Great Grey Owl ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Pair designed for gripping vertical reed

designed for gripping vertical reed stems

and ospreys

This painting pairs one with an evergreen branch

The medium's tactile surface quality creates a physical depth that echoes the layered softness of owl plumage

They adjust to each other constantly — matching speed

Great Grey Owl ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Pair designed for gripping vertical reedThis great grey owl pastel painting captures the largest owl in North America by length a bird with a five foot wingspan and a facial disc designed to funnel sound so precisely that it can locate prey beneath a foot of snow. The great grey owl looks soft and round, almost gentle, until you notice the eyes. Those yellow eyes see everything and forgive nothing. I worked in pastel to capture the owl's extraordinary plumage concentric rings of gray,