I’ve just finished the first painting in a new four-part bird series, and I’m genuinely excited to share where this idea came from and where it’s heading next.
This opening piece features a raven perched on a frosted branch, set against a bright sky-blue background. I wanted that crisp contrast: dark, velvety feathers against winter-white ice, with a clean pop of colour behind it. Ravens have such a strong presence — intelligent, watchful, a little mysterious — and they’re the perfect subject to start a series that’s all about character.
The inspiration: Wingspan (yes, the board game)
This series began in a slightly unexpected place: a board game called Wingspan. If you’ve played it, you’ll know it’s not just about strategy — it’s beautifully designed, full of bird facts, and it makes you look at birds differently. You start noticing details: shapes, markings, posture, the way each species has its own “energy.”
That’s what sparked this project for me. I didn’t want to copy any specific illustration from the game — it was more the feeling of it: the quiet focus on birds as individuals, and the joy of collecting and observing them.
Why a raven?
Ravens are one of those birds that feel almost symbolic. They’re bold, they’re clever, and they have a silhouette that reads instantly — which makes them a brilliant subject for a more graphic, contemporary style.
For this painting, I focused on:
- Feather texture: building up depth so the black doesn’t fall flat
- A frosted branch: delicate, icy detail to balance the raven’s weight
- A bright sky-blue background: a modern, high-contrast backdrop that keeps the piece feeling fresh rather than gloomy
Raven symbolism in art (and why it still resonates)
Ravens have a long history in art and storytelling, and they’ve rarely been used as “just a bird.” Depending on the culture and the artist, they can represent mystery, intelligence, transformation, protection, or even a messenger between worlds. They’re often associated with winter landscapes and liminal moments — that quiet pause between seasons, between light and dark, between the known and the unknown.
That symbolism is part of what drew me to the raven for the first piece in this series. I love how a single silhouette can carry so much meaning, and how you can shift the mood completely with colour. Pairing the raven with a bright sky-blue background was my way of keeping the piece contemporary and uplifting — more “watchful and powerful” than “ominous.”
And honestly, that tension is something I feel in real life too. When I spot a raven outside, it always brings a small, unsettling feeling — not in a negative way, more like a quiet jolt of awe. Against the sky, its black plumage can look almost like a piece of void: a cut-out shape that doesn’t quite belong to the daylight around it. That contrast is exactly what I wanted to capture in this painting — the sense that the raven is both part of the landscape and somehow separate from it.
My process (a little behind the scenes)
I started with the overall shape and posture first — getting that “stillness” right. Then I built the raven’s feathers in layers, paying attention to where light catches and where it disappears into shadow. Black is never just black, and ravens are a perfect reminder of that.
The frosted branch came later, almost like a frame for the bird. I wanted it to feel cold and fragile, but not fussy — just enough detail to suggest winter without turning the whole piece into a snowy scene.
What’s next in the series?
This is painting one of four, and the plan is to keep exploring birds that have strong personalities and striking shapes.
A few directions I’m considering for the next pieces:
- A different season or atmosphere (misty, golden, stormy)
- More bold colour backgrounds to push the contemporary feel
- Birds with contrasting symbolism (gentle vs dramatic, familiar vs unexpected)
If you’re reading this and you’re a bird person (or a Wingspan fan), I’d love your input.
Help me choose the next bird
What should I paint next for the series?
- A magpie?
- A robin?
- A heron?
- An owl?
Or is there a bird you’d love to see in a bold, modern style?
If you’d like to follow along, I’ll be sharing progress updates and behind-the-scenes moments as the series develops — from early sketches to the final details.
Milena Skulimowska Visual Artist 
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