TWO EAGLES ENTWINED
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
FALL 2015

     There is almost nothing as dramatic as watching two bald eagles come together, lock talons, and fall to earth.  Typically this event is observed in late winter and has to do with mating behaviors.  Currently, with the onset of late fall, we are beginning to see more bald eagles around the Skagit Valley.  My guess is their increased presence signals the start of the yearly migration.  To celebrate this event, I decided to do a painting that would show the aerial acrobatics of two eagles as they are about to lock talons and begin their downward "tumble".  To refresh my eyes as to what my mind remembers from previously witnessing such a wondrous event, I turned to the magnificent wildlife photography of Herb Houghton for inspiration.  Photos by Herb Houghton can be seen at his website: https://herbhoughton.smugmug.com/
He shows a great sequence of bald eagles engaging in such behavior and they were a huge help to me as I designed my painting.  Once again, I have been influenced by the Celtic Revival entrelac of Archibald Knox in designing the background swirls and spirals of the sky.  I made the frame out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.   I used the Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak to finish the frame.
 
DIMENSIONS:          HEIGHT:  27 ¼ inches
                                  WIDTH:  18 ¾ inches

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