The motel units at TRM may be older than most motels but compensate with some wonderful fishy character, such as the interior decoration including maps, trout images, etc. and in particular some interesting original paintings of the Tongariro River. 

 SWMBO is often asked about them and who is the artist? 

 

So the following has been copied from the October/November issue of NZ Art Magazine…  which features Her favourite landscape artist – Roger Shanks. 

 

He is also a very talented angler and has been visiting TRM for the last 12 years to tame the mighty Tongariro.

When Roger Shanks retired from a full time career in sheep and cattle farming, he became an artist, gaining knowledge from reading books and magazines and attending workshops with prominent Australian and New Zealand artists.

Having had no formal training, art filled a need to keep himself occupied during his retirement with the biggest motivating factor being the sense of achievement that comes from creating beautiful paintings.

Roger retired at age 54. Eighteen years later, Roger is very proud of having had a private exhibition in Napier, two exhibitions in Gisborne and being a finalist in the Australian Artist magazine competition, Volume 203.

He intends to continue on his artistic journey indefinitely.

Roger’s inspiration comes from a childhood love of the landscape and all its moods and beauty.

He is driven by an urge to capture some of these illusive qualities on paper or canvas.

He totally loves the ability to paint whatever, wherever and with whatever mediums he chooses.

This freedom has inspired his creativity.

Previously painting with watercolour, Roger has changed to oil. “My reasons for changing from watercolour to oils are that oils can be scraped or wiped off if an error is made.

Also ‘alla prima’ oils dry very quickly if the right paint is selected and may be transported after only a few hours drying time in warm weather.”

Switching between watercolour and oils is tricky for Roger as the disciplines are so different – watercolour requires the whites to be the white of the paper whereas oil has the luxury of adding white when needed. Roger Shanks.

Above on right is the ‘other’ Roger who is well known to other TRM inmates unaware of his artistic talents. 

So if you want a special gift  – like an original oil painting of you hooked up in your favourite pool (?) then you know who to call…