"Death"
5x7"
Watercolor on watercolor paper
For Sale ~ Contact me if interested! arden@ardenellennixon.com

**This painting is featured in my "Into the Wild" 2010 Art Calendar, now available at my online store: [link]

Since I chose a nature/wildlife theme for my Tarot deck, it only seemed appropriate to have death represented by something human. I'm not a proponent of the philosophy "Mankind is only capable of evil," but I do agree that more often than not our opposable thumbs are used to create more harm than good. Thus, I thought nature might enjoy some symbolic payback!

I wanted winged harbinger of death, and I thought that a raven, with its myriad shades of black feathers, would be perfect. Ravens are beautiful birds, save for their voices, and even their chatter is not without pleasantness. No one is immune to their attentions, anymore than even the raven, itself, can escape death. We are all apart of the same cycle. *Cue the opening chords of "Circle of Life"*

My thanks to [link] [link] and [link] for the excellent photographs on which this raven and his fellow deck members are based.

Prints, mugs, and more are all available at my Cafepress store! Visit Arden's Miscellany here [link]

Visit my online gallery & portfolio at [link]

None of my images are to be used without express written permission. Woe to any who choose to steal, for so mighty is my art wrath, not even I know its bounds.