Closing out 2022 with a Saw-whet

Northern Saw-Whet Owl

Bird 73/100 Northern Saw-Whet Owl

With their beautiful cat-eye eyeliner and diminutive size, I don’t know how an owl could get much cuter. At just over a half a foot tall and only weighing a bit more than an American Robin, Northern Saw-whets are one of the smallest owls in North America. I’ve never seen one of these in real life, but when I actually do, I will likely trip over my own feet, drop my camera, faint, scream, or all of the above. While I generally try to only illustrate birds I’ve personally seen in LaBagh Woods for my 100 Birds of LaBagh Woods project, I just couldn’t wait anymore to illustrate one and complete my 73rd species of this series. Northern Saw-whets have been reported in LaBagh in past years, so I’ll keep scanning the trees, ever hopeful of finding one there someday.

Earlier this year I had aspirations to complete my 100 Birds of LaBagh Woods project. Well, while I didn’t make the progress I had originally hoped, I did have a whole lot of fun (with some amounts of frustration!) building my photography skills, filling my sketchbooks with gouache and colored pencils, experimenting with other forms mixed media, and of course, spending time with birds.

Quick Saw-whet practice sketches from reference photos

Art challenges (like #100birds projects) can be great motivators and help artists establish regular practices, but really the most important thing is to just show up regularly and keep making art. When I first started this project it was exactly what I needed to get my regular art practice going. Now, working in analog is what current lights me up and gets me excited to create. I still love working digitally (this Saw-Whet was so much fun!) and I’ll keep chipping away at this digital art project, but I’ll also keep exploring and experimenting with other media. No matter what, I’ll keep practicing and share what I create with you!

To celebrate the close of 2022 and help fight off those winter doldrums with a big dose of cuteness, I’m sharing my Northern Saw-Whet illustration with you as a free phone wallpaper. Head on over to this page to grab your download. You’ll also get signed up to get occasional shop updates (re-opening here in 2023!), promo codes, and future freebies!

Happy New Year!