Magpie

Description

Magpie at Meersbrook Park, Sheffield

Magpies are corvids — the same family as crows, ravens, and jays — and they share that family’s well-documented intelligence. They have been shown to use tools, demonstrate forward planning, and respond to social situations in ways that suggest a degree of self-awareness. European magpies were the first birds to be recorded passing the mirror mark test, a standard indicator of self-recognition, placing them alongside great apes, dolphins, and elephants in a very short list of animals known to demonstrate this behaviour.

At first glance, magpies appear simply black and white. Look more carefully — particularly at the tail — and the plumage is shot through with iridescent greens, blues, and purples. In the right light, the tail is basically a rainbow.

At Meersbrook Park

I photographed this magpie at Meersbrook Park in Sheffield in spring 2025. Meersbrook Park sits on a hillside in the south of the city with good views across Sheffield, and it is a reliable spot for corvids year-round. Magpies are a constant presence there, usually in small groups.

The Painting Process

Working in my Sheffield home studio, I completed this piece in a single painting session using oils on a 6 × 6 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. The iridescent tail was the main focus — capturing the tonal shift from blue-green to purple while keeping the clean contrast between the black and white areas of the body.

Framed or Unframed

Choose the framed option and it arrives ready to hang. The frame is natural ayous, a pale, lightweight hardwood, with a 7mm face and 21mm depth. The panel sits inside it with a 5mm gap all round, so the painted edge of the panel stays visible and the picture appears to float inside the frame rather than sitting against it. A flush mount is already fitted to the back for hanging.

If you would rather choose your own frame, you can buy it unframed. For advice please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.

Original Artwork Details

Specifications:

• Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
• Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Available framed or unframed
• Framed size: approximately 17.6 × 17.6 cm (~ 7 × 7 inches)
• Frame: natural ayous, 7mm face, 21mm depth, 5mm float gap, flush mount fitted
• Year: 2025
• Signed on reverse

Shipping & Care

Your painting will be carefully packaged with protective materials and shipped via Royal Mail within 3-5 business days. The panel is robust and archival – oil paintings on panel have been proven to last for centuries when properly cared for. Display away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity for best longevity.