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The “Eyed Ravens” series emerged during a mini project I worked on at Sandra Baker-Finn’s studio. Sure, most ravens have eyes, but these two have more than just two or three—each brimming with eerie, intense gazes.

Sandy and I had been talking about monsters, probably inspired by my love for spooky themes, when we had the idea to create some of our own. I started by grabbing some large sheets of paper and charcoal and just sketched whatever came to mind. Those initial sketches still exist, though I don’t have photos of them yet—maybe I’ll share them one day.

After that warmup session, we decided I should paint my favorite sketch from the series—the Eyed Raven—in acrylics.

The second painting was even more spontaneous. I tried not to think too much and just let my instincts guide me. Learning to paint without overthinking or using references has been a long process, and I’m still working on it. Back then, I found it challenging to stay loose and avoid getting too specific with forms or outlines. By the end, I noticed that my approach got a bit more structured, but I still loved how the piece came together.

Today, the original hangs in my parents’ hallway, though prints are always available.