The owls are not what they seem

My abstract painting, The Owls Are Not What They Seem, draws from the unsettling atmosphere of Twin Peaks, but it’s true foundation lies in a strange collision between nature and artificiality right outside my window. The composition is deeply influenced by two real owls that frequently settle in the tree in my backyard, existing as silent, watchful sentinels whose mysterious nightly presence always makes me feel observed by forces beyond my control. I contrasted this genuine, haunting wildlife with the modern suburban trend of placing fake, plastic owls in gardens to scare away mice and rats. I have always thought those plastic decoys were incredibly ugly and soulless, and that jarring aesthetic heavily shaped the fractured, distorted geometry and harsh textures of the figures on the canvas, turning a common garden object into a symbol of modern dread.