“Pair of Magpies” - Original painting of magpies

Sorry, this original is now sold. If you love magpies, signed, fine-art prints and greeting cards of magpies are available, or sign-up to my ‘Collectors Club’ mailing list (via the homepage) for early access to new magpie pieces. 
Inspired by the well-loved saying, “two for joy”, this piece explores the connection between a pair of magpies. I wanted the birds to feel completely in sync with one another - united in movement and companionship. Their poses create a sense of rhythm and harmony, almost as though they are dancing together.
Painted on a deep-edge box canvas in mixed media, the work combines expressive acrylic painting with gold-coloured gilding. The gilded background has been created in my signature distressed style, designed to evoke light, movement and the changing beauty of the natural world. It may suggest sunlight filtering through leaves, the glow of dawn or fleeting moments of light found in nature.
The magpies themselves are painted in a loose and expressive manner, with energetic marks and subtle splashes of paint that enhance the sense of movement and life. Their distinctive forms emerge from the textured surface while retaining a contemporary, painterly quality.
A feature of my gilded works is that I occasionally leave small areas unsealed. Over time, depending on environmental conditions, these sections may gently tarnish or develop a unique patina, allowing the artwork to evolve naturally and acquire its own character.
At the heart of this piece is my love of combining the traditional with the contemporary; taking timeless wildlife subjects and reimagining them through colour, texture and modern mark-making. Pair of Magpies celebrates both the beauty of nature and the joy found in connection.
“Pair of magpies”
40 x 40cm
Mixed media: Acrylic and gold coloured gilding on deep edge box canvas.
Unframed.
Wired and ready to hang.
Signed on front and reversed
Certificate of authenticity included.
£450 plus £45 postage and packaging.