Long Island Cooper’s Hawk

Long Island Cooper’s Hawk Painting.

This Cooper’s Hawk painting was inspired by a hawk that landed in a Silver Maple tree in the Shadowmyst Art’s backyard, alert and searching for a meal. The hunt was unsuccessful for the hawk that day, but the rare, close encounter proved irresistible inspiration for this piece. On this day the hawk stayed in the tree observing the feeders in the yard for any small bird who dared to approach while the hawk was waiting.

Digital Painting | STYLE: Painterly Realism | SIZES: 8×10 — 11×14 — 16×20 — Custom sizes may be available. Click CONTACT to inquire | ORIENTATION: Landscape | TOOLS: Procreate, 13″ iPad Pro, Apple Pencil Pro, Giclée Fine Art Archival paper and ink | AVAILABILITY: Prints available | CONTACT SHADOWMYST ART FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ARTIST’S PROCESS:

Long Island Cooper’s Hawk was painted in Procreate on a 13″ iPad Pro using the Apple Pencil Pro. This technique replicates traditional painting’s depth and texture through layered digital brushwork. The process began with careful structural drawing, followed by multiple rounds of color blocking, value refinement, and detail work on feather texture to capture the species’ appearance and temperament. Shadow and light were built up using multiple Procreate layers and specific brushes, and the background stays true to the original reference photograph used as a resource.

CHALLENGE:

The rusty brown pattern on this hawk’s chest, which extends down to the legs, appears structured at a casual glance, but is actually random — determined by the edge of each feather and where it falls above the skin in different areas and movements. A Procreate brush was modified with a similar bristle pattern to create randomly shaped horizontal strokes across the base of each chest feather, recreating a pattern that reads as ordered to the viewer while remaining true to the bird’s natural randomness.

SUBJECTS AND THEMES:

Wildlife Art — Species Study — Nature — Wildlife Habitats — Birding — Cooper’s Hawk — Raptor — Bird of Prey — Long Island Wildlife — CONTACT SHADOWMYST ART FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION