Saturday, April 14, 2007

IF: Reversal of Fortune


There's an old, old raven that resides in a Cypress grove high on a craggy cliff by the sea. Legend has it he used to be a man who owned a jewelry store and was fatally shot during a robbery. The thief got away with several rare Aquamarines worth a fortune. The jeweler's widow lived in poverty after his passing because they had no life insurance. The Aquamarines were what they were going to cash in for retirement, but with them stolen and the jeweler deceased there was nothing left.

Old man Raven made it his life's mission to stalk that thief and get every one of the gems back. Each year or special occasion he would deliver one of the reclaimed gems to his widow which afforded her a very comfortable life. However, the jeweler's widow would gladly give up her fortune if only to have her husband back. Something tells her he's still with her, even now. She just feels it. How fortunate to know that kind of love!


Acrylic, colored pencils, faux gem on patterned mat board . Click to enlarge. (The jewel didn't reproduce well)

73 comments:

  1. ciao :D
    I like a lot the crow, yet scary.
    But maybe is only for the film I just saw.

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  2. this is a lovely strong picture.
    Your flashback was extremely moving.

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  3. I like the background effects...and the raven is nice...I think sometimes their beauty is overlooked as they are very strong birds with a lot of character to them...

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  4. ooh, very cool illo and story!

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  5. Very nice! Love the deep colors, and the story to go with it.

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  6. Love the painting and story!! A gem!
    The positive way of looking at the love and loss thing is a tough one to accept whole heartedly- but it's life.

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  7. I love the time you put into your work, always resulting in a very strong piece. Thanks for sharing the story too!

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  8. Beautiful painting (collage?) and story!

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  9. How do you make an eye so convincing and beautiful?! I feel like I am looking out my back window (though I don't have diamonds back there, just patches of sprouting plants, I do have crows.)

    I also like your green post very much. Beautiful work!

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  10. Quite creative. I love the attending story!

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  11. Congratulations for the atmosphere you have created through this story.Beautiful painting!

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  12. ohh that story gave me the shivers! lovely artwork too.. nice use of dark colors makes it more mysterious!

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  13. just passing threw darling,come visit

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  14. Great history!
    Deep and strong colors.
    Deep and strong soul!
    Thank you indeed for your comment in my blog.
    Cata.

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  15. WOW, I really like this blue bird!!
    Thanks for your lovely comment.

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  16. Brilliant piece! I love crows and Ravens. I love the tone you set for this illustration. The patterns and textures are orchestrated very nice.

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  17. This is too cool! Love the bird and the story behind the bird. Good marriage. A jewel of an IF:)

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  18. This reminds of a similar story we heard from the landlady at the Anchor Inn while passing through Ugborough, England. Excellent work! Your pictures tell wonderful tales.

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  19. A Stunning Raven. So refreshing to see!

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  20. This is absolutely gorgeous! It's intriguing!

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  21. what a strong piece and story. I like your illo in two layers. especially the black, blue and eyes. looking forward to the next one.

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  22. lov the textures color and pattens in this

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  23. Very Powerful illo and story...Crows are such a part of my childhood...my mom used to feed them...attracting too many to our area.... always Squawking.... even now I find a comfort in their noise! Well done...love the mystery behind the art!

    Alison Crowe is the artist who is singing halleluiah!

    http://www.allisoncrowe.com/

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  24. very cool...love your accompanied stories all the time! Gosh, I wish you lived closer so a visiting nurse could visit our 100 year old beagle!

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  25. i like the crow's texture as well as the pattern in the background. great painting!

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  26. Wonderful painting! Great story too. My grandfather was very superstitious about ravens and crows. He said that if you hurt one, all the others in the world would know it and they would make your life miserable.

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  27. The raven is beautiful. Your artwork is wonderful, and I loved the story, I love to get the chills and the story illo did that.
    Thanks, and again, beautiful post!

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  28. Recently I have become aware that ravens have so much symbolism in many cultures. Do you know anything about that? Or did you just choose a raven arbitrarily? I'm very curious about them...

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  29. fabulous story and amazing image xx Judy xx

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  30. Very nice illo! Like the style of the raven..very gloomy..really scary!

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  31. This is wonderful! I guess we must have been thinking similar things, although my painting has been in the works for a couple of weeks. I love the close up of the face and the way the jewel fits so well in the beak! The background in very opulent, and the stpry (as always) is delightful. Excellent work, Laurel!

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  32. I can't get enough of your art, and the stories to go with them. Beautiful work...beautiful talent...beautiful woman. I love you lots, dear sister.

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  33. You are so alive and rich with talent, imagination and insight. Your stories make you art come alive and your art makes the story real. I am so lucky to know you.

