The Raven – Halloween Art
Ravens are a Gorgeous Part of Halloween
This post is about a Halloween Art craft using Edgar Allan Poes “The Raven” but my reason for this post has a story, I promise the tutorial follows.
Ravens are my favorite bird, I fell in love with them in Fort St. John, B.C. It was -47 C plus wind chill and the ravens were outside my home surviving. They looked like large black balls of fluff with their featherless little feet standing on the ice had to be so cold. I respect them, they are a shiny beautiful strong black bird, they are survivors, they are very smart and I am very glad to see them celebrated as part of Halloween.
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Hubs works farther north than anyone should, way out in the middle of nowhere and of course there are still ravens. The ravens wait for the workers in the hope they can snag a good lunch. Hubs knows I love ravens so he takes pictures of them and brings me home feathers he finds laying around the work site. The workers have to be careful and keep their windows closed or the ravens will steal their lunches.
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When I look at this picture it confirms my belief that the source of the despair in “The Raven” comes from the narrators mind and has nothing to do with “Nevermore” he was simply saying his name and likely the only word he knew. Don’t you think this raven is more adorable than menacing?
Halloween Raven Art Tutorial
The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe is such a gorgeous, brilliantly written poem. Poe put the raven in the spotlight with his poem. I think everyone has heard of “The Raven”, especially around Halloween.
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To make your own easy Halloween raven art you will need:
Black feathers (Michael’s has them)
A shadow box or deep frame
The poem template (included)
A raven printable (included)
Dark black card stock or viny
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Print and cut out both printables. For my Halloween theme I wanted blood red lettering. If you prefer black lettering, print it in black and white instead of in colour.
Create a general placement for the feathers, poem and raven. Make sure that you can see the poem.
To make the printable look used I curled the corner with my curling iron. Attach the poem to the background with either stick pins or double sided tape.
Once you have the printable in place, pin or double edge tape the feathers into place.
Finally place the raven on the outside of the shadowbox.
If your interested in the poem I did a little reading on the poems analysis and have included some reference links for you.
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The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven is a narrative ballad about a bereaved young man mourning the death of Lenore the woman he loved. The young man self destructively interprets the ravens repetition of the word “Nevermore” until he finally despairs that he won’t be reunited with Lenore in another world. Summary and Analysis – Bachelor and Master
I chose not to use the most famous line from the poem although I love it “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary” instead I chose the following stanza because its focus is more on the raven.
“Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”
If you want to read the entire Raven by Edgar Allan Poe this is an easy to read version.
And a Raven reading by Tom O’Bedlam. I think playing this from behind the mirror is perfect for an adult party.
This is the first of my projects for Halloween, the vignette will likely move to our front foyer which is currently decorated with my fall decor and have some additional projects added to it. One last picture of my friends from northern Canada.
Let me know your thoughts on Ravens do you love them as I do?
Your shadowbox is awesome. We have lots of crows in Maine; I sometimes wonder if ANYTHING in my compost heap gets to rot; we tote a bucket out and a crow calls his buddies over! They eat well and have such glossy feathers. In cold weather, they expect a meal! I sometimes “waste” the old breadcrusts that could be used because I know my crows will enjoy them. I decorate my front hall for Halloween and it includes several crows; added a picture of rooks this year–new to me!
Looks amazing. raven halloween art.
What a cool & clever mix of art & poem. As a Brit, when I think of ravens I always think of the Tower of London but I’m sure we get them all over the uk, I’ve never really thought about it!
Loving this raven-inspired vignette! I think ravens are beautiful creatures any time of year 🙂 But this is one creative style idea that is a real stand-out for fall!
Hey Leanna…so I’m curious…I see the snow on the ground…is that right now? Yikes! If so you really are far north.
So very glad that the Raven has a place of honor in both the poem and in your home. What a great piece of Halloween decor and I loved that you incorporated that great poem.
Thanks for the little story and your project.
Happy Halloween!
Hugs, Lynn
Hubs works way north of Edmonton, but we have snow in our forecast this week unfortunately. It will fall and then melt “hopefully”.
I am very pleased you like the Raven idea and of course the poems quality is amazing.
Hope you have a great weekend.
I love your vignette for Halloween and ravens do scare me a bit…
Living in sunny warm Spain you would never see them all fluffy in the cold. It’s because I am Canadian and those birds stay and make it through the winters, I know you must remember lol.
Oh, wow, I love Ravens too! They are such majestic birds! I love your Halloween art. We have so many grackles here in PA and they look like mini Ravens. So cute!
I have not heard of a grackle. I am so looking them up. Glad that you love them too because I feel for them on those cold cold days when you see them out there in the freezing, temperatures.
Such a nice post! And yes, we have either Ravens or Crows. I can’t tell the difference, can you?
Ravens are a bigger and their head is shaped a bit differently. Truly though when they are flying or not nearby I can’t tell either. I honestly adore both of them though.
Looks beautiful… but scary. But works really well for Halloween!
it is for Halloween, but I was hoping I made a case for Ravens and Crows lol. Thanks for commenting.
EEeeeeeee!!! I LOVE this one Leanna! I have always loved ravens too (they are adorable!), and this project is just too cool for Halloween! Definitely will set aside time to make this- pinning now!
I like your vignette. In my mind it is scary. But then birds scare me so that could be why.