ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WISE

Ah, the owl is known to be wise, but our fast escaping mouse is wise as well. Too quick for the owl this night, he will scurry into his burrow and hide safely until morning. Now who is the wise one?
~ From the book I just finished illustrating, by Brettell Hone, "My African Bedtime Rhymes" published by Shamwari publishing in South Africa.~

GIVE A HOOT!

At this year's Keene State College Children's Literature Festival (Oct.27th) "A Parliament of Owls" will be one of the main attractions. These owls have been painted by Children's Book Artists and donated to the college to bring the number to 100. This is to honor the school's mascot along with the 100th Anniversary of the College in 2009. All the donated works are to be framed and hung with the 100th framed work having the honor of a special ceremony to celebrate 100 owls and 100 years.

You can see my contribution here, and the names of all those who donated owls at theKeene State College Owl Project website.

Look at the list and you will see many of the artists whose work you already know and many more that are worth your getting to know.

The message

Finally finished ... the worn and torn message is about to be snatched from the owl's talons.

©GingerNielson2007

Making Progress

Here are a few of the ten or more steps I have been taking to finish work on an owl painting. The last image in the series is close but not quite at the finishing stage. There were many painted versions before the last image evolved. There will be more definition in the final painting and the dark lines will most likely be painted over or blended away.

©GingerNielson2007

And here's a bit of trivia. Did you know that the Sooty Owl has four talons and that he /she can use them with two in front and two in back or spread them all out separately to grab at its prey with each one spread north, south, east and west... just like a nifty set of ice tongs.