Another painting done for the project I'm working on, and it will be the last one I will be able to show for a while.

The idea for the Guardian came from several sources, adapted to fit what I had in mind:

Ravens have been attributed throughout history with many things, and according to some are the creatures that carry our souls from this world to the next.
There's also a well-known legend surrounding the Ravens of the Tower of London:
Should the Ravens ever leave, "the White Tower will fall, and with it the Empire". To this day, 6 Ravens are kept at the Tower, protected by their Keeper, and if necessary by force.
The katana is another symbol for the soul or spirit, namely of the man carrying it, as it is said to be a vessel of or for the warrior's strength and spirit.

I wanted to keep it simple and also quite loose this time, focussing on the characters and expression rather than any kind of background.

The model is once again Francisco Randez.
The reference photo is courtesy of Patricia Chica.
My thanks to both of them for their support!

I also looked at pictures of ravens to get this one kind of right. It's been a while since I last painted one.

And here are some close-ups:







Thank you for looking! =]