Rochelle Thomas, the creative force behind Auto Art by Rochelle, has carved out a niche in the New Zealand trucking industry with her custom truck painting commissions.

“I painted my first picture 13 years ago,” she says. “I just always looked at paintings and admired them, and then one day I decided to give it a go myself, and I went and bought some paint and brushes.”

Initially, her art wasn’t focused on trucks. “I’ve always thought trucks are cool, but my first paintings weren’t trucks. They were more personal projects, like a small shed.” However, her interest in vehicles naturally led her to incorporate cars into her art.

“After painting a few cars, a friend of a friend asked me to paint his Kenworth. That’s how my truck painting started.”

Rochelle says the custom truck paintings have gained in popularity due to their personal touch and the pride truck owners feel in their vehicles “They’re proud of their trucks. A lot of money and time goes into them,” she says.

Rochelle with a lineup of Guy Knowles Transport K200s.

Her work is not only a favourite with truck enthusiasts but also makes for memorable gifts. “A lot of people find the paintings are perfect gift ideas. I see a good mix of commissions for both personal and gift purposes, it’s about 50/50 at the moment.”

Rochelle says one of her favourite recent pieces is one she completed for ZAR Logistics. “I just finished an International truck painting for ZAR Logistics. It features an airplane and the Fiji Islands because they’ve got a contract with Fiji Airways,” she says. “It was really cool because of the angle – it’s from the back end – and it’s really vibrant and unique.”

Each painting can take anywhere from 20 to 50 hours, depending on size and detail. Rochelle says she has honed her skills over the years through self-teaching and constructive criticism.

“If you ever look back on my first paintings, you’ll see how far I’ve come. I’ve had a lot of critique, and that’s just made me strive to be better,” she says.

The most rewarding aspect of her work, Rochelle shares, is the emotional impact her paintings have on clients. “It feels so good. I’ve had a few videos of people gifting the paintings, and their reactions have brought tears to their eyes. It’s really heartwarming.”