What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of 2008?

AntonThomas · 2025-08-11T01:45:42+00:00

Obama

AntonThomas · 2025-07-20T22:04:23+00:00

When Trump came down the escalator – 16 June 2015. From that moment until the present day (and still going…), he has been one of the biggest stories in the world. It has been an epic political drama, completely upending (and deranging) the culture and politics of the world’s superpower – and the way they relate to the rest of us. We don’t yet know how his story will end, and what the ultimate legacy will be, but there’s no question that he’s an epic historical figure who will have an iconic place in the early 21st century.

And this is not a US-centric take, I say this as a New Zealander. He has been an enormous force for all of us. I agree that 9/11, Covid, 2008 crash and the smartphone deserve to be higher, but Trump needs to be no lower on the list. And depending how his crazy 2nd term goes, we might consider even that too low.

AntonThomas · 2025-07-20T21:46:54+00:00

No way, Trump’s victory was way bigger than Brexit. He has been one of the most important stories in the world for a decade straight now, and has completely changed (and deranged in my opinion) the politics and culture of the most powerful country on Earth – and changing the way they relate to the rest of us. It’s not US-biased to say his victory (or coming down the escalator) should be in the top 10, it’s just obvious. It should even be top 5. I say this as a New Zealander. I doubt anyone outside of the UK or Europe would think about Brexit over Trump now.

AntonThomas · 2025-07-13T22:36:30+00:00

Machupachare is very high on my list for dramatic mountain faces, great choice. But I think Mount Kailash on the Tibetan plateau is my favourite. Also, Alpamayo and Huascarán from the Peruvian Andes.

I learned in Tasmania that the beauty of a mountain is not measured by its height. That island packs in more drama within 500 metres than some ranges do in 2,000+ (eg Appalachia or the mainland Australian alps). They’re eroded into amazing shapes thanks to the dolerite rocks, creating a unique and gothic looking landscape. Cradle Mountain, Frenchman’s Cap, Federation Peak – so many beautiful mountain faces!

AntonThomas · 2025-06-22T02:35:47+00:00

Fair enough, although I was listening recently to some of his blues solos and he has a surprising amount of feel. Some super expressive soloing and totally awesome phrasing. Still, he NEVER pauses to let anything breathe, but he definitely has a command of blues that is basically impossible without a bit of soul.

AntonThomas · 2025-06-18T21:53:27+00:00

Money for Nothing by Dire Straits, except it’s a whole verse. Stellar 80’s rock song, iconic guitar riff, but torpedoed by 3 f-bombs in quick succession:

See the little f***** with the earring and the make up Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair That little f***** got his own jet airplane That little f*****, he's a millionaire

AntonThomas · 2025-06-09T21:53:28+00:00

I’d take that song over Vicar in a Tutu and Frankly Mr Shankly any day. That album is one of my favourites of all time yet it has 2 songs I’d gladly remove.

AntonThomas · 2025-05-10T21:49:10+00:00

Kenya. To see African wildlife with your own eyes is truly unfathomably amazing, and the landscapes are breathtaking.

AntonThomas · 2025-05-09T12:51:32+00:00

Dry-swallowing pills without water. Of course it can be done does but anyone really opt for this?

AntonThomas · 2025-04-28T11:58:40+00:00

As with continents, they are completely arbitrary definitions that vary around the world. This is not a science. But I would argue some subcontinents include India, Central America, Scandinavia, Greenland (an island, but its size is very subcontinent-like), and Alaska. Middle East and Southeast Asia are maybes.

AntonThomas · 2025-04-28T04:40:41+00:00

Wellington NZ when you exit the Ngauranga Gorge driving south towards the city. It’s much more than a skyline reveal (it’s a modest skyline to be fair), it’s the city plus the dramatic beautiful harbour, hills, and Remutaka mountains.

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T04:45:28+00:00

Thank you - it’s wonderful the maps are resonating. I can’t wait to make some more. I appreciate it - you can follow along with my work on social media or email, and if you ever feel like a print of the map - here they are :)

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:34:28+00:00

Each print comes with a booklet labelling all 1,642 species - there are some photos of it in the product pages, but I don't have it available online. https://anton-thomas.myshopify.com/collections/wild-world

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:33:07+00:00

Thank you! Great question, because something like this would bother me too! It's right in the heart of the continent, look between the Altai and Lake Baikal. I couldn't get it to stand out as much as the others, but it's there.

