Featured Artist:

Ken Hunt

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Morning Talk, Oil on Canvas, NZ $4,900

Ken’s passion and enthusiasm for his art, and his birds, can be quite overwhelming; from the flash of colour in a bird’s wings to the way they frolic outside his art studio window. This love shines through in his work; each painting is a combination of incredible micro detail, a huge number of strokes and intense concentration. They can take up to a month, a large slice of his life.

“Unfortunately,” Ken says, “I haven’t the stamina I used to have as I had a major head injury several years ago, or I’d paint birds all day.”

Contemplation, Oil on Canvas, NZ $1,900

Ken’s internationally acclaimed “Goldie paintings” are renowned for their spectacular eye for detail, and his commissions for Peter Jackson and Weta’s Richard Taylor, featured at his 2007 exhibition at Rona Gallery in Eastbourne. The Goldie paintings started off as a way to understand traditional painting techniques and later became very popular in their own right. Recently Ken’s art has become motivated more by love than sales, and his true passion for painting birds has won out.

Ken has a special love of sparrows. “They are one of the most amazingly cute birds.” His first bird commission was a sparrow. But that doesn’t mean that he’s only interested in sparrows. “Tui’s have got personality,” Ken says recounting the story of a Maori lady who rescued a tui from mouth of a cat a few years ago. “She taught it to talk and then released it at the Nga Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae, with a new chortle: “Pommy Bastards.”

It was his love of birds that brought Ken together with his wife. She has hand-reared kingfishers, tui, blackbird and sparrows. Ken had a sick chicken and she brought it back life.                                                                                     

More of Ken Hunt's art can be seen here

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Ponders’ Rona Gallery is a must see destination in the sleepy seaside village of Eastbourne, Wellington.

A family owned business specialising in art, books, and art supplies, Rona Gallery focuses on providing quality and value for money.

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When you walk in the Rona Gallery door you will find warmth, help and a high level of expertise. Our staff also includes other artists, writers and passionate readers, including Richard Ponder himself, well-known local author [Mary McCallum], carousel and rocking horse artist Rhyna Cottrell and co-author of [Caught on Canvas] and [Painted Days], Alicia Ponder.

Our collection of thousands of books are read avidly by the owners Richard and Joanna Ponder, as well as by the rest of the staff who like to keep up with the latest news and reviews in the book world. Given Richard’s passion for art; art books and art supplies are another speciality of Rona Gallery, his knowledge base is almost as outstanding as his art.

Buy online, or come in and visit us, we carry a wide range of products including [original art], jewellery, art glass, art sculpture, books, stationery and art supplies.

To find out more about Rona Gallery click here.

To talk to a particular member of our staff please ring ahead on 04 562 8062 to make an appointment or email us at infoart-gallery-newzealand.com.

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Rona Gallery Hours:

Be secure with us

Mon- Fri: 9am – 5pm
Sat: 10am – 4:30 pm
Sun and public holidays: 11am – 4:00

RONA GALLERY

Ph: 04 562 8062
151 Muritai Rd
Eastbourne
Wellington