Wall color:
|
The inspiration for my painting "Tofino Beach Bums" came during a hike along the vast expanse of the wild Pacific Rim National Park beachfront.The rhythmic beat of the wind and waves was woven with "raven talk". The Common Raven were our self- designated guides who demonstrated their complex vocal range from jarringly guttural to soft musical tones.We were entertained with impressive aerial displays and cocky walking plus a running commentary in a self-satisfying cackle, as if we were the subject of a joke. I have no doubt that was true. The Common Raven sports a luminous inky black-feathered sheen on a strong body.The combination of its physical structure with an amazing intellect and a curious nature makes for a remarkable bird. It is no wonder ravens are revered throughout history. Be it a trickster, sinister nature or spiritual figure the raven has a notable place in many indigenous cultures, folklore and mythology. Significantly the raven repeatedly appears in art imagery such as Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven", J.R.R. Tolkien's novel "Lord of the Rings" to Bill Reid's powerful Haida sculpture "The Raven and The First Man."
Dorset Norwich-Young
