First People-style raven

BobD · #1 02-09-2005, 03:11 PM

Alfie (or anyone else),
My wife's totem is the raven, and I'd like to carve one for her in the native style...are there any good resources to find traditional raven images (besides youe website of course)

Thanks,
Bob

Colin_Partridge · #2 02-09-2005, 04:00 PM

Bob, I know this is not a Fox Chapel publication but these two books with give you everything you will need to know about Pacific Northwest Coast Native Art. Here is an attatched link for you. I have these two books and they are excellent reading with very great illustrations and explanations. The books are by Jim Gilbert and Karin Clark.
Colin
http://www.ravenpublishing.com/orderform.htm

LCorbett · #3 02-09-2005, 05:15 PM

WOW...thanks Colin!
Bob...my totem animal is Raven, too!!! In fact, my last name "Corbett" is a derivitave of "corbeau", which has French roots and means "RAVEN"...how cool is THAT?!

BobD · #4 02-09-2005, 05:26 PM

So have you carved any ravens Lori? By the way, I've had a chance to read through the new book...WOW. We kinda keep things separate between the magazine side and the book side (mainly too busy to mix much) so I didn't get to really see it until it was printed...Now I need to try a reaistic songbird!

Bob

Old_Gord · #5 02-09-2005, 05:53 PM

Two other books other than the ones Colin suggested (which look very good too) you might want to take a look at are not "carving" books per se but will give you some good info on the how and why's of Northwest Coast art and Totem poles.
"Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast" Hilary Stewart, ISBN 0-88894-29-x.
"Looking at Totem Poles" Hilary Stewart, ISBN 1-55054-074-2.

Also it's only a kids "How to make a Totem" craft page but it has a Raven pattern that you might want to look at.
http://members.aol.com/Art1234567/totempat.html

OG

LCorbett · #6 02-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Bob...I haven't carved a Raven...YET. It's going to be the very next carving after my decks are cleared of my current commissions. It's going to be somewhat unusual, in that it's a "Spirit piece". I had a dream of a White Raven and it's going to stay with me until I get it into wood. I'm sure your wife knows the significance of any white animal...they are the Messengers and the Keepers of the Essence of their kind. To have one appear, either "in person" or in a Dream is a direct contact...they offer themselves and bring a message...it's up to us to make sense of what they are telling us and to make use of it (Raven is especially cryptic, as he is also considered a bit of a Trickster and playful, much like Coyote). How Raven became my Totem is an interesting story.

Thanks for the nice words about my book, too! I was grinning like a skunk eating bumblebees when I got my advance copy. Fox Chapel did an EXCELLENT job with layout and design. Please DO make a songbird using the book, and then POST UP! If I can answer anyone's questions pertaining to the book, please don't hesitate to ask!

squbrigg · #7 02-09-2005, 08:58 PM

Hey Bob....perhaps you could carve a Raven for my ship model's figurehead? The Raven was a pretty little brigantine built in P.E.I. in 1873. She's in the scale of 1:64 so it would have to be pretty small!

Be a good first for you!

Bob

Nancy_G · #8 02-09-2005, 11:36 PM

Lori - are you going to tell us the story, pretty please ?

And if anybody carves a raven
I WANT TO SEE IT.

BobD · #9 02-10-2005, 09:22 AM

I'd love to hear the story too Lori! It's funny that you mentioned the coyote...one of my totems. I fluctuate between the wolf, coyote, and turtle...depending on my mood and theirs!

Bob

Callynne · #10 02-10-2005, 09:43 AM

Yes, Lori, I want to hear the story also!! I checked out your site, what wonderful work you do!!

I'm curious, how do you find out what your totem is? I'm real curious what mine and the hubby's both are.

A long time ago I read some where that in Chinese, hubby was an ox and I was a rat...it said we make a good pair...the light hearted rat keeps the too serious ox 'balanced'...what a hoot I thought that was...and so TRUE!

Callynne