"Externalizing" Original Painting

Size: 12 x 9 inches

Medium: Graphite Pencil & Watercolor on Watercolor Paper (unframed)

Artist Signature: On the back of the piece

Artist: Hand painted by San Francisco Bay Area artist John Osgood

Year: 2024 as part of the Birduary Series

John's Inspiration

If you’ve ever flipped through one of my black books, you’ve seen how I layer random images—body parts, flowers, birds, words, and patterns—into intricate compositions. It’s a mix of automatic drawing and instinct, something that’s become second nature over the years.

Before my dad’s memorial in early January 2024, I turned to drawing as a way to relax and process my emotions. I’d recently been experimenting with combining pencil drawing and watercolor, so I approached this piece the way I always do: starting with simple sections to warm up and letting the composition evolve naturally. As I worked, I thought about my dad and how he was always a big fan of eagles (and these days, when I see one, I believe it’s his way of saying hello). The eagle became the focal point for this piece and the rest of the composition fell into place around it.