Ravens by Chief Lelooska

Chief Lelooska was an artist devoted to preserving the arts of the Pacific Coast Peoples (among the Pacific Coast tribes are the First Nations of Vancouver, BC, where the Winter Olympics are being held this year). He was a carver and painter.

These images are from one of his folktales about the time before people, when spirits were active and the world was full of magic. These raven images are from the story Young Raven & Old Raven.

The artists of the Pacific Coast tribes used a distinctive style, consisting of form lines (mostly black), ovoid shapes to describe physical features, and few colors (red is most common, followed by blue-green). Chief Lelooska's work is respectful of these traditions, but at the same time he does a wonderful job of making his characters lively.

These images from Spirit of the Cedar People, by Chief Lelooska.

There is a museum in Ariel, Washington devoted to Lelooska. Its website is lelooska.org.