Crow in a Beech Tree

"Crow in a Beech Tree"
11x14" mixed media on paper

It is January 2022 and in Ontario we are in another stage of lockdown. It is a depressing, hard reality. A recent sighting of a crow amidst the flapping yellow leaves of a beech tree led me to ponder the gift of unexpected colour contrasts in hard seasons, the tenacity of nature, and the symbolism of both crows and beeches. A beech tree is an ancient symbol of protection, associated with knowledge and wisdom, a keeper of lore. While a crow has many symbols, one that resonates with my observations is that of trickery. Crow is a trickster and a gossip, cannot keep a secret, will always sound the alarm, and is incredibly clever and resourceful. While it is associated with chaos it is also known as an innovator, and can bring about change. So I scribble and paint a crow amid the beech leaves and pray for continued protection, tenacity, wisdom, innovation, and change for the world that frees us from pandemic tyranny.