Michael Ponder

NZ artist Mike Ponder splits his life between Queensland, Australia and his new winery in Blenheim. With an unmistakable style after 30 years of professional painting Mike Ponder continues to earn him both national and international success.

Born in 1943, he was raised in Lower Hutt, NZ, and educated at Hutt Valley High School where he first discovered he had a talent for art. However, it was not until he was in his early thirties that he took up painting seriously.

Mike is a founding member of the very successful "5 Artists" group and has assisted and encouraged new artists through tutoring night classes and weekend schools.

Mike has produced three books on his art. The first, “Textured Colour” has sold out, there are limited copies available of "My Way - A Touch of Red", and his latest book “Oil on Canvas” is readily available. All three books show some of the best examples of his recent work in both oils and watercolours. His oil paintings are bold, full of texture and colour, sometimes delicate with amazing detail and always with a touch of red - they are painted with knives only. Many people will recognize his style from the vey popular driza-bone image of the stockman that was used extensively for over ten years.

Forestry, wine and olive oil have also played an important role in Mike’s career. For over 30 years he has had forestry interests in the Marlborough Sounds and for many years as a member of the NZ Forestry Council he championed the cause of the small scale forest owner. In 1987 Di and Mike Ponder purchased 35 ha of land on the outskirts of Blenheim and planted their first olives and grapes the following year.

When Ponder Estate was sold in 2002, Mike and Di Ponder had a national and international reputation for their wines, and were known as pioneers in the development of the olive oil industry in NZ. Mike’s experiences and knowledge of the olive industry are well documented in the best-selling "The Good Oil - growing olives in NZ" – limited supplies are still available.

Following the sale of Ponder Estate, Mike not yet ready for retirement, spent two years writing a novel called “The Windsor Conspiracy”. Published by Random House in March 2007, this book proved very popular and sold over ten thousand copies.

Today, Mike continues to paint, albeit less profusely than in the past. His prints and art cards are keenly sought after, as are the Giclees -- canvas prints produced in limited numbers and hand-finished by Mike.