FRANCES McMAHON | 2ND PLACE
2025 PETS COMPETITION

Australian watercolorist, Frances McMahon, is well known for her breathtakingly realistic paintings of native bird species which exemplify her extremely precise technique. She meticulously builds layers using tiny brushes creating some details that can only be seen with a magnifying glass. Creating smooth, airbrushed backgrounds, McMahon’s main work is watercolor, sometimes with small touches of gouache to enhance depth and detail. Her finished pieces are noteworthy for balanced compositions, scientific accuracy, and artistic expression.

McMahon has earned many honors including the 2022 Best in Show, 2023 Award of Excellence, and 2024 Award of Excellence from the prestigious Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art, as well as the title of Art Renewal Centre Associate Living Master.

We talked to McMahon about her technique and her change of pace for this winning piece.

You usually paint Australian birds; how did it feel to paint “Bella?”

A good friend commissioned me to paint his beloved Bella. It was my first pet portrait and although I am far more comfortable painting feathers, it was nice to push out of my comfort zone and attempt fur. Surprisingly, I found fur easier to paint than feathers. Feathers are arranged in mathematical order, making it imperative for a realist artist to depict the exact shape, size, and count. Bella’s longer length fur seemed slightly more randomly arranged, although the fur on her face had distinctive patterns of directional growth so I certainly didn't need to count every hair, as I do when painting bird feathers.

What was most important to you in creating this portrait?

Placing the subject among a full background elevates the work from an everyday depiction to something a little more surprising and fresh. The angle of Bella's gaze is also a little unusual. Having her look up toward the viewer with those liquid eyes makes you want to reach down and pat her; I really wanted to push beyond a mere portrait.

How do you create compositions that set off your subject matter but are still well balanced?

Being aware of the negative spaces surrounding your subject is as important as the subject itself. For example, a tiny bird against a vast background of sky would present a compositional challenge, whereas a more close-up view will naturally create fascinating negative spaces as well as interaction between the subject and background.

Balance and composition are instinctively acquired over time. I prefer painting odd numbers of birds in paintings, but it's perfectly fine to let go of any perceived "rules." If I'm having trouble with composition, I'll leave it overnight and then look at it the next day. A good night's sleep leads to a remarkably fresher perspective.

Why do you choose to use watercolor and gouache to achieve realism in your work?

I have always loved tiny, detailed objects and art. I tried oils many years ago but found the texture and "feel" not to my liking. Watercolor and gouache are mediums where I feel the greatest amount of detail can be packed into the smallest space. As an artist who usually paints in a small format, this suits me perfectly.

I wear high magnification reading glasses when I paint, resulting in the original work hiding detail that may not be obvious unless the viewer also wears reading glasses. I love the idea of hidden details that may be extracted later by the viewer. A painting should be a little like a map, full of interesting things to explore and visit.

McMahon is represented by Morpeth Gallery in NSW, Australia.

All artwork © Frances McMahon, shared with permission.