Long-Tailed Bat

Long-Tailed Bat
Original Graphite Drawing

Size: 41 x 18cm ( 56 x 34.5cm framed)
Medium: Graphite pencil and Charcoal on Fine Art Watercolour Paper
Time Spent: 12 hours
Framing: Professionally framed with acid-free matting and standard glass(not UV-protective or non-reflective). Please note that the frame isn’t perfect (see photos below), the top left corner has a little chip but this does not affect the artwork itself.

Availability: One-of-a-kind original

Price: $650 NZD(includes packaging; shipping extra)

The Story Behind the Artwork
If I had to choose a favourite New Zealand mammal, it would be the long-tailed bat. I've worked with this species for several years, handling them as part of conservation research, and every season they continue to surprise me.

People are often surprised by just how tiny they are. They're not scary at all - just little bundles of soft fur with enormous personalities. The more time I spend around them, the more fascinating they become. They're highly social, remarkably intelligent, and despite everything we've learned, there are still so many unanswered questions about their lives.

Working with long-tailed bats has given me a real appreciation for how clever they are. Every field season they seem to find new ways of avoiding our best-laid research plans. Sometimes it almost feels as though they're one step ahead of us, quietly outsmarting the people trying to understand and protect them.

This graphite portrait is a celebration of a species I've been fortunate enough to know through my work. I hope it encourages people to look beyond the myths surrounding bats and appreciate just how remarkable these tiny native mammals really are.

🖋️ Signed original
📄 Includes a story insert and certificate of authenticity
📦 Shipping is custom - due to the delicate nature of this piece, please reach out to arrange safe delivery.