Catching the Light - Barn Owl by Robert Bateman

 

Published in 1989

 

"The most intriguing artistic challenge in this painting was to capture the quality of the slash of light striking across the feathers of the owl, breaking up the obvious shape of the bird into a new and fleeting pattern. I deliberately cast the owl's face in shadow - almost 'threw it away' - a sacrifice to artistic intent which perhaps adds to the sense of elusive mystery of this vulnerable bird." - R. Bateman