Art Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Mar 15

by Nicola in Art, London, Street Photography 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Fire dance, Graffiti, Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, Waterloo

London’s Free-for-All Brick Canvas at Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel

Overhearing a couple animatedly talking about the best graffiti they’d ever seen near Waterloo, I had to find Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel for myself. Rough and ready, the tunnel sparkled with colour. Artists bending over their cans and preparing themselves for their next masterpiece. A queue of boldly dressed people patiently waited to enter The Vaults, a place that offers everything to those that dare. Once I’d immersed myself in the vibrancy of the art, people and atmosphere I headed the way I came in and noticed two teenage girls playing with hula hoops. Approaching them, I asked if they were practising for a show. “We’re going to be putting on a show, firing up our hoops. Have a butchers,” the one encouraged. With my camera perfectly poised, I eagerly awaited their fire dance… I had no idea Banksy launched Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel to fame in May 2008 with an exhibition called The Cans Festival. With a comical play on The Cannes Film Festival, Banksy invited international street artists to adorn the blanks along Leake Street tunnel with their signature art, as explained further by Leake Street Arches here.

Sep 20

by Nicola in Art 6 comments tags: Amazing Affordable Art, Art For Sale, Limited Edition Prints, London, Original Artwork, Prints For Sale, The United Kingdom

Nicola Ann Art; A Life Worth Creating

NICOLA ANN ART. AMAZING. AFFORDABLE. ART Art lifts the soul. I believe that something so vital shouldn’t be reserved for the rich and famous. Nicola Ann Art uses modern thinking and technology to bring beautiful, original pieces to everyone who loves creative flair in their home and workspace. Let your wild imagination run and allow your artwork choice to reflect your unique personality and style. Do you need help finding Amazing Affordable Art you love? Do you seek an original, a print or even a commissioned piece? Do not hesitate to Contact Nicola Ann Art at any time. NICOLA ANN ART’ MASSIVE ACTION Nicola Ann Art is about creating purpose through art. I am in the process of applying for funding and sponsorship, to offer Art classes (free of charge) to challenged communities in London. These classes are open to all age and ethnic groups (maximum of ten per class), to encourage expression in positive ways. Art becomes an outlet, a way to connect with like-minded people and feel a part of something; mightily motivational. By approaching local businesses, libraries and medical centres, I hope they’ll feel inspired enough to display the artwork, helping the creators feel powerfully purposeful. Imagine […]

May 12

by Nicola in Adventure, Architecture, Art, Off-Road 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, Australia, BeanOn Photography, nature, New South Wales, Nimbin, Off-road, The Hemp Embassy

Naughty Nimbin, New South Wales

Happily deciding to only lunch at the chaotic Byron Bay instead of spending the night, we headed in to the mountains before experiencing the day at naughty Nimbin, New South Wales. Recalling the strict instruction, “Only use the campervan on dirt tracks leading to campsites,” from Apollo’s campervan hire assistant, we briefly reconsidered our plight. “What’s the worst that could happen?” “Exactly!” Resistance is futile! Shake, rattle and roll, lasting over an hour, over what should have been termed, or should that be warned, ‘4×4 only track’ where any vehicles are concerned. At least we made it, and even more impressive so did the sleeper van, and surprisingly even so, all the crockery arrived in one piece too. Exciting, right? Well, wait until you step foot inside a place where not another on this Earth could touch it. Welcome to Nimbin – “Australia’s weed capital” – a quaint place with psychedelic buildings. People gaudily coated in tie-dye clothing strolled around aimlessly without a care in the world. Cafés filled with all sorts of people, from businessmen to tramps. Anything goes. Outside, at the back of a café we noticed the kites flying high, how everyone was clearly […]

Aug 26

by Nicola in Architecture, Art, Back2Blighty, Cities, The United Kingdom 3 comments tags: Back2Blighty, Banksy, Banksy' Mild Mild West, BeanOn Photography, Bristol, Bristol - UK's graffiti capital, Graffiti, St Nicholas Market, St Pauls, Stokes Croft, Stokes Croft Murals, The United Kingdom

Bristol – the UK’s graffiti capital?

