Capercaillie and Cloud by Jack Knox (1936-2015) presents a lone capercaillie in a snowy, mountainous landscape with a dark grey cloud covering the peaks and top of the piece. The landscape is captured through blended layers of white and blue pastel, with thicker strokes of white pastel to capture the highlights. The capercaillie has a base of black smudged pastel, then Knox overlaid thick lines of black pastel to provide a light amount of texture to the feathers. The bird's head is turned upwards and its beak is open, depicting it cawing. 

The decision to capture a lone capercaillie calling out against a stark white landscape, with an ominous cloud overhead, is a poignant one considering these birds were facing a decline in Scotland around 1987. Knox often depicted scenes that suggested contemplation of ordinary moments. It is quite possible something resonated with Knox about this lone capercaillie and provoked a need to capture the intimate scene. 

Jack Knox RSA RSW RGI, 1936-2015

Jack Knox, painter, draughtsman, and teacher, was born in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. From 1953 to 1957, he attended Glasgow School of Art. In 1958, he won a travelling scholarship that allowed him to study under André Lhote in Paris. Knox painted in a variety of styles, initially influenced by the American Abstract Expressionists but later creating still lifes in the style of the Dutch Old Masters. Knox painted in the style of numerour different artists over the course of his half-century career. In 1965, he joined the faculty of Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and in 1981, he was appointed Head of Painting at Glasgow School of Art. He participated in numerous group exhibitions in Scotland and abroad, as well as a series of one-man shows at the 57 Gallery in Edinburgh, the Serpentine Gallery in London, and the Civic Arts Centre in Aberdeen. His work is in the majority of major Scottish public collections and he has received a number of honours and awards in Scotland, including the Royal Scottish Academy's Maude Gemmell Hutchison prize and an honorary degree from Glasgow University.