The Cunning and the Knowing

Growing up with a mix of Minnesota wilderness and my family’s Finnish legacy, I’ve always been drawn to the outsiders of the forest—the creatures who survive on wit rather than brute strength. This painting is for all of us who feel like we don’t quite fit in.
The Fox is the ultimate liminal creature: not a dog, and certainly not a wolf. His genius is his ambiguity, a true master of the trick, the quick thought that triumphs over muscle. The ancient stories of Finland celebrate him for outsmarting the heavy-handed Wolf and Bear.
The Crow, in its deep, knowing black, doesn’t mock; it laughs in recognition. As a creature of immense intelligence and ancient lore, the Crow shares that sense of being both respected and set apart. It is a laugh of shared understanding: I see your cleverness, and I am with you.
This is not a painting about being tricked; it is a moment where two highly intelligent, self-possessed spirits meet in the forest and realize they speak the same language. They are friends in cunning, allies in wisdom, and rulers of the shadows.