Daybreak, in midsummer, an owl hoots in the woods. I’m seduced by this wild creature flying through the dark dense woods on his hunt. The idea of the owl haunts and charms me through the days. In Maine, where I spend my summers, she is likely to be a great horned owl, but I never see her. She’s a hunter in the night, and I hear her only at dawn and dusk.

 There are about 250 species of owls in the world, with 19 found in the United States. They are beautiful, fierce, and often feared or revered. Owls can be tiny or large, with lengths of around 5-28 inches (13-70 cm) and wingspans between 1-6.6 feet (0.3-2.0 meters).

Many species of owls are classified as endangered, and even more are considered threatened species due to loss of habitat. In my paintings, the owl confronts us. These paintings suggest there is a moral imperative to look closely at nature and act as a necessary witness, as wild spaces undergo rapid change and many species face the threat of extinction.