Owls: The Paintings of Jeannine Chappell

Owls are curious creatures, and perhaps no one is more captivated by them than artist Jeannine Chappell. In 2011, Chappell’s 26-year-old son, Alex, was killed by a drunk driver. In her grief, Chappell saw the subjects of her paintings in a new light. Owls are often associated with death, but they also thrive in the dark—they can see paths others can’t. Owls showed Chappell a way through her grief to a place of healing, like no other subject could. The resulting portraits embody introspection, strength, fierceness, and joy. For centuries, owls have swooped into our stories, from folklore to classic literature to modern film, but their presence is much older. The first fossil evidence of these feathered creatures dates back about fifty million years. In that time, they evolved nighttime vision and hearing vastly superior to that of humans. Many developed broad wings and feathers that allow them to fly slowly, nearly hovering above prey before striking, and they have a reversible toe so they can shift from three talons forward and one back to two each direction. All of these elegant tricks were shaped by time, creating a bird that is simultaneously beautiful and ferocious. Owls: The Paintings of Jeannine Chappell presents more than forty paintings, from the great horned owl, with its tufts and intimidating gaze, to the snowy owl, with its exquisite white feathers. The artist’s notes about each species are included, along with a step-by-step review of her technique. Chappell’s narrative about her connection to owls is as powerful as the images themselves.

Jeannine Chappell