Bald Eagle ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Little Wonders every detail a testament to

every detail a testament to its strength and agility

I painted this freehand on archival cotton rag paper with Kissho Gansai pigments from Kyoto

Belted kingfishers are loud

The pileated's striking red crest demanded pigments that could hold both intensity and transparency — the Gansai reds deliver that beautifully

the great grey owl commands through stillness

Bald Eagle ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Little Wonders every detail a testament toThis bald eagle pastel art strips away the patriotic symbolism and shows the bird for what it actually is a massive, fierce raptor with a seven foot wingspan and a gaze that makes you understand why nothing in the sky challenges it. I wanted to paint the eagle you'd see if you came around a bend in a river and found one staring at you from a dead tree. Not majestic. Not symbolic. Just powerfully, undeniably present. I worked in pastel for this piece