Wintertide - Red-Tailed Hawk
Original

FINE ART PRINT OPTIONS

Contact the artist about this original artwork

The development of Wintertide - Red Tailed Hawk

Artist's Comments

I am drawn to the fierce look of raptors and the Red Tailed Hawk is no exception. They are a stunningly beautiful bird and can be seen in various color phases from light to dark. The richly colored feathers, combined with the varied shapes and patterns are quite a challenge for an artist to paint.

To portray as much of this splendor as possible, I chose to depict this hawk mantling.  Which is often the pose they will display over captured prey.

When I look at a snow covered field, I do not just see a harsh, desolate, environment void of life.  For me the emptiness creates an almost Zen-like beauty. I enjoy the sculptural feel, texture, and rhythm the wind-blown snow drifts can add across this empty space, almost as if they are waves drifting across water.

To anchor this bird in a sea of white, I chose to add a thin veil of grass that extends into the painting from one edge. Constructing the overall grass design so that their curved shapes echo the form of the hawk’s head and beak.