Description
Ghost of the North – Great Gray Owl by Robert Bateman
(36 x 48; Renaissance Edition Giclee Canvas; Edition Size 50; $1965.00 U.S.) (30 x 40; Renaissance; Edition Size 180; $1495.00 U.S.)
“The great gray owl is truly a ghost of the north. It is fleeting and silent. It seems to be
the largest of the owls, but it is mostly feathers and weighs much less than the great
horned owl. Its wing feathers have downy edges like other owls, making its flight
totally silent. The colors are subdued, and the patterns provide excellent camouflage.
I wanted to portray this ghostliness in the painting. This is why I gave everything a
flat and hazy look. the colors are restrained, and the owl blends perfectly with the
tree. The tree is an aspen, one of the typical species of the owl’s habitat
in the boreal forest.
I made the entire painting an allegory for the face of the owl. The most spectacular
thing about the great gray owl is his face. It consists of two huge saucer-shaped
disks with concentric and radiating patterns centered on the eye. He also has a
white ” beard. ” I treated the tree trunk as the beak axis and made the twigs
and branches radiate like the owl’s facial feathers. The real owl’s head is located
where the eye would be if the tree represents the allegorical owl’s head. I have
even used the idea of the beard for some light areas of the background.”
Robert Bateman
Biography
Robert Bateman has been called the most famous living artist. He continues to paint and tour the world to promote conservation and preservation of nature. We have represented Robert Bateman for decades and are now the sole publisher and distributor of his reproductions. We are so honored to work with him and witness his success. He has made such a massive contribution to the art world and the natural world as an artist and educator of the earth’s most important resources.
Nature as a subject is becoming more and more popular as our environment is in peril. What better subject is there than the beautiful creatures we share this world with? Robert Bateman’s appreciation and understanding of nature are apparent in his paintings. He is able to paint flora and fauna the way your eye would perceive it in real life. It is important that the animal takes full attention. The background becomes muted, and therefore it doesn’t take too much focus away from the subject. His paintings seem effortless and masterful all at once.
Bateman’s eye for composition is unparalleled. Each painting is a composed like a symphony, leading the eye to wander. From the backyards of North America to the sprawling plains of Africa. Robert Bateman captures nature the way it should be enjoyed. Above all he is a champion of wildlife. For this reason he has become a household name for art collectors.
