News
![Big Red says Good Morning!](../images/design/big_red_says_good_morning_02022024_sm.jpg)
Big Red says 'Good Morning!'
February 2024: Big Red says 'Good Morning!' is currently hanging (for sale - $690.00) in the newly opened Mariana's Kitchen in Lower Hutt next to the War Memorial Library and the Little Theatre. It's a fantastic cafe with some delicious South American flavours going on. Also, they have very good taste in art work. Big Red is acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch. Have a coffee while you think about it.
Background: This guy is one of two red jungle fowl that lived for years by the Days Bay Duck Pond, frequently crossing the road (at the crossing) to fossick in the grass by the beach.
News
![Caitlin at Carrington Estate](../images/design/caitlin_at_carrington_beach_17102023_sm.jpg)
Suffering is over-rated: Caitlin at the Karikari Peninsula
May 2024: My portrait of my daughter Caitlin at the Carrington Estate, which I've called "Suffering is over-rated" has been selected for the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts "Looking at ourselves" portraits and life studies exhibition in Wellington from 31 May - 30 June 2024.
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 20 X 12 inches. Please email with any enquiries.
![Autumn Again](../images/design/autumn_again_09032024_sm.jpg)
Autumn Again
May 2024: My painting "Autumn Again" of some very soggy house sparrows is on display at the Autumn Open Theme exhibition at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington, 3-26 May 2024.
Acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch (51cm X 40.5cm). Please email with any enquiries.
![Flat white city life](../images/design/flat_white_city_life_27012024_sm.jpg)
Flat white city life
May 2024: 'Flat white city life' featured in the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Urban Forms exhibition from 22 March – 28 April 2024. It is now available for $690.00.
Acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch (51cm X 40.5cm). Please email with any enquiries.
![Objects for a leisure hour](../images/design/Objects_for_a_leisure_hour_13052024_sm.jpg)
Objects for a leisure hour
May 2024: "Objects for a Leisure Hour", an updated version of William Harnett's 1879 painting of the same name. The painting by William Harnett is one of my favourites after I saw the original in the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid many years ago. The simple objects, the smouldering pipe of a passing human presence, the carelessly folded newspaper, crumbs and half-eaten bun, touched my soul. Some art critic would probably say it's about fleeting time and man's impermanence, but actually I think what touched me was the familiarity of it all across time. I've tried to capture the same quality of a recently vacated moment.
This is available, acrylic on A2 300gsm watercolour card, in a professional frame. Please email with any enquiries.
![Unimpressed with the hard yard](../images/design/unimpressed_with_the_hard_yard_14042024_sm.jpg)
Unimpressed with the hard yard
April 2024: The rabbit from Hokitika - I've called this one "Unimpressed with the hard yard". This is acrylic on A3 300gsm card and is unframed at the moment. It's available. You can email me on louise@louisethomas.co.nz if interested.
![Flat white and sea glass](../images/design/flat-white_and_sea_glass_05032024_sm.jpg)
Flat white and sea glass
March 2024: 'Flat white and sea glass' is now hanging (for sale - $690.00) in the Mariana's Kitchen in Lower Hutt next to the War Memorial Library and the Little Theatre. Have a coffee while you think about it.
'Flat white and sea glass' is acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch (51cm X 40.5cm). Please email with any enquiries.
![Dinner rush at Henley Lake](../images/design/Dinner_rush_at_Henley_Lake_29122023_sm.jpg)
Dinner Rush at Henley Lake, Masterton
February 2024: Following selection for the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Water World Exhibition, which finished on 11 February, 'Dinner Rush at Henley Lake' is now hanging (for sale - $690.00) in the newly opened Mariana's Kitchen in Lower Hutt next to the War Memorial Library and the Little Theatre. 'Dinner Rush' is acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch (51cm X 40.5cm). Have a coffee while you think about it.
Background: Three black shags (Phalacrocorax carbo) undertake an epic battle on Henley Lake in Masterton for who gets to eat an eel for dinner.
Please email with any enquiries.
![The Plump Pigeon of Peace The Plump Pigeon of Peace](../images/design/plump_pigeon_of_peace_12012024_sm.jpg)
The Plump Pigeon of Peace
February 2024: The plump pigeon of peace (kererū) is available. Soft purple and lavender colours in a pointillist style. Get some soothing calm on your wall for just $690.00.
Acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch (51cm X 40.5cm). Please email with any enquiries.
![Big Red says Good Morning! Big Red says Good Morning!](../images/design/big_red_says_good_morning_02022024_sm.jpg)
Big Red says 'Good Morning!'
