The Night

A painting which took me over a decade to complete the way I had envisioned. I cannot really say how long it took me, as I worked on it in various intervals. When I first started it, the idea sprung from me quickly, and I barely planned it out. I drew it directly onto the canvas, with only a quick sketch in my notebook to get the idea down.

It was started in 2011, when I first moved back to the Sunshine Coast, after living in Vancouver. I had been pretty miserable living in the city for a few years, and as we discussed spreading our wings and moving along - I started to hear a raven's call each morning on my work commute. This was a bit unusual, as you don't typically find ravens in such built up urban areas. Every morning I heard it, and I took it as a sign that I was making the right decision in leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city. Just before I left, I visited my family on Vancouver Island, and I experienced a raven following me through the woods and calling at me the whole walk through. I couldn't help but feel it was a message to head back to the rural living where I felt at home. We decided on the Sunshine Coast to settle, and I have been gifted with many close encounters with ravens hereafter.

I didn't have the skills to complete the painting the way I wanted at first, so he sat neglected for several years. I honed my skills taking commissions, but they kept me so busy that I didn't have time for personal projects. I pulled him out to work on from time to time, but he needed dedication to be brought to life. I changed my career path, and once I made an income outside of my art, I found I was finally able to paint what my heart desired.

Finishing "The Night" was one of the most rewarding projects I have done to date. I repainted him almost in entirety, but he was far better for it. Let the raven bring on the night, the creative fabrics of space and time. And in the darkness, he also bares the light.

Photo references kindly provided by Paul Lantz
Paper and canvas prints available