'Whoo!' by Bev Doolittle Lithograph

This item is a framed fine art lithograph titled 'Whoo!' by the renowned camouflage artist Bev Doolittle. The artwork features a vertical composition depicting a Great Horned Owl perched upon a birch branch, surrounded by delicate green leaves. Below the owl sits a small nest. True to Doolittle's style, the piece utilizes intricate detail and a naturalistic color palette of earthy browns, whites, and vibrant greens. The print is housed in a professional framing treatment consisting of a multi-layered mat: a narrow inner gold-tone accent mat, followed by a wide forest green primary mat. Centered at the bottom of the green mat is a gold-tone identification plaque displaying the title and artist's name. The entire piece is enclosed in a classic oak wood frame with visible grain patterns and mitered corners. Doolittle's printed signature and the copyright date (appearing to be 1986) are visible in the lower right area of the artwork image. The condition appears fair to good, with some light scuffing on the wood frame and visible reflections on the glass. The paper and colors appear well-preserved without significant fading or foxing based on the visual inspection. The style is representative of late 20th-century American wildlife art, specifically the 'camouflage art' movement Doolittle helped popularize.

Based on my visual inspection of this framed lithograph, I identify it as 'Whoo!' by Bev Doolittle, originally released by The Greenwich Workshop in 1986. The artwork displays the characteristic high-detail camouflage style associated with Doolittle. The condition of the print appears stable; the colors remain saturated, suggesting it has been kept out of direct UV light. However, the frame shows minor abrasions, and while the multi-layered matting is professional, there is no confirmation that acid-free archival materials were used, which can impact long-term value. The market for Doolittle prints has transitioned from its peak in the late 1990s to a more stable, secondary collector market. 'Whoo!' was a popular open-edition or large-run release, meaning rarity is low compared to her limited-edition 'hide-and-seek' suites. Recent auction results for similar framed Doolittle open editions typically fall within the $150 to $300 range, depending on the quality of the framing. High-end framing adds decorative value but not necessarily 'fine art' value. A significant limitation of this appraisal is the inability to examine the print out of the frame. I cannot verify the presence of a hand-signed signature versus a plate-signed one, nor can I inspect the paper for hidden foxing or mounting adhesives. Full authentication would require removing the backing to check for a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and examining the paper's edge for specific publisher blindness or edition numbering. For insurance purposes, I recommend verifying if this is a signed/numbered limited edition, which would push the value toward the higher end of the spectrum.