Autumn Afternoon - Great Horned Owl by John Mullane

 

"I always associate autumn with the great horned owl, so I wanted to paint one surrounded by colorful foliage. I was drawn to this tree, covered with autumn leaves, in the very light that Ihad been searching for. The colors of the bark, mosses and lichens would unify the composition with the cryptic plumage pattern of the great horned owl, and the gold leaves, backlit by the late afternoon sun, would echo the owl's golden eyes.

"By coincidence, two days after I finished this painting, I saw it come to life, complete with the owl, in the same late afternoon light. I was bird-watching with my two brothers, and there it was - I spotted a great horned owl's eyes and distinctive shape in a setting very similar to my painting, minus the golden leaves." - J. Mullane.

 

Print released 2000