Capercaillie 1931

This is Archibald Thorburn’s “Capercaillie,” and it looks like it's done with watercolor. Looking closely, there's a real dance happening in how Thorburn brings these birds to life, a beautiful mix of detail and suggestion. You can see it in the way he lays down the colors; it’s all about the gesture, the mark, and how it builds up. The painting's surface is alive with texture and movement. The way the light catches the feathers, that glint of iridescent green on the male’s chest – it's all so tactile. It feels like you could reach out and touch them. Notice how each feather is rendered differently, suggesting the varied textures of their plumage. It’s in the small details, like the subtle variations in tone that bring the feathers to life. Think of someone like Walton Ford, who also paints birds with incredible detail and a narrative twist. Both artists remind us that painting, at its best, is about opening up a space for looking, questioning, and imagining new worlds.