Finial Eagle c. 1937

James McLellan made this ‘Finial Eagle’ with watercolor over graphite on paper. This isn't your typical nature painting; it's more like a rendering. The feathers look like they're made of carved wood. See how the graphite lines, like hidden armatures, structure the whole thing? It's all about process, with each stroke adding to the texture. The physicality of the medium is front and center. The colors are earthy, the paper, pale, and the eagle is all about subtle tonal changes. It’s not just about what we see, but how we see. Look closely at how McLellan renders the feathers, each one defined with individual strokes that give the eagle its distinct form. It feels like he's building, not just depicting. Thinking of other artists who create through careful observation and layering, someone like Durer comes to mind. This piece shows how art is a continual dialogue across time. It's not about fixed meanings but about the beauty of ambiguity.