Northwest Coast Raven Design

Raven
Acrylic on Canvas
6" x 12"
2006

Several years ago I used to do these carvings in wood by using a computer driven router for cutting. I studied the legend, drew the design, scanned it into a computer that digitized my lines, and transfered the information to a machine that did the carving. I no longer have access to that equipment and it took me 4-5 years to realize I could just paint them "trompe loeil", or as if they were carved but actually painted.

This is Raven. Ravens grow up to marry Eagles. Raven's never marry Raven's or Eagles, Eagles. This is forbidden. In this Raven design I have used the ovoid shape around the eye, in the eye, and as the nostril. The red shapes in the bill and head are called Split U's. They are purely decorations to the main design. The black form line is continuous forming the outline of the bird. Both the black and the red are on the same plain or surface. It's a challenge to paint the lines and shadows so that appear to be carved wood.

Voting Day at Saatchi Gallery

Salmon at the Dam
Acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"
2006








I have entered this painting in the Saatchi Gallery Showdown. voting starts February 11th and runs through February 18th. It's rather fun to see how many people actually view and vote for a work of art you have done.

There are four people on the dam. One is a woman and distinguished from the men by a lower lip ring. The Salmon has two eggs still inside it's stomach area and three already spawned, located in the center. I used an ovoid shape for them because ovoids represent multifaceted or jointed areas. These areas are around the eyes, the tail and fin joints as well in this design. At the bottom are three little fish designs representing the results of the struggle to get past the dam. Included in the Salmon body I have incorporated a Raven. If the design is tipped on to it's side, placing the people on the dam at the bottom, you will see the Raven's head, eye, nostril, beak, and tongue. The ovoid of the Salmon's tail is also part of the Raven's feathers. The reason I did this is because Raven guide the Salmon on their journey back and forth to and from the sea.
If you could place your finger on the black "form Line" of the Salmon's body you would be able to trace all the way around the major outline of the fish and it's major body design. It is one unbroken line. The red areas are secondary to the design and always placed on the same upper plain as the black. The blue is purely decorative. In some designs a creamy color is used too.