Earlier this summer, I completed an acrylic painting of a Snowy Owl. I painted the piece with hopes of being selected for a print. The painting failed.
Head detail
The Snowy Owl is a beautiful owl. I have never seen one in the wild since they very seldom drift this far south in my state of Pennsylvania. A few years ago one was viewed for a short time near my home. The bird was often spotted on a barn. So, for me I studied available photo images of the owl, before setting down and drawing a host of layout ideas. In fact the original concept occurred during the spring gobbler hunting season. I sat in the woods doing thumbnail sketches. I would choose from them several ideas that I liked. Following the final selection, I began doing bigger sketches until I came up with the image shown below.
After I started this painting I went through a time of internal debate of the positioning. The idea is this owl has the wings dropped to hide the recent catch of a mouse. The tail is spread in a defensive mode. I wondered if this position would be understood for anyone viewing the painting. I have seen Great-Horned Owls do similar shows of defiance. I decided to leave the idea as is. 
I actually saw one back in 92 in Norh Hunting. Near the Trafford Sportsman club. Sitting in a dead tree. I called the Pittsburgh Aviary but by the time someone came out we could not locate it nor did anyone else report it. But it was a beautiful sight and burned in memory forever.
Jeff, Great memory I am sure. You were blessed to see one. I should have went to Worthington to see the Snowy owl, but people were stopping around the people’s property and I didn’t want to play that way.