Margaret Preston

Margaret Preston was a super talented artist from Australia. She loved to paint and make prints, which are like pictures made from carved blocks. She was one of the most important modern artists in Australia a long, long time ago, when cars were new and people wore funny hats!

Her paintings are full of bright colors and interesting shapes. She even signed her art with 'MP' so everyone knew it was hers!

Margaret was born a very long time ago, in 1875. Imagine a time before video games or even many cars! She traveled to Europe and saw lots of amazing art, which inspired her.

When she came back to Australia, she wanted to create art that felt truly Australian. She looked at the beautiful patterns and stories from Aboriginal art and used some of those ideas in her own work, which was very special and new.

Margaret Preston wanted to create a special 'Australian art' that was different from art made in other countries. She was one of the first artists who wasn't Indigenous to use Aboriginal designs in her paintings. This was a big deal because it showed respect and helped share the beauty of Australian culture.

Her art is still loved today because it's so colorful and shows a unique part of Australia's story.

Margaret Preston was a master at making prints. She would carve a design into a block of wood or linoleum, then cover it with ink. When she pressed paper onto the inked block, the design would transfer! She also loved to paint with bright, bold colors. Her art often featured flowers, fruits, and everyday objects, but she made them look exciting and modern with her unique style.