Shannon Dwyer Artist
'BIG BOI', Australian Magpie - original artwork
'BIG BOI', Australian Magpie - original artwork
Original Artwork
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Painting this striking Australian Magpie, with its serious stare was such fun!
They're so bold, clever and full of character!
I loved leaning into that intensity, using rich ink lines and gentle layers of watercolour to capture the quiet confidence in its gaze.
Magpies have such strong personalities and this one felt like it had a story to tell. Every brushstroke was a chance to reflect its intelligence, curiosity and that unmistakable Aussie attitude.
There’s a real presence to magpies – those knowing eyes, that proud stance and, of course, their beautiful warbling song that is so quintessentially Australian!
This artwork has been hand painted with professional-grade watercolour paint and detailed with a traditional nib and highly concentrated ink on 300gsm 100% cotton watercolour paper. See more details below.
About this bird:
Australian Magpies are common birds found wherever there is a combination of trees and adjacent open areas. Whilst they are most famous for their springtime aerial assaults, they are actually incredibly intelligent, super-social and hilariously entertaining birds! Highly-regarded songbirds, their wide variety of complex calls, varying up to four octaves, is an iconic part of the Australian soundscape. Considered one of the most intelligent bird species in the world, magpies demonstrate problem-solving abilities and behaviours such as playfulness, curiosity and even empathy. Having adapted well to urban environments, Magpies are capable of having genuine friendships with their human neighbours. Once they’ve confirmed that you are a nice person, you’ll have earned a friend for life! Magpies are able to recognise faces, with some forming such good relationships with humans that they'll ‘show off’ and introduce their young to them! Once a Magpie finds a suitable territory to live, they will stay there forever – up to 20 years. Being fiercely territorial birds, especially during the breeding season, groups of up to 24 birds live year round in their territory which is actively defended by all group members. Being omnivores, they eat a variety of foods such as: worms, small mammals, reptiles, fruits, seeds and even scraps of human food which plays into why they’ve adapted so well to their ever-changing environment. This species conservation status is: Least Concern.
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About the Artist
Meet Shannon Dwyer, an Australian artist dedicated to celebrating the true essence of ‘Australiana’.
With a vibrant and whimsical style, Shannon's work is ever-inspired by the incredibly unique and extraordinary wildlife of Australia and a desire to push the message of the preservation of our phenomenal natural world.

‘Big Boi’ was created with watercolour paint and detailed with a traditional nib and highly concentrated ink on 300gsm 100% cotton watercolour paper.
Artwork Size: 260mm × 260mm
This original artwork is embossed with the ‘Shannon Dwyer Original’ authenticity seal and hand-penned signature validating it as an original artwork of Shannon Dwyer.
Artwork is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity.
‘Big Boi’ was created with watercolour paint and detailed with a traditional nib and highly concentrated ink on 300gsm 100% cotton watercolour paper.
Artwork Size: 260mm × 260mm
This original artwork is embossed with the ‘Shannon Dwyer Original’ authenticity seal and hand-penned signature validating it as an original artwork of Shannon Dwyer.
Artwork is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity.