Sentinel at Dawn
Gouache on Claybord
October 2025
Karen Mitchell Tremmel
Just after daybreak one morning, I was fortunate to capture this male osprey as he stood elegantly on a branch near the top of one of the tallest trees—sentinel for his family nesting nearby at Fort De Soto Park. He gave me “the look.” Out of respect, I lowered my head and stood quietly. This quiet poise, learned over years, has granted me the rare honor of trust between myself and the wildlife I photograph.
My photos serve both as sketchbooks and as visual journals. One image from that morning became the inspiration for this painting, Sentinel at Dawn.
Gouache on Claybord
October 2025
Karen Mitchell Tremmel
Just after daybreak one morning, I was fortunate to capture this male osprey as he stood elegantly on a branch near the top of one of the tallest trees—sentinel for his family nesting nearby at Fort De Soto Park. He gave me “the look.” Out of respect, I lowered my head and stood quietly. This quiet poise, learned over years, has granted me the rare honor of trust between myself and the wildlife I photograph.
My photos serve both as sketchbooks and as visual journals. One image from that morning became the inspiration for this painting, Sentinel at Dawn.
Watercolour & Mixed Media
