Here is 'Back of Beyond', emerging over the final ridge before plunging down into the Arnst River valley you come across what seems like paradise. The Paratītahi Tarns sit together, nestled in a gentle rolling basin of tussock with a glimpse of Mt Chittenden (2205m) in the far distance. This painting is a labour of love. Many many hours were spent shaping the golden contours, detailing the scree slopes and blending the blues to take you back towards the distant mountains. Every day working on this painting took me up into the ranges and I hope it takes you there too.
A while ago I explored the Arthurs Pass area with my good friend Dulkara, we walked up the Taramaku River, bush bashed through the thick & steep bush up to the open tops where we spent three days traversing the ridges. On the second afternoon, after lots of up and down ridge-line scrambling we approached Lake Morgan...
Camp Stream Hut, a historic musterers hut on the Te Araroa trail near Tekapo with Roundhill in the background. A magical place to visit, especially in the late afternoon although once the sun falls it becomes bitterly cold. On this particular trip the walk out was sodden with snow melt and my feet lost feeling in the last main river. Brr…
Inspired by an almost dreamlike trip along ridge lines, past Lake Morgan and to the top of Mt O’Shanessy the painting is slowly taking shape. I really wanted to capture those warm, golden, summer West Coast rays that you...
