Najwan Zoubi: Realistic Chicken Art

This is the 21st post in my series When Art Meets Chickens. I’m someone who appreciates the visual and performing arts, but can’t boast that I have any talent in that regard. When I first saw Najwan’s painting of the chicken featured above I mistook it for a photograph. Even now, I have to remind myself that it’s a painting. Of course, as someone who loves both art and chickens I had to reach out to the woman who created it and ask if she’d be part of this series. Najwan happily complied and I’m pleased to present her work here.

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Who are you and what do you do? 

I was born in Nazareth, Israel and came to the USA when I was 22 years old, chasing after my dreams. Here I am today living on a little homestead, married to the love of my life and have the cutest little nugget named Leon. The answer to what I do is simply what God created me to be. I’ve been an artist since I was three years old and it’ll go on until the end of my days. 

How does that influence your work?

Being an artist has been my actual work since I was 16 years old. It’s my career and my passion. I see beauty in lots of things around me, especially in my backyard. When I go out for a quiet time I always know to take my phone and have it ready, that’s when part of the magic happens.  

What’s your history with creating art?

I’ve been creating as an artist for a while now, worked with some galleries back in my home country, and now that I’m in the States it’s a new road for me. 

How has your practice changed over time?

That’s an interesting question and I’m not sure how to answer it. 

Every time I took a long break from painting, when it was time to get back I feared the blank platform, only because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it again. It’s always be even better than before; at least, that’s my experience. I’m mostly self-taught and I work a lot from time to time especially when I have lots of inspiration and things just get better.

What work is most fulfilling?

Working with oils like the old masters. 

What was that process like?

The process always starts with tracing the picture I choose to work from, then I start mixing my oil paint to get what I’m looking for to match what’s in the photo and it goes on until finished. I usually don’t wait for layers to dry in between. That’s the beauty of oils they blend together very well, even after long breaks. 

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

The one that I always hear from people that see my work and those who commission me “you bring the souls and characters of everything your brush paints”. 

What motivates you to create?

Everything and anything beautiful! 

First experience with chickens?

First experience painting a chicken was in 2016 when my heart couldn’t bear the huge crush I had on my only white Silkie rooster, Angel. I loved him so much that I couldn’t stand not painting him and to make it even better I painted him with a human that I love (she was holding him in the painting). Since then, I started to pay more attention to chickens and their personalities that amaze me and inspire me so much. 

Do you have chickens?

Big YES. I have close to a 100 chickens that live in a beautiful mansion coop with a giant sage run that is roofed to protect them when it rains and snows. I also have goats, pigs, geese and a beautiful Great Pyrenees friend-guardian who protects them within a heartbeat while out free ranging.

How have they impacted your life?

Since I’ve raised them they’ve taught me to be way more responsible. They’ve stretched my patience in a very good way because some hens test me out of love. I learned to have fun while working hard. I won’t replace having a yard full of beautiful, stubborn, funny chickens with anything else! 

How do chickens inspire your work?

Just by looking at and watching them do their own things, especially when the perfect sunlight hits them while free ranging; that whole image inspires me to start painting when I can. Chickens are my best friends and I love capturing them in so many ways with my brush. 

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Many thanks to Najwan for sharing her art and story. You can check out her website and Facebook page to see the range of subjects she paints.