Owl

After a long winter (Jan, Feb, Mar ’25), I was chomping at the bit for a project. I chose to do an owl (because I like owls) but mostly I was excited to try a new kind of concrete… SIKA Monotop 623F mortar. So, I chose a fairly small and easy project as the test run.

Internal framing was done with brown paper, kleenex box stuffed with polystyrene bits and foam sheeting all wrapped in hardware cloth. I didn’t follow any specific pattern but rather shaped it into a generic owl body like you’d see anywhere. For interest, I positioned the head looking back over the right shoulder.

Then a wonderful morning of sculpting with this new concrete mortar. The safety warnings were heeded and all the mixing was done outside in a well ventilated space. I must say, this new concrete is much different than the last bag I bought (Quikrete Sand Top Mix). I like how I can sculpt this Monotop 623F without it sagging. It sets up in 40-60 minutes so working quickly is important.

Choosing what colors to paint it would require knowing the owl species. Since I didn’t follow any specific pattern, I researched online which species my sculpture most closely resembles. It was a toss up between Great Gray and Barred. In the end, the eyes were the deciding factor. Barred owls have black eyes vs. yellow of the Great Gray. I thought the black eyes would show better in the garden.

I never did any sculpting throughout the winter because my studio was too cold for comfort. This springtime project was urgent, educational and very satisfying. If it scares away the deer from the garden, then I’ll be really happy!

Thanks for reading. This is my Barred Owl in the backyard.