Why owls?
"Why Owls?" This is a question I get asked quite a bit. When people see my art for the first time, it often takes them a second to realize that every character they see is an owl. But why owls then? What is so special about those birds that makes me portray them over and over again in my paintings? And almost every single time I hear this question I have the temptation to come up with the most ridiculous and unbelievable fairytale to spice things up. Like, when I was a small girl, I got lost in a forest, I got adopted by an owl, and it raised me as one of her own.
But all jokes aside - I don’t know why owls. One day, eager to create something unique and different, I was so overwhelmed by emotions and the struggle to find my own style that I sat down and painted Frida Kahlo as an owl. It came to me out of nowhere, and in that very moment, as surreal as it was, all the pieces of the puzzle just fell into place. What I created, hit just the right spot of my artistic essence. I found a concept that allowed me to tell a story by not only using words but with paint and canvas. The owls became that instrument. I basically started to owlize everything that inspired me, developing it into a series. From people to moods and emotions, amazing places and memorable experiences, capturing and preserving them using color, patterns, and symbols.
To showcase the uniqueness of each character, I create a story for each owl in order to reveal its’ personality. Sometimes, the story comes first, sometimes it’s the other way around. But quite often, they come to me at the same time.
Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate to see the many ways of how people relate to my creations. Some people find an owl, whose vibe and personality inspires them and they get is as an inspiration, or a motivational totem of a sort. Others, match the owl personas to friends, family or loved ones, making the owl print a great and a thoughtful gift attuned to the person receiving them.
There are three ways to find the right owl:
The first and most common approach, is to allow your eyes to guide you. By further reading the included story, you’ll get a further understanding of your chosen owl’s persona. This way usually works if you’re shopping for yourself.
The second way, which works well when looking for a gift - is to read the stories first, and see which owl’s personality relates to the person you are shopping for. I often advise people to be creative and to see beyond jobs and titles of their target individual (for example: “My friend is an accountant, do you have an accountant owl?”). Try to think of what this person likes, what he/she dreams about, and it’ll open a lot more options, making your gift a lot more special.
The third, and the most important way is - there is no right way. Just let your heart and imagination lead you.
I hope that by allowing my creations into your home, they’ll be able to bring you just as much joy, as I’ve had while creating them.
Love, Eve
