Great Horned Owls

A pair of Great Horned owls, set up housekeeping last spring in an abandoned crow's nest right beside our house, and hatched three beautiful, white and fuzzy natural born killers. They were so exciting to watch, and we reveled in their presence for at least a couple of months. Upon learning to "almost" fly we would awake to find them on our deck, or barbecue or just sitting in a tree waiting for their next meal. The father, who is smaller than the female, helps feed and raise them, and it is he who I painted. He may look like he's sleeping, but I assure you, not even close. He is watching over the brood as junior sits in a tree willing him to go get some more food. I only saw them feed once early one morning, and let's just say there isn't a lot of chewing involved. I found duck parts all over the yard, and yet there is something endearing about these majestic birds. These paintings will go into a moleskin book for my friend James Parker, who requested pieces with a wildlife theme.
oil on paper 5 1/2" x 8"