Pair Of Redstarts 1923

Here's this small painting of two redstarts by Archibald Thorburn, made sometime between 1860 and 1935, likely using watercolors. You can imagine Thorburn hunched over his work, patiently building up each layer, allowing the colors to mingle and settle. I like the way he captures the subtle gradations of light on the birds’ feathers. It's not just about rendering the scene realistically; it's about understanding how light interacts with the world, creating highlights and shadows that bring the birds to life. He’s really thinking about light and how it models the world around him! It reminds me of my own struggles with color mixing and layering. You’re trying to capture a fleeting moment, a particular quality of light or atmosphere. It's like a conversation between the artist and the subject. And, of course, artists are always learning from one another, building upon the discoveries and innovations of those who came before.