Coming In From The Sea 1905

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolour painting of ducks coming in from the sea. I wonder about the experience of painting this. The artist's eye, the hand holding the brush, the need to get it just right – the water, the sky and the ducks! The quivering intensity of colour and detail—the wings, the light, the shadows, and the quacks—are all so evocative! The ducks in the sky look so graceful and free, while those on the ground are huddling together. The way that Thorburn has painted the birds makes it feel like we’re right there with them, flying through the air. It makes me think about all the other painters who have been inspired by the natural world, and how each one brings their own unique perspective to the canvas. Painting is such an exciting adventure. We make marks; we make meaning!