#crowsandowls

Adding more details and color to the owl face. More to go... Watercolor on paper #artinprogress #watercolor #watercolorvideo #owlart #crowsandowls #owl #scopsowl #illustrations #fairytale https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zlJ-SIS9R/?igshid=4jcdnj2m1hn2

“Through his minister's words, the Owl king became sad. What kind of thing made a crow be such an avid owl friend? There is something uncertain here. But the old crow minister was ready for that and replied: - Your Majesty, let me tell you a story! - Well, talk! - If I were you, dear king - said Carkailo in a low voice - then Mr. Bubo would be my oldest minister here. He really is a great patriot and smart man, he genuinely cares about you. But, unfortunately, he doesn't know what he should know. That happened fifty years ago when you were a young owl, but then I  was already a minister. Once an owl flew far from the cave and could not come back until the dawn. A pack of crows found him and began to attack. I was flying by and saw that. I felt sorry for him and I called the crows: "What are you doing?" - "We found an owl! we have to kill it!" - they replied. "Don't you see, this is not an owl, this is a frogmouth!" - I replied. - a frogmouth?" - I reassured these crows that it is indeed a frogmouth and they let him go. I kept the owl in my nest till night and then I let him go. From that day, the owl was so thankful, that he never let any other owl come close to my nest. And from that day I believe that owls and crows can be friends...All the ministers were very moved by this speech, and the king himself had little tears in his eyes. Except for Bubo. - I did not hear anything like this in my whole life, - he said, - and this story did not reassure me. I do not know what kind of trick is that but my family and I will not stay here. I do not know - I feel there is some trick... But no one listened to him. Owls happily accepted Carkailo as their brother and let him stay in their cave. Seeing that, Bubo collected all of his relatives and that night they left the Owl cave. The next day,  at the dawn, Carkailo took a good look around the cave, which had only one narrow entrance, and said to himself: - This cave is called to be their defense! But this place is inherently sudden death and eternal danger, not a defense. Just wait, I'll show you what your defense will be here! He covered his eyes with his wing and said to the owls: - Dear brothers, there is no place for a crow in the owl's nest. I will stay with you, but I will build my own nest at the entrance of your cave, so I can see the sunlight and guard your home in daylight! So the crow minister began to build his nest out of old twigs, laying in front of the cave. Later, then he found some power to fly, he collected dry grass and leaves and made a bed inside of it.” ...to be continued. // Based on the fairy-tale by Ivan Franko

“The Owl king was living with all of his nation in the wast and deep cave.As the owls brought the crow minister inside, everyone came to look at him. There were all kinds of owls, big and small, huge and tiny, with their round and yellow eyes following every movement of the crow.- What are you one for and what do you have to tell me? - Asked the Owl king dreadfully.- Mighty and glorious king, - said the crow minister, barely on his feet. - My name is Carkailo and till today I was the oldest minister of the Crow king. But because of my attachment to you, because of my advice, I fell out of favor, suffered shame and beatings, of which, apparently, I will not recover.- So where did your king go with all his people?- They flew away out of fear of you. I advised my king not to compete with you, to send you messengers with gifts and to live with you in harmony. The king not only disobeyed my advice but recognized me as a traitor and almost killed! Oh my! Please tell your people to give me some water and take care of me, I am about to die soon! I would like to reveal to you all the plans of my unfortunate king and his evil advisers. I was at their meeting. I heard what a hell of a thing they came up with in front of you, and I wanted to warn you before dying.The Owl king ordered to give water to Carkailo and asked, shrugging his wings:- What diabolic plans did he have?- To attack you at daylight while you sleep and kill you all! From that day I got worried about your destiny! Because I knew that by day you were unarmed just like we were at night! That would be a war with no dignity and it will not bring us glory. So I decided to warn you, and for that, I was so badly punished!Everyone in the cave was silent when they heard the story. The Owl king looked worried. He also had five ministers. So he called them to his meeting and said:- Ministers! Now we know the plans of our enemies, and we have their minister as a prisoner. What shall we do?The ministers thought a bit and the first one said:- Your Majesty! We are very lucky to have this crow here. We can use his wisdom and advice for our own good. The second said: - I, dear king, think that we should take advantage of the ally that comes so unexpectedly. Let us welcome him and be grateful that he has warned us of the dire danger! - I just think that weneed to take advantage of this crow's advice on how to continue the war with the ravens,- the third one said. - I also do not mind the hospitality of our captive. If he is such a sincere supporter, let him guard our castle in the daytime, - said the fouth minister. But one minister stayed aside. It was a very old owl, named Bubo.- I have no trust in his words. Why he has to be our friend? I see no proof of his words. I would advise you to keep your eye on him!” ...to be continued. Based on the fairy-tale by Ivan Franko

"..and the Owl shouted, - Haaaaa, mean Crow! I know you set them against me. But wait, I'm not giving you that. From now on, I and all my tribe declare war on you and your tribe, until the Owl become the King over all the birds." - This war, my king, - the old minister ended his story, - is still going on and will never end, probably, because there is no hope that the birds will once again choose an Owl as a king. - So what do we do in that case? Asked the Crow king. - All ministers suggested you good plans, but to defeat Owls, we need them all together and add a bit of tricks, - replied the old Crow. - Very well, the king agreed, but how we will do that? Tell me if you know, because I won't think of it. - I know one way,” the old Crow said, but I can only tell you in private. The next night, when owls flew out of their mountain, they were surprised because the forest seemed to be empty. Not a single crow was sleeping in their nests. They were watching carefully, and finally, they found an old crow laying under a big oak tree. The crow seemed to be very sick. - Ah, here you are! - the owls shouted and rushed to tear him apart. - Hold on, gentlemen, - the old minister (it was him) said in a weak voice. - Don't kill me! You see, I'm so close to death. But I beg you, bring me to your king! I would like to tell him one very very important thing before dying. The owls listened to the crow's request, took him lightly by the wings, and brought him to their king.” ...to be continued. Based on the fairy-tale by Ivan Franko

watercolor on paper

“Once upon a time, there was a forest, where a pack of crows was nesting. They were so many, so any other animal or bird could live in. But in the middle of the forest were large bare rocks, with a large, spacious, dark cave where owls lived in. Their number was as big as a number of crows in the forest. At day crows were masters of the forest, croaking, sitting on trees and rocks, feeling completely free. But when night comes and the crows are falling asleep in their nests, then the owls are flying out of their cave,  flying straight to the crow nests, killing one crow at a time and eat them. Not hearing the silent owl flight, not seeing in the dark, crows were helpless. For a long time, they were facing their fate patiently...” //to be continued! // illustration for the fable "Crows and Owls" by Ivan Franko