February 2024: Big Red says 'Good Morning!' is currently hanging (for sale - $690.00) in the newly opened Mariana's Kitchen in Lower Hutt next to the War Memorial Library and the Little Theatre. It's a fantastic cafe with some delicious South American flavours going on. Also, they have very good taste in art work. Big Red is acrylic on canvas, 16inch by 20inch. Have a coffee while you think about it.
Background: This guy is one of two red jungle fowl that lived for years by the Days Bay Duck Pond, frequently crossing the road (at the crossing) to fossick in the grass by the beach.
Please email with any enquiries.
![Late-night tui - SOLD Late-night tui - SOLD](../images/design/late-night_city_tui_27082023_sm.jpg)
The late-night tui
February 2024: SOLD. I'm absolutely stoked to have sold my painting "The late-night tui" at the opening of the Depictions Exhibition at the Odlin Gallery. The exhibition is on for just over two weeks from 10-25 February. The Odlin Gallery is 9-11 Myrtle Street, next to Huia Pool, in Lower Hutt. Open daily, 10am to 4pm. I'm on Gallery minding on Saturday mornings during the exhibition if anyone wants to pop in to say hi, and invest heavily in beautifying your wall.
This painting is sold, but for queries about commissions or any other paintings please send Louise an email on louise@louisethomas.co.nz
![Tui by the Hutt River Tui by the Hutt River](../images/design/tui_in_flax_18092023_sm.jpg)
Tui by the Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi
February 2024: 'Tui by the Hutt River' - A busy tui breaks from feeding on flax flower nectar to briefly survey its surroundings. Behind, the mature plantings and fields along the river corridor provide a ready source of food for a variety of bird life.
Acrylic painting on stretched canvas. 12 inch X 16 inch (30.48cm x 40.64cm). $590.00. Please email with any enquiries.
![Grey teals at Virginia Lake grey teals](../images/design/grey_teals_at_virginia_lake_whanganui_high_res_18072023_sm.jpg)
Grey teals at Virginia Lake, Whanganui
February 2024: 'Grey teals at Virginia Lake' is currently hanging in the Depictions Exhibition at the Odlin Gallery ($650.00 - EFT-POS available at the Gallery). The exhibition is on for just over two weeks from 10-25 February. The Odlin Gallery is 9-11 Myrtle Street, next to Huia Pool, in Lower Hutt. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Grey teals love to rest in the shady gloom of trees around lakes and wetlands, waiting for dusk when they begin feeding. Here a pair of teals rest on a fallen trunk over the water, shaded by a canopy of bare twigs filtering the light. Acrylic painting on A3 360gsm acrylic card, this work is beautifully framed by the Lewis Paape Gallery.
![The Little Garden Helper blackbird](../images/design/blackbird_little_garden_helper_06112023_sm.jpg)
The Little Garden Helper
February 2024: 'The Little Garden Helper' is currently hanging in the Depictions Exhibition at the Odlin Gallery ($490.00 - EFT-POS available at the Gallery). The exhibition is on for just over two weeks from 10-25 February. The Odlin Gallery is 9-11 Myrtle Street, next to Huia Pool, in Lower Hutt. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Blackbirds love to help, as any gardener knows - sometimes they can be a bit too helpful, digging up newly planted bulbs and things! Acrylic painting on canvas, 30.5cm X 51cm.
![Postcard montage](../images/design/postcards_1066X800.jpg)
Postcards now available
January 2024: A limited number of art postcards are now available. $NZ2.50 each, with free shipping in New Zealand. Minimum order of four (NZ) or ten (Australia, Europe, UK, Japan, US or Canada) - shipping to rest of the world NZ$3.30 per 10 cards. Paypal invoice for international orders.
Available postcards are:
- 1. The little garden helper
- 2. The little grebe in the lily pond
- 3. Grey teals at Virginia Lake
- 4. Whio/ Blue duck whistling upstream
- 5. Tui on the Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi
Please email with any enquiries.
![Louise with newspaper](../images/news/louise_with_newspaper_20122023_cropped.jpg)
Christmas Kākā takes front page
December 2023: Possibly the first time a kākā had been seen in central Lower Hutt for 100 years. My photo of this cheeky chap in a pōhutukawa tree (New Zealand Christmas tree), made the front page of The Post newspaper. It's been a very good year.
Please email with any enquiries about using this photo.
![Little grebe in the lily pond - SOLD cubist grebe](../images/design/little_grebe_cubism_12092023_sm.jpg)
Little grebe in the lily pond
November 2023: SOLD. Selected for New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Fantastic Beasts Exhibition, 1 December – 7 January 2024, Academy Galleries, Open 10am - 5pm daily, 1 Queens Wharf, Wellington. Available to purchase at the exhibition (collection on conclusion of exhibition).
