#3000 "Barred Owl Forest"

#3000 "Barred Owl Forest" 
16 X 24 (inches).
Started 10:30 am Monday, February 16th, 2026

This is another image taken by my friend, John Verburg, a naturalist and terrific photographer. John provides a tremendous source of inspiration that encourages me to paint within the Singleton Studio when conditions outside are not conducive to plein air. 

Barred owls are favourite companions within the Singleton Sanctuary. I hear them communicate almost every time I head into the woods. This particular composition caught my eye with the interwoven tree branches of the forest and the calm expression displayed by the owl's eyes. John knew this particular owl well. Apparently, the owl also knew John. 

I typically start these portraits with the eyes and the beak. This time, I started with the background. My palette had gotten rather messy with a hodgepodge of oils. Those colours were just what I needed for the tangle of tree branches and the blur of the distant forest. I did tackle the eyes after those colours had been suitably used up and I had scraped my palette clean. 

The eyes of the very calm barred owl simply flowed. They were literally done in minutes, and I never touched them again. The owl stared very patiently back at me as I spent the next couple of weeks putting feathers on it and completing the tangle of branches. 

Owls have more feathers per square inch than most other birds for insulation. I did not count those strokes, but apparently, a Barred Owl has approximately 9,600 feathers. Those feathers provide dense, insulating plumage required for their non-migratory lifestyle and nocturnal hunting. Almost half of those feathers are concentrated on the head and neck. There are no feathers on the underside of their feet.

Done like dinner... time to step away from the easel and leave the owl alone. 

I have painted Barred Owls before and probably will again. Here are some earlier efforts. #2837 "January Barred Owl", #2920 "Barred Owl Friend" #2965 "Barred Owl Forest Canopy".

The lichen on the tree is a symbiotic blend of fungus and algae. It is a natural part of the forest and grows very slowly. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint Collection. Thank you for reading, and stay well!

Warmest regards, and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick