Susan Tooke at Long Branch Studios

Nude with Owl is roughly based on "Odalisque" by Ingres for the positioning of the model, painted from life. For the past five years, I have been practicing life drawing/painting and became interested in the nude as the subject for a series of paintings, deriving the settings from dreamscapes and local landmarks.  Several of my other paintings from this exploration are set in the Public Gardens. I am eager to get back into this work following completion of my last few illustrations for The City Speaks in Drums by Shauntay Grant.

My studio painting has lately been influenced by my interest in symbolism and dreams.  My dreams are particularly vivid, often threatening and anxious.  This is not completely a bad thing, as they are remarkable in themselves and the source of potential imagery.  The owl is a creature of the night, often known for wisdom, but also connected to the underworld and death. The penetrating stare of the owl. The eyes that can see into the depths of darkness. The head that can turn almost 360 degrees to follow and discover. The flight on silent wings. All of this in a creature full of mystery and primeval associations.