My new website is so very nearly ready! Whilst I’ve had portfolios in the past, this is the first time I’ll be showing my digital projects and my more traditional illustrative projects side by side. Having kept them separate for most of my career, I’m excited to bring both together now and hopefully connect with new clients as a result.
I’ve had to learn a lot of new skills to build this website myself, and there’s definitely been a fair few challenges and frustrations along the way (though I design for digital, I’m certainly no developer!) but I’m proud of how everything has come together and can’t wait to share it with you! I’ll be dropping a little sneak preview here soon, so watch this space!
Well hello there, it’s been a while! I hope you’re all keeping well and are looking forward to the Spring (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere that is!). Rather than spend time making excuses for my rather long gap from blogging (everything’s fine, it’s just been busy times) I thought I’d do a little update of what’s going on with Owlstation right now.
Aside from client work, which I’m glad to say is ticking over nicely, I’ve been focussing on building my new portfolio website. It’s so nearly there!! And it’s been quite the learning curve, creating and building it all myself on WordPress using Elementor. It has also taken TIME – lots of it. I must confess I am very eager for it to be finished so I can get back to working on new products for the Owlstation Store, developing my creative skills, personal projects and blogging here of course! I want to make drawings again and get lost in art. Hopefully I’m just a few bug fixes away, though it is hard to tell when you don’t really know what you’re doing!
I’ve managed a few outdoor drawing sessions recently, which I’ve been better at documenting on my Instagram page. I’ll try to upload some of those here soon, and am definitely hoping to do more in 2023. A piece of work I was especially pleased with recently, was my Forest Guardian illustration. You might remember that a while back that I’d shared some character sketches for ‘forest guardian’ concepts. My plan was to hone in on a character and then illustrate a forest to drop them into (so that they could guard it). I used Crayola felt tips, oil pastels and coloured pencils to sketch a forest inspired by the Japanese Island of Yakushima. An incredible primeval forest covered in moss.
I thought the bright colours would make this a good image to share for this Spring update post. As where I am, the flowers are starting to show their heads, the evenings are getting that bit lighter and it’s even warmed up a little. Any signs of Spring where you are? Or if you’re heading into Autumn perhaps you’re enjoying the first blaze of colours. Either way, it’s nice to be back with you again! 🙂
Last year, just before the first lockdown began, I enjoyed a very special day out. My lovely friends had given me the gift of an ‘Owl Experience’ for my 30th birthday. The chance to meet, draw and learn about the beautiful owls of Knockhatch Sanctuary. So on a very chilly January morning, Adam and I set out on our Owl Adventure.
The two friendly and knowledgable owl Keepers met us at the park entrance and took us to their office; a cosy cabin stocked up with owl supplies. Frozen mice dinners, leather gauntlets, weighing scales, tools, feeding schedules and muddy boots. From then on in, we accompanied them in their daily owl care routine, picking up plenty of owl facts as the day went on.
First we were introduced to Pingu, a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl. We were very lucky to be allowed to hold him. He had very large talons and intricate peppery, grey feathers (we would get to draw him later!).
Next we met Blizzard the Snowy Owl and joined in with his exercise session. He was building up his flying confidence so was a little shaky in the air, but easily encouraged when a few morsels were offered up. He was spectacularly beautiful. His thick layer of feathers were the purest white. We learned from the keepers that snowy owls build their nests on the ground in the barren Arctic to which they are native.
After Blizzard’s flying session, we went back to the cabin to warm up and to say hello to Mufasa the White Faced Scops Owl. The Keepers encouraged us to gently stroke the feathers on his chest. He nibbled my fingers while I did so and kept me company while they checked the Winter weights of some of the birds to ensure they were healthy for the time of year.
Warmed up, we went back outside to exercise Steel the Siberian Eagle Owl. She was absolutely enormous, it was awesome to see her in flight, if not a little scary when she was flying towards you. I would not want to get on the wrong side of an Eagle Owl! We also met one of the Keeper’s favourite birds, the Great Grey Owl, with whom he had developed a special bond.
