About this artwork

Part of my quirky coloured pencil series where I also photograph the edge of my spiral drawing pad.

A cute, surreal, hand-drawn owl dominates the page like a living emblem — bright, bold and impossibly detailed. Its round body is a mosaic of jewel-toned blues and teals, each feather rendered as a repeating diamond or curl that feels equal parts folk-art and modern illustration. The patterning is obsessive and joyful: paisley swirls, scalloped edges and tiny concentric motifs layer across the owl’s chest and wings, giving the creature a tactile, almost textile quality.

The eyes are the real showstoppers — oversized, molten orbs of amber and burnished gold ringed with tiny strokes of magenta and black. They sit wide and inquisitive, pulling the viewer in with the immediate intimacy of a stare that’s both wise and playful. Leaf-like ear tufts arch upward like stylized antlers, echoing the swirling linework that ripples across the forehead and around the face, while a tiny, sharp beak of burnt orange punctuates the composition.

Perched on a simple, knotted branch, the owl feels like a talisman: handcrafted, authentic and full of personality. The white background and visible spiral binding of the sketchbook reinforce the original, made-by-hand energy — a raw, creative spark rather than something overly polished. This piece reads as equal parts children’s-book charm, boutique textile pattern, and contemporary poster art.