Coming In From The Sea 1905

Archibald Thorburn painted these ducks in flight, coming in from the sea, with watercolor, and, well, I really get a sense of movement and atmosphere from it. The way Thorburn handles the paint here is so delicate. Look at how the colours blend and merge, almost like he's capturing a fleeting moment in time. The thin washes of colour create a sense of depth, especially in the sky, where the clouds seem to roll and shift. And then there's the texture – or lack thereof. The surface is smooth and almost translucent, which gives the painting a lightness that I really appreciate. The strokes are so fluid, they seem to mimic the flight of the ducks, capturing their grace and agility. And you see this beautiful teal on the duck’s head. It gives life to the painting and pulls me in! For me, this work has echoes of Audubon’s meticulous observation and depiction of birds. But there's something more here too, maybe a kind of humility in approaching such a complex subject. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is about process, about exploration, and about embracing the unexpected.