She was very affectionate and keen to be snuggled up to him which was lovely to see. However the Keepers reminded us that owls are wild creatures and always to be treated with the upmost respect. They should never be approached in the wild as they do not seek human interference. The owls at Knockhatch sanctuary are cared for very carefully and encouraged to behave as they would in the wild.
As an illustrator who loves drawing owls, being able to see these birds in flight, up close was invaluable. It gave me a greater understanding for how their wings work and the very particular movements of their heads and bodies. With the hands on part of the experience complete, Adam and I returned to the indoor sanctuary for a sketchbook session. We both got so much out of it and left with drawings of the Asian Brown Wood Owl, Steel the Siberian Eagle Owl, Blizzard the Snowy Owl, Pingu Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, a Spectacled Owl, African Spotted Eagle Owl and finally – Julie, the very noisy Kookaburra (who is of course not an owl!)
Aside from the drawings we made, Adam took fantastic photos and videos (used in this post), that I know will prove very useful for future sketching reference. I felt very lucky to have spent time with these spectacular predators and grateful for our time with the Knockhatch Keepers who look after their owls with great care, love and respect. Finally a huge thank you and shout out to my friends – the very creatively talented Amber, Fred and Summer. This was a very special present that I will never forget!
All photos by Alekadzie. Apologies If I have misremembered the exact names and gender’s of some of these Owls. I think I have recorded each species accurately, though you’ll forgive me if a year of pandemic has slightly muddled my memory of the day!
I’m very excited to announce that my new range of products are now available on the Owlstation Store…and to reveal that they are in fact Magic Portals! Giving you the power to open a door to a distant land and all from the comfort of your own home…
My new selection of animated magnets and greetings cards work with augmented reality, so when viewed through your smartphone, they will come to life in your hands! They feature two designs; an enchanted, fairytale castle and a cosy, forest cabin, perfect for the nature lovers and fantasy fans in your life.
After such a strange and challenging year of lockdowns, I really liked the idea that even if you’re stuck indoors, you’d be able to find a momentary escape into a magical world. Inspired by my love of Ghibli films (hello Laputa!) fantasy epics like Game of Thrones and also exploring in the countryside, I wanted the animations to be soothing. Billowing candy-floss clouds, soaring dragons, cosy fires and secret owls.
I was a bit behind getting the new range ready for Christmas (I think the emotions and weirdness of the year definitely played their part!) so it really means a lot to me to finally be able to share this with you and add these goodies to the Store – my own little secret hideaway and safe space to create the art that I want to make! I hope you enjoy them too!
This morning, I took a little time out from my planned work to draw some owls in my sketchbook. I’d been feeling the need for a little creative playtime for a while and finally decided to give into the urge for a few hours. I put on a podcast, grabbed a cuppa and just allowed myself to play. It was honestly so restorative and I’ll definitely be carving out some more time for this soon!
In my pursuit for drawing reference material, I came across this BBC Earth video ‘How Does An Owl Fly So Silently?’ and thought I’d share it with you. Apparently it’s to do with their large wings and small body, but the clip explains much better than I can! Barn Owls are such elegant, ethereal creatures, enjoy!
What’s been capturing your imagination lately? If you’ve got any recommendations for me, I’d love to know in the comments below.
Note: For the keen eyed among you, the second drawing is actually of a Short Eared Owl…Just wanted to share him in this owl post too!
Dear Friends, I hope that this owl post finds you safe and well in these challenging times. I know that we’re all facing challenges right now. From the smaller adjustments of our daily lives to the bigger and scarier realities that some of us are now having to face. I just wanted to send you some love and warmth. Some positive vibes and hope. Encouragement and strength to look after yourselves, your loved ones and others.
Just to give you a little notice – I’m going to keep posting illustrations and images of nature, creativity and pleasant things here on the blog and across my social pages. I completely understand if that’s not for you right now or doesn’t feel quite right given these heavy times. We’ve all got to handle this in the way that suits us best. For me, that means balancing news checking and Covid updates with some down time and escapism. Staying informed and in touch, but also allowing time for rest and calm – which as I understand is good for the immune system!
That’s all for now, take care in your hobbit hole,
Love Alice X
Owlstation 