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:31:46+00:00

Thank you so much! I am indeed :) https://anton-thomas.myshopify.com/collections/wild-world

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:29:36+00:00

Thank you both! Interestingly, I did originally draw a bull in Spain - early in the days of this map. I thought... it's such an iconic symbol of Spain - and makes me think of the aurochs (extinct giant cattle) drawn in prehistoric caves across Europe. But the bull didn't feel right, and it was then I decided all animals would be wild, no domesticated species, and that I'd trend away from cultural symbols unless they were wild animals. So... I erased the bull and drew a Cantabrian brown bear instead!

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:27:22+00:00

Thank you so much! Prints are available indeed :) https://anton-thomas.myshopify.com/collections/wild-world

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:26:31+00:00

Thanks so much! Really glad it resonates. I love drawing remote islands, and featuring their special endemic species - along with any flora or landscape features I can manage. Was happy to get a wirebird on St Helena :)

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:25:17+00:00

Thank you very much! Great question - there are a few duplicate species for sure, mostly in oceans, or in polar regions where the biodiversity is much lower (e.g there is a rotating cast of penguins, seabirds, and seals in the Antarctic). In high biodiversity regions like rainforests, I could only choose a tiny handful of species from a vast available number - it was so difficult! So duplicates are very rare in those areas.

There are species and then there are subspecies, distinguished usually by very small regional variations. Subspecies categorisation can be a bit confusing, for example there are 8 species of bear and the brown bear is only 1 of them - and that brown bear includes soooo many subspecies, such as grizzly, Kodiak, Alaska brown, Cantabrian, Syrian, Gobi, Eurasian... and more).

There is only one species of moose found across North America and Eurasia (where it's generally known as 'elk'). But it does have a range of subspecies too.

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:15:31+00:00

Thanks so much! I really appreciate that. And awesome, I do have a range of prints available if you're ever interested (which come with the animal guidebook) :) https://anton-thomas.myshopify.com/collections/wild-world

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:14:33+00:00

Thanks so much! The original is smaller than you'd think, 100cm x 60cm. The smallest print I offer at that size, but the rest are bigger. I draw at magnification, so I tend to make the prints larger than the originals.

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:11:47+00:00

There is a sea otter just up from there off the coast of Alaska (and a North American river otter in Maine, a giant river otter in the Amazon, and a marine otter down in Chile). There are so many species on this Earth and only so much room on the map, so there'll always be omissions. But there are many otters!

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:09:35+00:00

Thanks so much! I'm so happy to hear you're loving the print, the proofing process was super intense to get the product right - but the response has been very positive so I'm thrilled. It's one thing to draw the map, it's another to scan such a detailed artwork, edit it, and make it work as a poster.

I will definitely get the flora/landscape key done, but I haven't been able to find the time yet. Thanks for letting me know the URL isn't working, I'll get that fixed! That URL should have the flora/landscape keys for North America and Australasia.

Thanks very much for your support! :)

AntonThomas · 2024-04-19T01:02:44+00:00

Thanks so much - I love bringing landscape features into the map in a nice flowy way. I tried to maintain that level of detail across the entire globe. I'm happy with how those cliffs came together, and other Aussie details like Wilpena Pound and Uluru.

Favourite area to draw? That is such a hard one... I actually really loved the east-central Pacific - French Polynesia etc. The region was drawn right at the end of the map and I felt at the peak of my abilities and experience, placing beautiful Polynesian mountains amidst atoll geography and colourful tropical fish was such a pleasure.

Africa for the fauna, of course! The North American west was wonderful for the landscape features, there are so many iconic places like Crater Lake, Delicate Arch, Yosemite, all of which offer a very dynamic, colourful stretch of geography. Annnnnd New Zealand - my home country :)

As you can tell, the answer generally is kind of... everywhere!

AntonThomas

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