Finial Eagle c. 1937

James McLellan made this drawing of an eagle with what looks like watercolor. Look closely at the way he’s built up the body, feather by feather, with short, careful strokes. I can imagine him, carefully layering washes of brown and grey, building up the texture of the bird's plumage. There's something almost sculptural about the way he's rendered the form. The artist really seems to be enjoying the process of describing, of giving form to this national symbol. The head is slightly turned, and the wings are drooping as if it might be exhausted, or maybe just old. It reminds me of the work of outsider artists who are driven by a personal vision, meticulously rendering every detail. Artists are always looking at each other’s work, finding new ways to depict the world around them. And it's a good reminder that a work of art can change and shift its meaning over time.