Watch Maria Harding paint an expressive abstract/realistic painting of an Australian satin bowerbird in flight. This artwork was commissioned by The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre to be printed on their external stairs.

Maria says "This painting is a celebration of colour, movement and freedom. When painting the abstract part, I enjoy the element of surprise and interplay between the colours as the brush sweeps across the canvas, I like to paint with a big brush (in this case, a broom head) and use my whole body as I paint as I feel that this really adds to the energy of the work. Knowing this painting was going to be specifically for Cultural Centre in Katoomba, I made sure that the bird was flying from right to left so she is flying down the hill, perhaps heading towards an expertly made bower by her male suitor!"

Thanks to the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre for the fantastic opportunity to paint this piece for them, and to Chris Farrell Nature Photography for the reference photo of the bowerbird.

Music by Johann Sebastian Bach.