Monday, January 10, 2011

Painting an Eastern Screech Owl

What a sweetheart this little Screech Owl is. I'm totally in love!

Painting #101, The Shivering Owl (Eastern Screech Owl)
9x12, Watercolor

I decided to enter Laure Ferlita's 100 Paintings in a Year Challenge again (with an ultimate goal of 500 paintings in five years). I started off the year with a detailed watercolor. I've never worked this detailed before, and it was a grand practice in patience. I'm used to firing off paintings in a single session, so this was new for me. To paint this little Screech Owl, I laid in layer after layer of color, slowly building up the depth over many sessions...and many days! I scanned a lot of the versions, and Rick surprised me with this video showing the progression of the painting. (Thank you, Rick!!! Not only can he bake, he can program too!)

Painting a Screech Owl from Kelly Riccetti on Vimeo.

Beak Bit
Here in Cincinnati, we call this little owl an Eastern Screech Owl, but in the south, I read in Robert Bateman's book, "Birds," the owl is often referred to as a "Shivering" Owl, which makes more sense. "Shivering" Owl sounds so pretty and is much more descriptive than "Screech" Owl. After all, the diminutive predators don't screech. They have a plaintive, wavering...shivering call!
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33 comments:

  1. MontanagirlJanuary 11, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    That painting is so beautiful! And the video is great. How nice to have that - as well as the painting!

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  2. ElaineJanuary 11, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    Kelly, your little owl is wonderful! Your first try at a detailed watercolor is a definite winner! Rick did a super job on the video too. It will really shows the steps you took.

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  3. Nicole MacPJanuary 11, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    Lovely, lovely work!! Those eyes are captivating!

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  4. SueJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:04 AM

    Kelly, you are a very talented artist! I'm trying to learn watercolor painting, and am NOT having much luck-the video showed the layers building, and I found that very interesting. Thanks for sharing that!

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  5. ChrisJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    Wow I'm in love with the painting! Gorgeous and it is nice to follow your work with the video, but how long did it take to finish it?

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  6. Dan HuberJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    Fantastic work Kelly, I thought it was a photo at first. the layering does a great job

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  7. Bob BushellJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    What a gorgeous painting and the video of making it, is quite outstanding.

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  8. Janice KJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Wow! Definitely one of my favorites.

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  9. Carol MattinglyJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Wow that is a lot of work and a great deal of patience. Give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it. Beautiful beautiful owl. Carol

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  10. Kathy A. JohnsonJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Wonderful painting, Kelly! And a great goal--500 paintings in five years. Last night, my husband called me into our office where we could hear an owl calling. I couldn't see where it was so I don't know what type of owl it was. I'll try a little harder to see if we hear it again!

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  11. Betsy Banks AdamsJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Fabulous painting, Kelly. I love the little owl. You did a wonderful job --especially with his eyes... WOW!!!!

    I'm from the south --but i call him a Screech Owl... ha

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  12. JayneJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    How cool seeing the progression of that Kelly! Love that owl. :c)

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  13. Out on the prairieJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I was excitied tosee this when I saw the title. Your colors all worked well. The video was fun.

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  14. Warren BakerJanuary 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    I think thats one of your best Kelly :-)

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  15. holdingmomentsJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    That is a beautiful painting Kelly.

    The video is excellent. I love seeing how it all came together.
    Well done Rick!

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  16. Adrienne ZwartJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Kelly,
    Those eyes look real! I loved the progression video--how interesting to see the different stages of your painting.

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  17. Hilke BrederJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Kelly, thanks for letting us in on the secret of your paintings! You can see it gain depth and complexity at every step, and the fabulous result at the end.

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  18. ShelleyJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    I think this is my favorite so far of your paintings - love, love it!!!

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  19. forgetmenotJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    What a talent you have!!!! The screech owl painting is wonderful--you mastered the detail work well.

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  20. Cicero SingsJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    Now that I've tried water colours I have s great appreciation for the work that went into that owl! It looks great.

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  21. MargaretJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    The "loose" background on the left really sets of the detailed feathers. And I love the eyes. I wasn't able to view the video.. I will check back. My daughter and I have been hearing a night owl calling when we potty the dogs at night. Such a wonderfully, soft sound. 500! Wow. I am itching to get back to painting - I think by this weekend. I will have fun following your efforts this year.

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  22. KellyJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    ...thank you, everyone. Such a different style for me, but I really liked it. Layer after layer is fun. Every now and then I'm going to add another detailed piece into the count. I think I'm due for a few impressionist acrylics now...maybe watercolor...one of these days, oil!

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  23. KellyJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    Chris...I would work about an hour a session and completed it over a three-week period. Christmas fell in the middle of it, and I abandoned work on him while I painted the Christmas card and finished up the 100 painting challenge, so I really didn't keep track. I also didn't scan all the versions. Next time I do a detailed piece I'll keep track!

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  24. Birding is Fun!January 12, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Wow! That is gorgeous!

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  25. RoyJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    This is quite beautiful Kelly.
    Your video was also very informative as well and good instruction for anyone wishing to learn how to do it.

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  26. MarieJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    Well, you know I'm going to love this! Kudos to you for doing the 100 paintings again this year, you're a trooper.

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  27. AndyJanuary 13, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    Exceptional!

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  28. oldcrow61January 14, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Beautiful painting. I enjoyed the video as well.

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  29. Kerri FarleyJanuary 15, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    This WOWs me!! You are so talented!! LOVE the video showing the progression too!

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  30. CarolineJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    Terrific job Kelly - that's a really beautiful owl painting! Interesting to see the WIP too.

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  31. KellyJanuary 18, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    ....thank you so much!!!

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  32. UnknownJanuary 19, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Hi Kelly,
    I am the photographer of the Screech Owl photo you used...and I couldn't be more pleased and amazed by your wonderful work!! THANKS for taking the time to do this painting!! The video is fun to see, also!!
    Nancy
    http://clarkephotos.smugmug.com

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  33. KellyMay 10, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Hi Nancy! I really had fun painting the screech owl. Thank you for sending me the photo. I'm glad Rick showed you my paintings, and you wanted to have him painted by me! :-) It's one of my all-time favorite paintings--and definitely my most detailed and complex.

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