First Land
$895.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There is a quiet cunning in the way the raven hangs in mid-flight here—wings outstretched like a stained-glass canopy of blues, purples and rusts while the body remains rendered with a near-tactile realism. That contrast between the richly patterned feathers and the bird’s velvety black form gives the work both narrative charm and a vivid sense of personality: this raven feels clever, watchful and slightly mischievous rather than purely wild. A soft bank of clouds and layered, pale planes behind the bird creates a spacious, suspended atmosphere; the cool, muted background lets the warm accents in the feathers and the small object clutched in the talons read as deliberate, intimate details. The artist’s edge ribbon—hinted at in the painted bands along the composition—acts like a visual score, a record of color choices that adds an almost ceremonial quality to the scene. Altogether, the painting balances story and surface. It feels like a fragment of myth made immediate—an encounter that is both playful and reverent, one that invites you to linger and imagine the tale the raven might be carrying.
The Artwork
About First Land
First Land<br> LIMITED EDITION CANVAS
“The raven is a trickster, a protector, a teacher and a bringer of great magic to the tribes of the Northwest,” explains Craig Kosak regarding First Land. “They trick us into seeing the things we are missing in our lives. The raven is also a provider. The sun, the stars and moon and even fire were supplied by a raven. And so was the land on which we stand.
“It seems that the raven had become bored with the spirit-land in which he lived and flew away carrying a stone. When he became tired of carrying the stone, he dropped it into the ocean. It expanded, becoming the ground upon which we humans came to live. It was a raven who found men hidden in a clam and released them in the world. According to the legend, he literally coaxed us out of our shell.”
Four animals primarily dominate Kosak’s paintings: the raven, bison, wolf and horse. Each represents a particular connection he has made with it on his travels. “Ravens started my journey in the Tetons, bison found me in Yellowstone,” he says, “wolves in the California Sequoias and horses in the hills of New Mexico.”
Each of these animals represents a specific emotional quality for the artist: “Ravens guide me to accept my most secret self, my uniqueness, to celebrate who I am rather than hide it. The bison inspires confidence and reminds me of that part of myself that is anchored, persistent, and able to withstand hardship. Horses are a sign of strength and sensitivity, while wolves speak to me of wit and intelligence.
I idealize my characters and anthropomorphize them. I saw the raven in First Land on a fence post with his wings like that then sought to improve on it. I always try to create something on my own, to say something new.”
“It took years to find my voice.” he says. “I combine the realistic observations, impressions and feelings of an outer world, the physical world through which we travel - with an inner world of self-discovery, the abstract and rule breaking part of my art. I use this inner vision to idealize these insights.”
Kosak does not juxtapose his geometric and illustrative elements, rather he merges them together through layers of glazes, patinas and textures. Each painting features an edge ribbon. The edge ribbon will have all the colors that are in the painting, a band added each time a new color is used. The edge ribbon is a record of the painting coming into being.
“My paintings are inspired by the natural world and the human condition. I use myths and legends to facilitate an understanding of ourselves and provide perspective on how we fit into the universe at large. Most importantly I want to show the bond we have with other living creatures that share our planet.”
“It seems that the raven had become bored with the spirit-land in which he lived and flew away carrying a stone. When he became tired of carrying the stone, he dropped it into the ocean. It expanded, becoming the ground upon which we humans came to live. It was a raven who found men hidden in a clam and released them in the world. According to the legend, he literally coaxed us out of our shell.”
Four animals primarily dominate Kosak’s paintings: the raven, bison, wolf and horse. Each represents a particular connection he has made with it on his travels. “Ravens started my journey in the Tetons, bison found me in Yellowstone,” he says, “wolves in the California Sequoias and horses in the hills of New Mexico.”
Each of these animals represents a specific emotional quality for the artist: “Ravens guide me to accept my most secret self, my uniqueness, to celebrate who I am rather than hide it. The bison inspires confidence and reminds me of that part of myself that is anchored, persistent, and able to withstand hardship. Horses are a sign of strength and sensitivity, while wolves speak to me of wit and intelligence.
I idealize my characters and anthropomorphize them. I saw the raven in First Land on a fence post with his wings like that then sought to improve on it. I always try to create something on my own, to say something new.”
“It took years to find my voice.” he says. “I combine the realistic observations, impressions and feelings of an outer world, the physical world through which we travel - with an inner world of self-discovery, the abstract and rule breaking part of my art. I use this inner vision to idealize these insights.”
Kosak does not juxtapose his geometric and illustrative elements, rather he merges them together through layers of glazes, patinas and textures. Each painting features an edge ribbon. The edge ribbon will have all the colors that are in the painting, a band added each time a new color is used. The edge ribbon is a record of the painting coming into being.
“My paintings are inspired by the natural world and the human condition. I use myths and legends to facilitate an understanding of ourselves and provide perspective on how we fit into the universe at large. Most importantly I want to show the bond we have with other living creatures that share our planet.”
Collector Details
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About the Collection
Craig Kosak is a renowned contemporary wildlife artist, known for his surreal animal paintings that blend nature with symbolic realism. His work often features ravens, horses, and other wildlife, infused with elements of modern mythology and spiritual storytelling. Kosak’s dreamlike nature scenes and bold color compositions create a sense of wonder and deeper meaning, making his art a fusion of abstract naturalism and fine art storytelling. His unique vision and expressive wildlife imagery have made his work highly sought after by collectors of contemporary and symbolic art.
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This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Craig Kosak.
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"Inspired by the wildlife and landscapes I encounter while travelling I return to my studio with insights about the natural world and about the human condition," says artist Craig Kosak. "Rather than faithfully documenting the flora and fauna, I strive to capture the feeling and emotions these trips provide. Each trip consists of both a journey through the outer world, and an inner journey of self discovery. These paintings are about both worlds and how they relate.
"Richly textured and developed using many layers of alternately opaque and translucent paint, strong graphic composition and bold colors combine to set the stage for realistically rendered animals, objects and landscapes. The subjects are integrated with abstract elements and expressive brushwork representative of the inner emotive world. I continue working until balance between both worlds is achieved and the painting comes alive.
"Stylistically, my work is grounded in realism, inspired primarily by the iconic images of painter N.C. Wyeth. I am, of course, painting about today s world and the modern paint handling of contemporary artists John Nieto and Nathan Oliveira have had significant influence in this regard."
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