06/17/2026
"It’s quite common for me to do maybe 30 or even 40 drawings of one thing, an element of a composition—I might do a dozen drawings and each time, I hope I am getting closer to the essence of it." —Alex Colville
When working on a painting, Alex Colville would create dozens of preparatory sketches. For the mural Athletes (1961), he created over 80!
Paying careful attention to every detail for this mural, he even sketched the blades of grass for the sports field in the central panel. Drawn from a ground-level perspective, his sketches are low amongst the weeds, detailing the precise curves of the grass.
Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary through his meticulous observation, the sports field is made up of a complex pattern of interwoven blades of grass, dotted with clover and dandelions. Looking closely at something as commonplace as grass, Colville helps us see the field with fresh eyes.
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1: Alex Colville, Athletes (detail), 1961, oil and synthetic resin on board, 152.0 × 242.0 cm. Collection of the Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University. © A.C. Fine Art Inc. Photo by Roger Smith.
2 & 3: Alex Colville, Untitled (Sketch for Athletes), 1961, blue ballpoint pen on paper. Gift of the Artist. Collection of the Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University. © A.C. Fine Art Inc. Photo by Roger Smith.
4: Installation view of the exhibition a rush of friendship for stones and grasses
