Living the Alaskan Dream

Born in the deserts of California, Raven had always felt she was living in the wrong state. The spirit of the north pulled heavy on her her whole life. Shortly after graduating high school she could no longer ignore the call. In the summer of ’95 she packed up all her belongings and made a permanent move to the great state of Alaska.

The north country was all she could imagine and so much more. Vast lands, endless trails and untold adventures lay at every turn. As she hiked, traveled and studied this new world around her she quickly realized the land was far too vast, and her own two feet, far too slow.

Her passion for animals naturally led her into the world of sled dogs. And with the purchase of her first dog sled in ’96 she harnessed up her loyal German Shepherd as the wilds of Alaska became more accessible than she ever dreamed.

Over the years a few more sled dogs were adopted into her tiny family and as her team grew they taught her how to become a competent musher and care giver. Today you can still see the passion of the Alaskan sled dog, and the wildlife they encounter, woven into her work. Many of her models are of the dogs she trains with today, as well as those who supported her back in the early years.

Life in the Arts

Raven is a self-taught artist and while art has always been her passion, she didn’t take her work seriously until 2002 when she went into business for herself.

For many years she created original logo designs and fine art commissions for private clients and businesses until her move to Talkeetna, Alaska in fall of 2012.

After she and her team settled into the land Raven decided to strengthen her focus on the creation of art based on her life, her passions and her own Alaskan adventures.

Raven’s art and written work has been featured multiple times in Mushing Magazine as well as Alaska and the Mountain. Her work with sled dogs has led her to become a front page feature in Alaska Dispatch News, the Daily News Miner and the Frontiersman.

Raven enjoys working through all mediums, from graphite and color pencil to working her hands deep into the earth throwing pottery.

She also delights in finding a direct connection to animals through skin sewing and the spinning of fine natural fibers like wool, qiviut (musk ox), angora (rabbit) or the deep soft shed undercoat from her very own sled dogs.

Over the years Raven has participated in shows and galleries around Alaska but today prefers to spend the majority of her time on the trail or at home in her studio on the 40-acre homestead she calls home with her partner and sled dog team.