Medium : Gouache on handmade paper

Size : 40" X 32"

The name says it all "Night's Watch", a creature that watches through the night: The Great Horned Owl. I have been fascinated by these majestic birds, native to the east coast of the USA for a while and have been trying to capture their true essence. This is a life-size portrait of Great Horned Owl with two separate miniature nightscapes in his eyes.

Painting is done using the decorative style of Indian folk art - Kalamkari. Style is known for its intricate designs and its very limited color palette: white is exposed paper, painting is drawn with black paint and only one other color than red is used to evoke the painting. I find this style very challenging. It is primarily used for textile designing. Decorative elements of Kalamkari help me transport my landscapes to the fantasy world.

Painting is done on 21" x 29" Khadi paper. It is custom framed in a black wooden frame with acid-free off-white matt.