Owl Magic, Acrylic on canvas board, 12 ×16 inches, $250 + shipping

Painting Owls

In many cultures, the symbolism of the owl is diverse with multiple meanings- including wisdom, intuition, and death, not necessarily literal death but a symbol of transformation and change. Because they are nocturnal hunters with exceptional vision and silent flight, owls often represent the ability to see through deception and navigate the "darkness" of the unknown.

After a few weeks of vacation with little art making, I quickly felt rusty with my skills, and my self -critical inner talk had grown louder. As I returned to painting, I questioned my ability, my reach, and, well, the question arose,

“Why Bother?” if I’m struggling and sparring with algorithms?

Why not watch a movie or read a good book? (both of which I do, anyway). Sit back in retirement.

I’ve painted a lot of birds in the past, but recently I’ve been inspired by owls. I have painted them in watercolor and acrylic, on canvas, canvas board, and paper. I experiment with mixing colors and backgrounds. I often study images of owls and learn about them online. Watching You-Tube videos, I observe the ways they move, and I’m impressed by the turn of their heads, their eyes, and the expanse of their wings when they fly. Part of what I like while painting a series is the research about the subject, as well as growing my techniques.

All of this has been in the quiet retreat of my studio for the month.

I have recently pulled back from much of my Instagram and Facebook posts, and I recognize I’ve been negligent in posting my blogs as I struggled with what to do in 2026 after publishing a book, Take Me Home Please, and after three 2025 shows. I began to feel the trap of “performing” online for posts and reels while painting, and I came to a place of saying, What next? What do I want? What are the next steps? So I had to deepen my painting. Pull out the art journal and don’t share it all too soon. I still am feeling my way through the dark.

I have images I want to paint. Images with humor and color which reflects my love of animals and quirky characters. I loved illustrating a book and quickly wrote another children’s book in my journal. Now I’m taking the time to sketch and paint characters and scenes on paper and canvas. I’m looking at illustrators and painters who inspire me and asking myself new questions: What do I really want to paint? Why am I painting? What do I want to sketch? What do I want to write and illustrate? Why do I paint?

Painting helps teach me so many things about myself and the world:

The practice teaches patience, presence, and solving problems. I can express inner feelings and ideas through images. I practice seeing the world in new ways- not as evaluator or critic, but with an artist’s eye and heart of appreciation. I look at light, shadow, shape, colors, contrasts, and patterns, which, in turn, affect my relationship with these subjects. I also get to jot down images that appear in my imagination. Usually late at night or early in the morning, or when I hear or read something, a humorous or odd character or image will come to me, and I do quick sketches which I can choose (or not choose) to put in a bigger, more finished form. Painting is what I like to call “serious play” in which curiosity and wonder lead the way but thinking and problem-solving skills are equally part of the process. Some may say the left and right brain play their parts in the creative process.

(Left and Right Brain: a concept that personality and aptitude are determined by a dominant hemisphere. While specific functions are lateralized (for example, language in the left, spatial awareness in the right), evidence confirms that neither side is dominant. Both brain hemispheres are equally active and work in unison for nearly all cognitive tasks).

I’ll share my ongoing owl series. I’m also painting flowers and pet portraits and experimenting with plein air painting in our city. I continue with a book with cats. So there’s lots to come.

Thanks for joining me on the journey.-Marti