

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    4. Do you want to do a pattern prompt while we wait for the David prompt? Pattern can be easy enough to not worry about the details. Just a suggestion. I am not going to be able to do much today-have to run into town and post a package which may take hours this late in the game-but I can do something starting tomorrow.
      Or we can do this to break up our January prompt. I am very flexible and I really do encourage other ideas besides my own.

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    5. I've gone MIA with Christmas preparations, lol. Some time after the 26th is good for a prompt - will we start with the sunshine? :)

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    6. Yes. Perfect. Sunshine too. Jasmine will be joining us for this one and for future ones I think. Her boyfriend might as well.

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  3. That will be great! Hope you had a merry Christmas. It's our Boxing Day, today. Phew!

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