Many birds are cryptic in their environment, you often don't see them at first, but suddenly your focus changes and there they are. Original acrylic painting on A3 360gsm acrylic card.
This painting is sold, but for queries about commissions or any other paintings please send Louise an email on louise@louisethomas.co.nz
Image: Louise Thomas.
![Wild birds of NZ calendar blue duck](../images/photography/blue_duck2_whakapapanui_15122022_sm.jpg)
Wild birds of New Zealand 2024 Calendar
October 2023: SOLD OUT. The Wild birds of New Zealand 2024 Calendar is available to order and ship now, with payment by bank deposit (GST tax invoices available on request). The 2024 calendar features the stunning wild blue ducks/whio from Mount Ruapehu as well as 11 other native New Zealand birds. Large A3 (297mmX420mm) portrait calendar on 150gsm gloss art paper, with the cover on 300gsm gloss art board. Printed on one side and spiral bound. Excellent Christmas gift for the bird-lover in your life.
Blue duck/whio at Whakapapanui Stream, Mount Ruapehu. Image: Louise Thomas.
![Blue duck/whio whistling upstream - SOLD blue duck painting](../images/design/blue_duck_at_mt_ruapehu_red_sig_07082023_sm.jpg)
Blue duck/whio whistling upstream
August 2023: SOLD. A blue duck/whio whistles upstream to his mate at the Whakapapanui Stream at Mt Ruapehu. Original acrylic painting on A3 360gsm acrylic card.
This painting is sold, but for queries about commissions or any other paintings please send Louise an email on louise@louisethomas.co.nz
Image: Louise Thomas.
![Peacock peacock](../images/photography/peacock_tail_display_close-up_staglands_sm_1066X800.jpg)
Adobe Stock Portfolio
August 2023: A number of Louise's photos are now available as Adobe Stock photos. Check out her Adobe photo portfolio.
You can also purchase photos directly from Louise from a very reasonable fee. For queries please send Louise an email on louise@louisethomas.co.nz.
Image: Louise Thomas.
![Kereru Print kereru](../images/design/kereru.jpg)
Stunning kererū/wood pigeon prints now available
A limited amount (only 20) of stunning kererū/wood pigeon prints drawn by Caitlin Thomas-Riley are now available. Slightly smaller than an A3 size, these cost $50.00 each inclusive of GST, plus postage at cost (or free pick-up from Woburn, Lower Hutt). All prints numbered and signed. ONLY FOUR LEFT
Send Louise an email on louise@louisethomas.co.nz with your address for shipping, etc. and we will send you an invoice for payment.
Image: Caitlin Thomas-Riley.
![brown teal](../images/news/brown_teal_percy's_reserve_lower_hutt_sm.jpg)
Rare brown teal at Percy’s Reserve
February 2021: A rare sighting on Valentine's Day made the local paper.
![brown teal](../images/news/newspaper_article_230221.jpeg)
![Verum Group studies kiwi calls kiwis talking](../images/design/kiwi_caitlin_thomas-riley.jpg)
Graphic art work by Caitlin
July 2020: Caitlin Thomas-Riley's'
A study examining the voices of kiwi in the Paparoa Range hopes to identify unique voices of individual birds and shed new light on their territorial roaming and other interactions. Image drawn by Caitlin Thomas-Riley.
![New Zealand Garden Bird Survey Garden bird survey cover](../images/news/NZGBS_2019_report_frontcover_800X600.jpg)
New Zealand Garden Bird Survey
June 2020: My photo of a tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) in the rain, taken December 2019 featured on the cover of the 2019 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey published 19 June 2020.
![Bellbird in rare flowering red mistletoe Bellbird](../images/photography/bellbird_in_red_mistletoe_sm.jpg)
Bellbird in rare flowering red mistletoe
June 2020: This stunning bellbird (Anthornis melanura), aka Korimako, feeding in rare flowering red mistletoe (Peraxilla tetrapetala) has just been provided to the Ōhau Conservation Trust for use in an interpretation panel to be published in September 2020.
![Fernlea Fitness Card Fernlea Fitness Card](../images/design/FernleaFitnessCard.jpg)
Fernlea Fitness Card
May 2020: This job was a favour for a school-teacher friend who is trying to get her junior school (five and six year olds) students moving. We came up with a coffee-card style idea where students get a star clipped or a small sticker on their card for every 500m completed. Completed cards can go in the draw for a prize. Apparently it was a hit.
![Southern black-backed gull](../images/photography/Southern_blacked_backed_gull_juvenile_with_balloon_waste_sm.jpg)
Gull image published in Artists Down Under
May 2019: Southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus) with party balloon fragment - highlighting the dangers of plastics and party balloons in marine environments. Image published in Artists Down Under magazine - May 2019.