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  34. Splendid painting and touching story to go with. You make such a good point that wealth isn't a match for love and companionship. I've learned a lot about Raven here in the PNW, he's a clever guy. Thanks for sharing this lovely piece, Laurel, and I hope you are getting some mellow time in....Peace

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  35. Very nice story, and I love the details in the feathers. Nicely done!

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  36. Ohh... this is a marvelous story. She was fortuned indeed. Love is the best gift and the precious fortune one can have.

    Your illo is gorgeous, Laurel :)

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  37. Wow, what a story! I could see you doing a whole book of these fables and illustrations. A beautiful piece!

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  38. very strong elements to this piece.. like the collage.

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  39. I love the blue highlights in the feathers.So real, including the personality. We used to have a pet raven at my fathers cabin in Nova Scotia. His name, please forgive, Edgar Allen Crow.

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  40. Beautiful painting! you have really captured the oily blue black sheen of a ravens feathers. Nice take on the fortune theme.

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  41. Great story, Laurel! Your illo is great!

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  42. Magical atmosphere. Love your textured background and the stunning lively eye!

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  43. Powerfully beautiful! Great convergence og image and tale!

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  44. Laurel, I love the raven... it's so well done, & not at all "gloomy" like one person posted. In fact, I think he's quite a sharp, positive fellow who very much captures the strength of his species. And contrary to what you think, the jewel reproduces very well... maybe nowhere near what the original looks like, but since I'm not comparing it to anything, it looks like the precious jewel it's supposed to be.
    And I agree with all who commented on the rich background.
    How could anyone call anything about the painting "gloomy"? Strong, intense, provocative, mysterious, handsome, but never gloomy.

    Love you!
    XXXL

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  45. My goodness, Laurel, thank you soooo much for your incredible support you sent my way. Thank you!!

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  46. Hi Laurel,

    I wanted to let you know you've been selected for the "Thinking Blogger Award", please see my post at
    get zen. ;) ~Michelle

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  47. What a great design. I love the style! Great painting.

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  48. I love your raven! I just love birds.. I am going to start bird watching sometime soon. The background on this is amazing.
    word.

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  49. very beautiful!i love the background!

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  50. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  51. had to read the story before i could comment! it is really such a nice piece, i love all of the textures and patterns you used. :-)

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  52. That is a great painting. I love the colors. Excellent job.

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  53. I love the background purple and decorative feel. Nice story too...love is the best fortune! Thanks for your kind comments.

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  54. I love this painting and the story! Having had a pet crow, I'm glad to see stories with positive outcomes regarding these beautiful birds and intelligent birds.

    Also, thank you for your comment...

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  55. Great illustration, and what a treat to read the story with it. Thank you for your comment.

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  56. waht a beautiful painting. i like the detail in your illustration and great patterns on the background.

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  57. great painting and story! I really like the colors. Thanks for you comment :)

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  58. lovely colours and patterns.. and great story! and i think the gem looks great, on the smaller scale version of the picture, i thought you had painted it as well!

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  59. Great illustration and great story!

    Anette Heiberg
    www.wynlen.no

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  60. Love the story and the art! I have an affinity for crows/ravens because of a project I'm working on right now, so I especially liked this.

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  61. Hey lolo...

    check out the coloured stoves and fridges... teensy bit pricey!!!

    http://www.elmirastoveworks.com/northstar.aspx?src=ranges&sub=colors

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  62. So nice to see another BIRD! Thanks for your comment too... I love the Honeymooners, but never saw the bird-fortune episode... or did I ;)

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  63. I wrote a comment about this yesterday but it seems it got eaten somehow. A wonderful picture and story - what is the origin of this tale?

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  64. Wow!! Lots of comments on my birdie. I wonder what everyone was 'raven' about! Thanks everyone (blush.)
    Ian, I don't know why I did this particular subject for fortune. I made the story up on the spot...my brain is crazy that way. You'll see ravens come up a lot in my work. I find them mysterious but spiritual and very grounding. And thanks for coming back and telling me you posted this on the wrong blog. I didn't mean to ignore you :P I really do appreciate all of the comments and critiques from you guys! xoxo Lolo

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  65. Wow! Congratulations on the success of your show. The raven painting is hauntingly beautiful.

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  66. ...and what a beutifully written story to go along with your painting.

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  67. That is such a beautiful artwork that goes together with a beautiful and touching story! :) Looking forward to more :) Enjoy your weekend! »

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  68. This is a great rendition of a raven. You did the beak perfectly, a true raven.

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  69. Thanks for the reply about the raven story! That's a classic folk-tale you've dreamed up there - really resonant and fascinating.

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