Pensive 4 X 6 X 1/8 inches. Acrylic and paper on wood.
In my dog walking adventures we occasionally see a raven looming large amongst the crows feasting at low tide.
Ravens are extremely smart, have great survival skills and often develop local dialects, so their caws and other vocalizations will vary from place to place. They are believed to mate for life and both mom and pop care for the young before it's time to leave the nest.
While Edgar Allan Poe did much to add to the Raven as a bird of curiosity in North America and beyond, the Brits have plenty of Raven lore too.
The Tower of London keeps Ravens permanently. A legend dating back to the 1600's says that if the Ravens leave the Tower of London, the fortress, the British crown and kingdom will fall. (More about the Tower Ravens is at Historic UK)
Maybe it's the intelligent stare, their curious nature, their common yet mysterious presence, their sheer adaptability or a combination of all these that make the Raven a lasting figure of legend, lore and interest.
To me they are both beautiful and ordinary, which makes them endlessly appealing.
