Crow with Silver Spoon 1972

Here we see a crow in flight with a silver spoon, painted by Alex Colville. Did he begin with the blue circle? I wonder if it felt like the sky coming down to earth. The feathers of the bird are individually marked, a dense network of brushstrokes building the overall form. Imagine Colville’s hand moving with such precision, each stroke a testament to observation and care. What’s the crow thinking, carrying a silver spoon? Is it a symbol of luxury amidst nature, a commentary on value, or just a shiny object that caught the bird’s eye? The clouds are like fleeting thoughts, captured in their ephemeral dance across the blue expanse. The painting is in conversation with so many artists who look at the natural world.