Art & Design
Paintings, graphic design, conference posters, drawing, etc.
May 2024: My painting "Autumn Again" of some very soggy house sparrows is currently on display at the Autumn Open Theme exhibition at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington, 3-26 May 2024.
Please email with any enquiries.
We offer an eclectic mix of design services whether you need drawings, conference posters, or research reports designed. We also offer original art, as well as some prints and cards. See some of what we do below.
Art & Design
Suffering is over-rated: Caitlin at the Karikari Peninsula
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
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
'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
"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.
Flat white and sea glass
'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.
Unimpressed with the hard yard
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.
Dinner Rush at Henley Lake, Masterton
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 (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!' 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.
The late-night tui
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 Te Awa Kairangi
'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, Whanganui
'Grey teals at Virginia Lake' - 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. Please email with any enquiries.
The Little Garden Helper
'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.
Postcards now available
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.
The rifleman on the mossy rock
Like a cottonwool ball on toothpicks, an immature rifleman/ tītitipounamu (Acanthisitta chloris) fossicks on a mossy boulder for insects. Mount Ruapehu.
Original acrylic painting on A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) 360gsm acrylic card. Comes unframed or in smart budget black frame with white matt card and D rings for hanging. Framed: $490.00 (budget), plus shipping if any (I can deliver for free around the Hutt area, or you are welcome to collect from Woburn, Lower Hutt).
For queries and/or to view or purchase please 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: Louise Thomas.
Wild birds of New Zealand 2024 Calendar
SOLD OUT. Excellent Christmas gift for the bird-lover in your life. The Wild birds of New Zealand 2024 Calendar is available to order and ship now. Payment on invoice by bank deposit. 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.
Blue duck/whio at Whakapapanui Stream, Mount Ruapehu. Image: Louise Thomas.
Little grebe in the lily pond
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.
Blue duck/whio whistling upstream
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.
Kererū/wood pigeon prints
A limited amount (only 20) of this stunning kererū/wood pigeon prints drawn by Caitlin Thomas-Riley are 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
For any queries 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.
Epic gamer art
An original illustration by Caitlin Thomas-Riley. Caitlin specialises in anime type design work and is available for commissions. Email louise@louisethomas.co.nz.
Black and white poster art
An original illustration by Caitlin Thomas-Riley. Caitlin specialises in anime type design work and is available for commissions. Email louise@louisethomas.co.nz.
Unique kiwi voices
An illustration by Caitlin Thomas-Riley for an article on recognising individual kiwi calls.
Conference poster
Policy design elements for addressing presentist bias: non-climate analogues relevant to climate change adaptation.
Conference poster
Use of national-scale socio-economic scenarios to reduce ‘presentist-bias’ in climate change adaptation decision making.
Conference poster
Monitoring foreseeable but uncertain climate change outcomes using expert, practitioner and community elicitation.
Conference poster
Lessons from implementing interdisciplinary appraoches for climate change adaptation
Fernlea Fitness Card
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.
IRANZ: Connections eNewsletter
Writing, editing, and layout of a newsletter for the Independent Research Association of New Zealand. A quarterly round-up of research from New Zealand's independent research organisations.
Climate Change: The Cascade Effect
Editing and layout of Climate Change: The Cascade Effect report by Dr Judy Lawrence et al., of Victoria University, for the Deep South National Science Challenge.
Redesign of the IRANZ website
Redesign of the website for the Independent Research Association of New Zealand, with ongoing design, maintainance, and content creation.
Graphic design, writing, & editing
The Research Review highlights how IRANZ Independent Research Organisations (IROs) are a vital and unique part of New Zealand’s science ecosystem, they are all different and they are a great way of enabling New Zealand to increase high-impact research by business, economic sectors, and the community. IROs consistently provide quality science outputs that provide high-impact results for their stakeholders and New Zealand, several examples are featured in the review.
Queen Elizabeth rose
A new needlepoint pattern of a Queen Elizabeth rose for a cushion.
The pattern and an article featured in a UK magazine, Creative with Workbox.
Queen Elizabeth rose cushion
Queen Elizabeth rose cushion, designed by Louise Thomas and stiched in Anchor tapestry wool. The pattern, the cushion, and an article featured in UK magazine Creative with Workbox January/February 2016 issue. Photo: Louise Thomas.