Maggie Mae – Australian Magpie Watercolour Art Print | Liz Wilson

Product Description

Maggie Mae

Painted by Australian artist Liz Wilson

“Maggie Mae” is a tender watercolour of an Australian magpie originally painted as a commission to celebrate the birth of Liz Wilson’s niece’s first daughter, Maggie Mae. The work weaves together symbols of family, nature, and Australian folklore through the presence of eucalyptus leaves and a small hidden gumnut baby nestled among the gum blossoms.

Painted during a deeply reflective period while the artist’s mother was in palliative care, this piece emerged in the quiet spaces between caregiving and learning. At that time, Wilson was teaching herself the language of watercolour, exploring the delicate balance of pigment, water, and paper.

One of her early watercolour works, the painting also reflects an important traditional painting technique. Rather than using a tube black, the magpie’s dark plumage was created by mixing complementary primary pigments to build a rich chromatic black. This approach, used by many painters, produces depth and subtle colour variation that avoids the flatness often associated with commercial black pigments. The result allows the feathers to hold warmth, coolness, and light within the darker tones, giving the bird greater presence and dimensionality.

The work becomes both intimate and symbolic — a portrait of one of Australia’s most recognisable birds alongside the quiet presence of a gumnut baby, referencing the beloved Australian storytelling tradition of May Gibbs while celebrating the arrival of a new generation.

 The original painting may still be available in the artist’s collection.

Collectors interested in acquiring the original work are invited to contact Liz Wilson directly.

Did You Know?

Australian magpies are among the most intelligent native birds and are known for their complex songs and remarkable ability to recognise human faces. Many Australians form long-term relationships with local magpies that live around their homes and gardens.

The gumnut baby, made famous by Australian author and illustrator May Gibbs, has become an enduring symbol of Australian childhood storytelling. Inspired by native gum blossoms and seed pods, Gibbs’ characters helped embed Australian flora into the nation’s visual imagination.

Symbolism

New beginnings, guardianship, nurturing, family bonds, memory, Australian landscape, storytelling traditions, and continuity between generations.

As Spirit Guide

Magpies are often seen as messengers of awareness and protection, encouraging attentiveness to everyday beauty and the quiet relationships that form between people, place, and nature.

In Dreams

Magpies can symbolise communication, emotional insight, and the arrival of important news or transitions in life — often reflecting moments of change or renewal.