ORIGINAL ART – ‘Precious’, Brush-tailed possum

‘Precious’

2024
Ink and watercolour
380mm x 560mm
by Shannon Dwyer

The irresistible Brush-tailed Possum has been on Shannon’s ‘to paint’ list for SO long that this artwork practically painted itself! Part of a series of sleeping Australian animals, this adorable little fluffball flowed from Shannon’s brush thanks to its perfect pink nose, delicate little ‘hands’ and squishy widdle footsies! Shannon purposefully chose to have ‘Precious’ sleeping on its back to best-capture these simply gorgeous features of a common visitor to her backyard each night!

Artwork Specifications:

‘Precious’ was created using a traditional nib dip pen and ink, along with professional-grade watercolours executed on 425gsm 100% cotton rag watercolour paper. This original artwork includes the ‘Shannon Dwyer Original’ embossment and hand-penned signature validating it as an original artwork of Shannon Dwyer.

Fun facts:

Australian Brush-tailed Possums are arboreal marsupials native to Australia, known for their distinctive bushy tails which they use for balance as they navigate through trees and urban areas alike. Brush-tailed Possums are nocturnal, spending their nights foraging for leaves, fruits, flowers and insects. Their adaptable nature has led them to thrive in various habitats, from dense forests to urban gardens. They also change in colour and size depending on where they live: in cold, wet areas in Tasmania they’re dark, large and very fluffy, whilst in the tropical Northern Territory they are light grey-fawn and quite small. Playing an essential role in ecosystems, they disperse seeds and control insect populations. As their natural habitats diminish, due to deforestation and land clearing for agriculture, possums are forced into urban areas, leading to conflicts with humans and increased risks from traffic and domestic pets. Their adaptability and resilience make them a symbol of Australia’s diverse wildlife and the challenges of coexisting with nature in urban environments. Conservation Status: Least Concern

*Artwork price includes signed original artwork, Certificate of Authenticity and free delivery within Australia*

Artwork is unframed so you don’t pay unnecessary freight costs and will be able to choose the frame of your liking.
This piece will be delivered in a large reinforced postage tube, rolled securely in (and protected by) acid-free tissue paper.

Framing tips and suggestions:
This piece is best ‘float-mounted’ and framed behind glass.
‘Float-mounting’ allows the paper to have a bit of ‘freedom’ which watercolour paper often needs as its rarely perfectly ‘flat’. By ‘mounting’ the artwork, it showcases the raw edges of the watercolour paper and subtle wave of the paper to enhance the the fact that its an original artwork with delicious ‘imperfections’.