Barn Owl Dreamscape

Deborah Trent, 2021 · Watercolor on paper

As you might guess, I love owls—and there are many in the woods beside my home. I found myself wondering: do owls dream? This piece imagines what this owl might have seen in sleep. It’s one of my earlier explorations in watercolor.

Inspiration

I’ve watched owls hunt in near silence. Their facial discs—almost heart-shaped—funnel sound precisely to their asymmetrical ears, letting them pinpoint prey even beneath leaves or snow. With hearing said to be about ten times sharper than ours, their hunts are remarkably efficient.

Artistic Process

I love the coloring of Barn Owls. In this piece, I let the yellows and oranges flow into one another to suggest the overall texture of feathers. The hunting scene is intentionally left indistinct—like a dream.

Brushes: Round 2, 1" stroke, Fan 2.
Paints: Ivory Black, Titanium White, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow, Lunar Black, Burnt Sienna.

Reflections

Barn owls live on every continent except Antarctica, a testament to their remarkable adaptability and ability to thrive in diverse environments.

Date of Creation

March 04, 2021