Max, The Great Horned Owl

A Great Horned Owl's head fills the frame in a tight, angled portrait, its huge yellow eye and sharp black pupil catching the light, with a small dark mark at the tip of its beak hinting at a recent meal. The tilted head and intense, focused stare give the piece a raw, unposed quality, as if caught in a candid moment rather than a formal sitting. Brushed linework builds the dense, textured plumage around the eye and ear tufts, while glazing technique keeps the background spare so the owl's gaze dominates the piece.