Fish and Chips in Tahunanui – A4 Prints and Cards

Fish and Chips on Tahunanui has put a smile on people’s faces while the original painting was on show at Wall To Wall Art Gallery, Nelson. The painting sold quickly and travelled to Auckland. However, if you like to put a smile one someone’s (or your own) face you can now order A4 Prints and cards from www.nicolerussellart.com.

This image shows two best friends having Fish and Chips at Tahunanui Beach. How did I come up with the subject? It is rather silly isn’t it? The idea came into mind because a famous heron called “Hamish” visited our local village, Mapua, regularly. The seal was often spotted sunbathing on the Maitai riverbank. In my mind I brought both of them together on my favourite beach in Tahunanui. I once watched a family having fish and chips on the beach, but the seagulls were flying acrobats and snatched the chips out of theirs hands! Something else I enjoyed researching while painting this work was the swim suit fashion from the 1920s to the 1950s. I was wondering what the two characters would look like in one of these outfits and my drawings revealed that it was unpleasant. But the hats worked and so I included those.