First Painting of 2007

The Owl has long been regarded as a good luck omen and a symbol of wisdom.

Think the 'Owl-ish Professor'.

So I thought it would be highly appropriate if I was to paint a picture of this little fellow that dropped in for a three-day visit last spring. He's a Northern Saw Whet, measuring only about seven inches from head to foot. He is a tenacious little guy, though. He stood his ground on his perch outside our big picture window and fought off all comers, including some pesky blue-jays and even a magpie.

He posesd very compliantly for me to take quite a few wonderful close-up photos. I knew right then and there that he would make a great subject for a portrait.

Is it not also said that one's activities on and about the cusp of the New Year sort of casts the mold for the coming twelve months? With this in mind, I was only too happy to weave this painting into my schedule. I'm just so grateful that I have enough flexibility in my day to do something like this that is strictly creative. Very good for the soul.

This is a work in progress. I will pick away at finishing it over the next little while.