A Murder and a Mob captures the raw, theatrical territorial tension of the West Texas high desert, transforming a fleeting wildlife encounter into an ominous, mythic standoff. Perched atop weathered wood and sun-baked stone, two Chihuahuan ravens hold their ground with calculated calm while a mob of Northern Mockingbirds—the Texas state bird—launches a frantic aerial assault.
The composition draws direct inspiration from a remarkable field photograph and account by Big Bend photographer Tim McKenna:
"Living in a wild place has its advantages. I am fortunate enough to be able to witness life in many forms, right before my eyes and my camera. Here a Chihuahuan Raven is being mobbed by two Mockingbirds relentlessly. After a couple of minutes of this, the raven took off over the cliff face with his two tormentors in tow. Viva Big Bend!"
Executed in an expressive Post-Impressionist style, the work explores a dialogue between fierce desert heat and cool, shadowy tension. The foreground glows with desert ochre, raw sienna, and rust-toned gravel, anchored by sculptural succulents and a distant plateau. Rising above are the heavy, armored bodies of the ravens, painted in saturated Prussian blues, deep violets, and burnt embers. Their pale-rimmed eyes and needle-sharp catchlights radiate an uncanny intelligence. Above them, swooping along diagonal atmospheric sky striations, the attacking mockingbirds flash stark titanium-white wing bars, creating an electric rhythm of motion against the brooding weight below.
Artwork Specifications
Title: A Murder and a Mob
Dimensions: 18" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Professional Gouache
Support: Gallery-wrapped stretched canvas prepped with absorbent watercolor ground
Edge Profile: 1.5" deep gallery edge (painted/finished, ready to hang without a frame)
Subject: Chihuahuan Ravens (Corvus cryptoleucus), Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), Chihuahuan Desert landscape
Region: Big Bend, Texas
Originality: One-of-a-kind original painting, signed by the artist.
A Murder and a Mob captures the raw, theatrical territorial tension of the West Texas high desert, transforming a fleeting wildlife encounter into an ominous, mythic standoff. Perched atop weathered wood and sun-baked stone, two Chihuahuan ravens hold their ground with calculated calm while a mob of Northern Mockingbirds—the Texas state bird—launches a frantic aerial assault.
The composition draws direct inspiration from a remarkable field photograph and account by Big Bend photographer Tim McKenna:
"Living in a wild place has its advantages. I am fortunate enough to be able to witness life in many forms, right before my eyes and my camera. Here a Chihuahuan Raven is being mobbed by two Mockingbirds relentlessly. After a couple of minutes of this, the raven took off over the cliff face with his two tormentors in tow. Viva Big Bend!"
Executed in an expressive Post-Impressionist style, the work explores a dialogue between fierce desert heat and cool, shadowy tension. The foreground glows with desert ochre, raw sienna, and rust-toned gravel, anchored by sculptural succulents and a distant plateau. Rising above are the heavy, armored bodies of the ravens, painted in saturated Prussian blues, deep violets, and burnt embers. Their pale-rimmed eyes and needle-sharp catchlights radiate an uncanny intelligence. Above them, swooping along diagonal atmospheric sky striations, the attacking mockingbirds flash stark titanium-white wing bars, creating an electric rhythm of motion against the brooding weight below.
Artwork Specifications
Title: A Murder and a Mob
Dimensions: 18" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Professional Gouache
Support: Gallery-wrapped stretched canvas prepped with absorbent watercolor ground
Edge Profile: 1.5" deep gallery edge (painted/finished, ready to hang without a frame)
Subject: Chihuahuan Ravens (Corvus cryptoleucus), Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), Chihuahuan Desert landscape
Region: Big Bend, Texas
Originality: One-of-a-kind original painting, signed by the artist.
