Batman is Alive!

Thinking about the new movie the 'Dark Knight Rises', has made me decide to make this post about my love for marvel comics, and graphic novels. In every other sense of the word 'nerd', I do not live up to the expectations, the exception being comics and super heros. When times were tough as a teen I would spend hours pouring over the graphic novel section at the library, not the comic store as the overwheling number of young men scared me away! During this time I found a chinese version of the batman series, in which this graphic rendered drawing came from. I will admit it is not recent, however Batman lives forever!

The Chinese writing literally translates to 'Batman' source: My chinese friend told me this. This artwork was produced around the time I was doing geography papers in 2010, which means poor student with little funds. This meant instead of using expensive render-markers, I used good ol' cascade bic felts. The finish gave exceeding bright colours the exception being the bleeding between the different colours. Nicola Tickner.

New Zealand Is Not for Sale!

This image speaks what many of us are thinking! Image credits to Jenny Sol and Raymond Sagapolutele. From the protest against New Zealand public asset sales on Queen Street Auckland, 14/07/2012. 

Paint the world, inspire your life desires.

I am very fond for Japanese culture, language and arts. This series of paintings have loosely been inspired by Japanese designs and patterns. When I do any painting, I tend to take much longer than required. Over time I've decided to call this careful consideration, 'work-in-progress' rather than to admit procrastination. This is because as I paint, I often stop at certain points to reflect upon the progess I have made. This is also a good point in which I look at other established artists works. I feel this produces more professional pieces where every mark is made accountable for.

01/04/2012: Ninja Graphic Art: Graphic Pigmented Inks 0.4/0.5 fine tip, Fine Brush fibre Inks various sizes.
28/03/2010// 21/07/2012: Cherry Blossom: Acrylic Paints various colours, Indian ink black. Gold Tint specialized paint.

Controversial: It should be my middle name.

I have not been on BlogSpot for a few months now. This is because I have been busy furthering my education. Since I last updated this site, I have graduated from art school with a design and visual arts qualification. As much as art and its subject matter are my pleasure, I felt I needed to find my cause and purpose in life. At times this new purpose has also become my pain! This is because it comes in the form of studying politics and law. That is why this post is self-titled 'controversial', as the act of stating political ideas and philosophy is very much the essence of controversial in today's world despite the free speech doctrine. However due to the nature of my creative streaks, lectures do not always capture my imagination. So, between taking my notes I find time to do a few paintings and shhhh don't tell my lecturer's some quick sketches. Here are a few I have been working on, hope you enjoy!

                                             
                                                Inspired by political figures and my grandfather.

                   
                 This is for all the Woman in New Zealand political studies, and political environment.

         Random Lady, drawing achieved in Media lecture, experimenting with orange pigmented inks.





13/07/2012 - 21/07/2012. Graphic pigmented inks, fine point 0.4 on cartridge paper.

Maori Flax Weaving.

Another skill I have been learning over the past year is how to make flax bags, and how to flax weave. It is a very special skill to me, as I am from Maori Heritage. Here are some of the practice flax weaving I have done recently....slowly I am improving.

These are two small bags. Flax with paua shells.

Dried flax, head band/ curtain tie.

 

Medium sized bag. I am still working on need to finish the tabs at the top to seal the bag.

 

Flax Weaving made in New Zealand, By Nicola Tickner.

New Zealand, auckland photography

Random photography by Nicola Tickner.

 Unitec Mt Albert, Auckland.

 Howick Beach.

 Sky Tower.

 Brown's Bay Beach.

 Brown's Bay Beach.

 Westmere Beach.

 Westmere Beach.

 Mission Bay.

 Orewa Beach.



Lighting design ideas and shades.

These two lamp shades, were practice design idea's using polypropylene plastic. They are flat pack in design for easy construction, and also space saving for packaging.

Below are finished designs using polyproylene plastic flat pack in design, using pins to keep them in place. They are simple in design and shape, which allows for the lamp shade to used straight up and down. Wall mounted, or side on as pictured, or they may also may be placed as you desire for your room/lighting place.

Design and made by  Nicola Tickner, Auckland, New Zealand.