Welcome to the website of West Coast artist Johnny Groome. I feel it important to dedicate this website to the beautiful and inspiring Arnold river. This river has been such a big part of my life since I began exploring its wonders with my bigger brothers when I was 9 or 10yrs old. The river itself seems to have become like an extra brother to me such is the grip it has upon myself and my love of fly fishing! Trustpower have plans to divert three quarters of this wonderful river through an artificial canal for the purposes of hydro generation. This will see the end to all of what makes this unique river so special. I sincerely hope the photos I have provided at the start of this site will do something to promote the protection of the Arnold river even if only through an increased awareness of the short-sighted, unsustainable proposal put forward by Trustpower. Take a look at the Arnold river here and form your own opinion on what you think the fate of this uncommonly productive waterway should be. If you take power from the national grid, then you at least owe the river a small amount of your time in which to look into its plight. Scroll on down through the Arnold segment and view my artworks below. By observing the Arnold segment first you will gain some ascendency into what it is that leads me to paint in the first place. I feel, if it were not for trout fishing, I would not have been shown such lovely things of nature and my desire to paint and draw may not have been triggered. Likewise, if it had not been for the Arnold river and its productive generosity, I may very well not have developed this love for fishing that has shaped my life so hugely to this very day. Thank you very much for your time. Remember - turn off that power switch when you have finished using it. Don’t give those power companies any excuses to de-water another river! Water is renewable. A river is not.
Commissions are accepted. Feel free to inquire about renting a painting! My works are available from the following galleries - Central Art Gallery (Queenstown) Merivale Fine Arts (Christchurch) Rutherford Gallery (Nelson) Jade Boulder Gallery (Greymouth) Leftbank Art Gallery (Greymouth)
All content is copyright Johnny Groome, 2003 - 2010.
