Untitled Landscape

Thomas Stevens

c. 1948

2005

Luritja/Pintupi, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara

Areyonga, West of Alice Springs, Northern Territory and Mt Davies, South Australia (South West of Alice Springs, Northern Territory)

Watercolour on Board, Acrylic on Canvas, Drawing

Landscape - Hermannsburg School, Possums, Kangaroo, Untitled Landscape

In the book 'The Heritage of Namatjira: The Watercolourists of Central Australia' edited by Jane Hardy, JVS Megaw, and M Ruth Megaw, it is noted that Thomas is the younger brother of Eubia Namatjira, who was married to Ewald Namatjira. Based on linguistic references, Thomas likely grew up in Areyonga, a region with strong connections to Pitjantjatjara land. Active from the early 1980s, Thomas painted with Papunya Tula Artists.

Vivienne Johnson, in her book 'Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert', mentions that Thomas received the skin name Tjakamarra after marrying a woman from Papunya. He was trained in the use of pen and brush by Ewald Namatjira and became a skilled representational artist in the European style. Thomas also illustrated books for the Papunya Literature Production Centre.

In 1985, Thomas embraced the Papunya style of painting, blending elements from both Papunya Tula and traditional Hermannsburg styles. Later, after relocating to Alice Springs, his work increasingly reflected the Hermannsburg watercolour style.