One for Sorrow, Two for Joy is an oil painting of two magpie birds on an abstract background. It is 30 x 30 x 1.5 inches. The title refers to an old English folklore rhyme about magpies, which I liked as a child. It was inspired by recognising just how beautiful these birds are, having originally spotted these two in a bluebell wood. The background is a colourful abstract, art nouveau style made up of various layers and glazes to make it suggestive of woodland and trees. I like how the iridescent blues, purples and greens of a magpie’s feathers echo the colours of a spring woodland. It is painted on deep-edge canvas, with blue edges, ready to hang, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
