Pheasant 1933

This is Archibald Thorburn's 'Pheasant', made with watercolor. Look at how he's used it, almost like he's sketching with colour; each mark builds into the next, feather by feather. You can really see the hand of the artist here. The watercolor is applied in layers, transparent washes building up to more opaque areas. See how the texture of the paper comes through, especially in the background? This creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. The pheasant's feathers are a flurry of brushstrokes, each one carefully placed to create the illusion of texture and form. But it's also about the gesture, that decisive flick of the wrist, to capture the bird's alertness. It reminds me a little bit of Audubon, that same intense focus on the natural world. But Thorburn's approach feels more intimate, more personal. There's a sense of quiet observation here, a real love for the subject. And that's something you can't fake.