The first painting of 2026 is a barred owl. I’m using a variety of photos I’ve taken in the past because while I like the owl in one of them, I wanted a different background.
I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about how a painting percolates for a while before I ever get around to putting a brush to the canvas. This one took longer than most, because I wasn’t sure what approach I wanted to take.
Finally, I decided on what really amounts to two complete paintings – first the underpainting in grayscale. Once that is done I’ll begin adding the color in thin layers. The technique is called grisaille. Previously I’ve used one of the earthy colors for my underpainting. I’m curious whether or not this will give more depth to my actual color, or whether it will be too much underpainting for my taste. We shall see.
Barred Owl Progression
That’s it for now. I’ll add updates as I make enough progress to see a difference from one pic to the next.
Pigments in Use
For the grisaille I’m using soot black. When it’s time for any white, I’ll use paint that I made from titanium powder (outsourced).
The background colors I’m using come from the yellow and brown rocks I found here, and a lake pigment made from thyme. There will be some blue in the sky, and that will come from an outsourced primary pigment that I bought from earthpigments.com.
The Process Plan
I’ll work in very thin layers until the background is complete. Then I’ll start on the fenceposts and middle grounds before beginning on the trees. I’m undecided on whether the owl will be last or worked in while working on the other parts. Probably last.
Process Video for the Barred Owl
I’m starting a series of ‘Open Studio‘ videos at YouTube and also at my Skool community.
Contact & About
email: madison@wildozark.com
phone: (479) 409-3429
The newsletter is monthly. My blog is sporadic, so if you want the posts to go to your inbox, put your email address below. Blog posts and newsletters aren’t always the same (very rarely are the same), so it won’t hurt to subscribe to both 🙂
I’m a nature-lover, real estate agent & artist. Sometimes, I also write things. I began using local pigments to paint scenes from nature in the Ozarks in 2018.
All of my artwork is available in prints, and where originals are available, they are for sale. You can find all of that over at shop.WildOzark.com.
If you’re interested in buying or selling in rural northwest AR, get in touch with me by phone, text, or email. I’m happy to help! I have a separate website for my real estate blogging and information at WildOzarkLand.com.
Call me “Roxann” or “Madison”, either one works.
Do you want to:
- learn how to make paints from rocks, soil, or clay?
- Begin Nature Journaling?
- Take virtual plant walks?
- Create nature art or crafts?
Interested in forming a partnership with nature to create art?
wpDiscuz
