African Goshawk
Accipiter tachiro
This medium sized accipiter can be found gliding over its densely forested habitat. They primarily still hunt for their variety of prey that includes: reptiles, insects, mice, birds, and bats.
They nest in dense foliage building nests of sticks but also known for taking over nests of other birds.
This was a fun 11×14 panel to work on. I’m currently working on a larger 18×24 panel of a large South American raptor. Thanks for looking at birds with me.
Strix seloputo.
The Spotted Wood Owl is a medium sized owl. Averaging 18 inches tall. They are found across Southeast Asia. Its diet consists of rats, mice, small birds, and large insects. They roost by day, often close to the trunks of trees in dense foliage to avoid detection from other birds. They nest high up in trees, and lay up to three eggs at a time. They prefer nesting in partially clear forests and hunt in open areas. They can be found in populated areas, as well as remote regions and areas not easily accessed like swamp forests and mangroves.
My plan was to hold off on painting more in this series until I was settled in Chicago. But I found this old panel while packing and cleaned it up and went for what could best be described as an encore. It was such a privilege to get to paint all these here in Oakland, and I’m very excited for the projects to come in Chicago. Another huge thank you to all my friends and family for all the support. My goal with all this is simple; Share the birds of the world with you all. Now my easel is packed and my brushes too. Stay tuned for a Bateleur Eagle, found in Zimbabwe, Africa. Coming to you from the city by the lake.
And once more for good measure, thank you for looking at birds with me.
Wake up to find out that you are the Owls of the World…
Another map and new birds learned for it. One thing I really enjoy with making these maps are the amount I learn about each bird from each region. Getting lost in the books and maps, studying color and detail and letting my imagination fill in the gaps.
I mapped these owls from a chair in Oakland California, the only thing close to an owl around is a plastic decoy I bought on amazon for $10 to entertain myself (and my niece via video chat).
I was able to find the owls with the great aid of a wonderful book of owl portraits. “Beautiful Owls, Portraits of arresting species.” by Marianne Taylor and Andrew Perris. via Ivy Press.
It’s a really a wonderful book that anyone who fancies owls should have. From studying for an art project or just simply to be amazed by their beauty it’s a spectacular book that brings these absolutely incredible and mysterious birds from every corner of the earth to your hands.
It’s like book reports in 5th grade, except this one isn’t about star wars.
I almost forgot to tell you who’s Hoo….(see what I did there?)
North America: Snowy Owl
South America: Magellan Horned Owl
Europe: Tawny Owl
Africa: African Wood Owl
Asia: Western Siberian Eagle Owl
Australia: BooBook
I’ve been reading a great book by Denny Rogers about illustrating Owls. It has been very helpful.
Barn Owls captivate me more than any other owl I think.
I used to hear them out my window in the dead of night.
So to plywood then? indeed.
But in this room lies silence painted in watercolor.
The pile of sketches from the last few days keeps falling off the speaker cabinet in the corner of the room. The bass vibrations send them toppling down to the floor. Water color paintings and pencil sketches taking a brief flight to the paint stained rug beneath. Flight seems an appropriate word as many of them are hawks. Screenshots from my own dreamscape television program. Caught in the echoes. No sense seen in turning down the music. For it’s this moments bird with its talons still grappling my imagination tight. Caught on the wing in my childhood, they still never fail at carrying me away.
But I all ready wrote her that poem.
Hypothetically speaking mind you.
It was over the course of last week I put this together. However it’s been on my mind for the last two and a half years.
They are surrounded in history with legend. I too have a few good tales to tell that has an Osprey drawn into it.
farnco illustrations 