Years ago, my mother, who I don’t like to talk about but is relevant for this story, gave me boxes upon boxes of “keepsakes” from my childhood. It was a burden to receive these items as I had no interest in going back in time and a lot of what was kept was not my choice. I requested that they just be donated but she couldn’t bear the thought of them going like that. So I went through the traumatic (over exaggeration?) and gut wrenching experience of going through my childhood. So much pain and sadness to sift through. That is the end of the sad story. Now that we understand what was going on, let’s get to the real point of this post:
Guess what the most disturbing things I found in the boxes were?
1. My cast from 3rd grade when I broke my arm. Folks, it was disgusting. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a used cast, but they are vile. It smelled. It was weird. It was 20 years old (at the time). But I did see how little my arm was and all the signatures my little friends put on it. I promptly threw it out.
2. My baby teeth. 10 to be exact. They were also tiny and disturbing. But guess what? I didn’t have the heart to toss them?! Why? What is wrong with you Raven? So I tucked them away for another 12 years.
Fast forward to having to pack up my whole farm and move across the state. I went through everything I own and donated what wasn’t serving me, hoping for a fresh start. Inevitably, keepsakes needed to be sifted through and kept still, or let go.
I found the teeth again. This time I was well into my art career and found myself contemplating: what could I make with these? The horror! I promptly walked outside and threw them in the dumpster.
Honestly, I regret throwing them away, I could have cleaned them up and sewn them into a chilling mixed media drawing. People love teeth…well, or they hate them, I’ve found they have a unique place in art and art history.
Teeth usually represent power, identity, self confidence, or lack there of. When I use teeth in my work they symbolize secrets being told and sexual hunger. If I were to use actual teeth in my work, I wonder what it would have meant. (Pictured above are some of my works with teeth in them.)
I had to have a crown put on when I was 15. My dad paid for the dental work with a painting. Funny story, when I was born into this world my hospital birth was also paid for with a painting. Anyone looking for a trade? Anyway, I notice teeth a lot in art and so I decided to make some merch of a tooth, because there are…teeth people out there. I started with carving a pink eraser of a tiny tooth. Look how adorable it is!
I usually take an idea and make it into many things, why let a good drawing go to waste! Hello new merch!
And a future sticker!
I think I want to bring a single tooth to one of my fine line drawings, or more teeth in general. I’ve got a couple of drawings on my drawing board that are already well underway and the themes forming would benefit greatly from some hungry mouths 😏
Do you find teeth a turn on or repulsive? Are you disturbed by teeth in art? I love when people see my drawings with teeth in them, they ALWAYS take a moment to tell me how they feel about teeth. That is a good piece of art if people are compelled to express what it brings up for them – whether that be delight or disgust – eliciting a strong feeling means you did your job well.
A Good Cunt 
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