Evolution of a website.

Wilderness Trout has a more creative focus.

The Wilderness Trout website was established nearly 20 years ago. Over that time there has been a dramatic shift in the way people engage with online material, prompting it to regularly change.

Wilderness Trout is evolving again but this time change is more than simply leveraging new technology or adapting to new user habits. The website will focus on art and illustration. It will become a showcase for my painting, drawing and digital art.

As a passionate trout angler I am fortunate to now live on the Central Plateau, at the centre of New Zealand’s North Island. A mountainous, volcanic landscape that boasts some of the best trout fishing in the world.

Lake Taupo is at the heart of this magnificent fishery. The lake is fed by a number of crystal clear rivers and streams which offer perfect spawning habitat for trout. The biggest is the Tongariro River, an internationally famous fly-fishing river with a reputation for producing superb brown and rainbow trout. This amazing location and the trout that live here provide the inspiration for my art and illustration.

Recently I began exploring digital painting and drawing. The combination of Adobe Photoshop, a digital pen and Wacom Intuos Pro drawing tablet makes an excellent creative toolkit that combines the benefits of traditional drawing with the flexibility and potential of digital technology. I look forward to developing this new approach, in combination with more traditional creative mediums.

So, Wilderness Trout has a more creative focus. Shortly you will be able to see examples of my art and illustration work in the Gallery section and also find out more about me, the artist. I hope you enjoy the new site.

James Barnett.