Royalty is next on Wanaka portrait artist Stephen Martyn Welch's to-do list and he is ''pretty confident'' he can make it happen.
Having recently completed a major commission for the Wellington Club after being hand-picked for the job, Mr Welch's self-assuredness is understandable.
Last month, he attended the unveiling of his artwork at the club, where he got the nod of approval from its members, including his three portrait subjects - New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and predecessors Sir Anand Satyanand and Sir Michael Hardie Boys.
The painting, which was ''a little bit of a hush-hush job ... at mates rates'', features the trio of dignitaries in a relaxed gathering.
''Normally portraits are quite stiff, formal paintings. But because it was for a club we chose to have just three blokes having a cup of coffee and it worked really really well.''
Mr Welch (41), known as Marty, went to Wellington on two occasions to take reference photos of the trio, then began copying them to canvas.
However, his small studio at the Wanaka Arts Centre could not accommodate the 184cm by 124cm portrait.
''I had to paint it in the garage with the car, so it was a bit different.''
It took two to three weeks' work to complete, plus an extra week to adjust the position of Sir Michael's hand slightly, which required repainting a large section.
The finished piece was hung for two months in Mr Welch's 18-year-old son's bedroom, before heading north to its new permanent home where it is receiving high praise.
''[Club members] can't get over what a good likeness it is of all three. He really did capture it very well,'' Wellington Club president Chris Rickit said.
''We're delighted with his work, there's no question about that.''
New Zealand Portrait Gallery director Avenal McKinnon had endorsed the club's selection of Mr Welch for the painting, which she considered a ''significant'' artwork.
''To have three Governors-General together is a really noteworthy and historically important painting,'' she said.
In a letter to Mr Rickit, Mrs McKinnon wrote in her nine years at the national portrait gallery, Mr Welch's painting was the only ''substantive, contemporary triple portrait'' [other than family portraits] she was aware of.
The significance of the commission is not lost on Mr Welch, either.
''I just think it's cool that this painting has come from small-town New Zealand.
"It's produced in Wanaka and it's as good as you'll get from New York, so we're just really proud that it's a local doing good.''
Mr Welch is a self-taught artist who gave up his job as a milkman about eight years ago to paint fulltime.
He moved to Wanaka from Auckland last year with his wife Mandy and their three children.
His selection for the Wellington Club commission followed a string of other art accolades.
In 2012 he was the winner of the national Adam Portraiture Award, in which he had already been a finalist and won the people's choice award.
He starred as the host of TVNZ7 television art show The Sitting, in which he interviewed and painted well-known New Zealanders during a two-series run.
He hopes the show will be revived one day.
Disappointed to have missed out on painting the Queen's portrait in her Diamond Jubilee year, an honour which went to Wellington artist Nick Cuthell, Mr Welch now has his sights firmly set on younger members of the royal family.
''We're going after Kate and Will now, see if we can wrangle that,'' he said.
''There's a long process to get it [a royal portrait commission]. You almost have to be vetted. But we'll get it. I'm pretty confident.''
Despite his self-belief, national art awards, high-profile commissions and television fame, Mr Welch's talent is not always recognised by everyone.
Several months ago, while making a cup of tea in the Wanaka Arts Centre common room, he stumbled across a group of older women life-drawing one of their friends.
''So as I'm looking at their work, one asked what I do.''
After explaining he was a painter specialising in portraits, a woman asked to see some of his work, so he showed the group his iPad album.
''Oh, those are lovely paintings. Did you ever watch a programme called The Sitting?'' was the response from one woman, Mr Welch said.
''It has this New Zealand painter painting famous New Zealanders,'' the woman explained.
''Ah, I've heard of it, why do you ask?'' he replied.
''Well, your work is nice, but his is outstanding. You should watch it and learn a few tips on portraits,'' the woman said.
A quietly amused Mr Welch replied: ''I'll keep that in mind. Afternoon ladies'', and left the group to their painting class.
