Art Admiration: The Magic of Owls
Why do I love owls so much?
Anyone who knows me knows that I adore them. I have pictures of owls all over my home. I have owl jewellery, owl clothing - I even adopted an owl for one of my icons here. They are rich in myth, literature and folklore, from Athena to Shakespeare to The Ladies of Grace Adieu. It feels as if, when you look into an owl’s eye, the whole universe stares back.
On a summer family trip to Scotland as a child, I have a vivid memory of a walk at dusk, near the edge of a dense forest, and a barn owl flying close overhead. My parents purchased this painting by Julian Friers on that same trip, and it still hangs in their house and evokes a powerful nostalgia.
I have drawn more than my share of owls over the years, but I am still working towards capturing that magical essence that I see in them. Maybe I will never achieve it, but I will never tire of looking at beautiful owl art.
Valerie Greeley, one of my favourite artists, captures that magic, and I especially love her owl paintings.
Owls have that intangible air of the spectre, owing to their (mostly) nocturnal flights. Where I live in the north Cotswolds, its not unusual to see and hear owls when returning home late at night. On more than one occasion my car headlights have fallen on a barn owl, poised in the middle of the road over a recent kill, eyes regarding me with passive interest.
I was lucky enough to handle, feed and fly owls recently, and it was a wonderful experience. This barn owl named Willow had such an ethereal grace despite being a friendly and sociable bird. I thought about him for a long time afterwards.
Do you share my love of owls? I would love to know what they mean to you…
Thanks for reading!
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