While I first stayed in Bristol – the UK’s graffiti capital – upon returning to the United Kingdom, April 2015, I noticed its many graffiti sprayed streets throughout the suburbs of Stokes Croft and St Pauls; however, I didn’t get the opportunity to fully capture the illegal vibrancy with my camera. Thus I returned recently to capture the vandalism, which brings me to the question: IS GRAFFITI ART? A survey proposing the question took place on Debate.org and 85% ruled in its favour. How is this even possible? Of course some graffiti is staggering, talent revealing, but defacing private property turns it ugly instantly. Would you want to return home after a hard day’s work and see the walls of your property marked as someone else’s territory while, what, expressing themselves? Unless someone paid the likes of Banksy to doodle on their wall… Below, amidst the vibrancy, is a photograph of Banksy’s “Mild Mild West”, 1999 – one of the first pieces of street art in Stokes Croft. “The painting is a tongue-in-cheek joke at the people of the West Country being more ‘mild mild west’ than ‘wild wild west’, having said that, the painting reflects […]

Aug 20

by Nicola in Art, Back2Blighty, Exhibition, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Competition, London, Photography competition, Photography Exhibition, Royal Geographical Society, The United Kingdom, Travel Photographer Of The Year

Competitive travel photographer?

Ever fancy yourself as a competitive travel photographer? Well, the 2016 competition for the Travel Photographer Of The Year is now accepting entries. To see what you’re up against, take a trip to the Royal Geographical Society in London to view the first showing of this year’s winners. Close to Hyde Park on the corner of Kensington Gore and Exhibition Road, you will find the gallery. Make sure you visit before the 5th September 2015 and when the weather is good. The main exhibition is free; however, if you desire to pick the judges minds you can do so at a cost. I enjoyed the sun on my back while viewing the stunning photography on large stands out in the open. The glaciers with the setting sun and colours of the sky reflecting, glistening off the frozen water especially drew my eye. Now I crave to photograph the Northern Lights; watch this space! The categories include: Tribes; Earth, Air, Fire, Water; Spirit Of Adventure, Destinations; One Moment; Monochromal; Wild & Vibrant; Travelogue; Travel Shorts. #iPhonePhotography

May 06

by Nicola in Adventure, Art, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Art, Back2Blighty, Boats in the woods, Bristol, England, Leigh Woods, Luke Jerram, The Clifton Suspension Bridge, The United Kingdom, Withdrawn

Leigh Woods, Bristol – Withdrawn

I’ve been back in the United Kingdom for just over two weeks now and have relished every moment discovering the new and returning to rediscover the old. I’d lost all my photographs – unrecoverable from a smashed hardrive – 11 years worth of all my adventures while living in Britain and travelling as much as possible. And now I return to capture everything with an upgraded DSLR camera and fresh pair of eyes as eager as a leopard stalking an impala. So many photographs to review, edit and upload, I don’t know where to begin. Perhaps I shall begin with one of the most fascinating discoveries of recent days… Can you imagine seeing boats in the middle of a forest? Well, they are there in the middle of Leigh Woods, Bristol – Withdrawn – an art installation by Luke Jerram. What are the boats doing in the middle of the woods? How did they get there? Why would someone put them there? Why is there no smell of the sea? What is the point? Many questions flood my brain, more than normal *wink wink*, at just the thought of viewing […]

Nov 30

by Nicola in Art, Nature 1 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Exploring, KwaZulu-Natal, Long Walk To Freedom, Marco Cianfanelli, Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela Capture Site, Nelson Mandela Memorial, President Jacob Zuma, Sculpture, South Africa, The Midlands Meander, The Natal Midlands, Tribute to Nelson Mandela

The Nelson Mandela Memorial

A week before the first anniversary of Mandela’s death, 6 December 2013, I visited The Nelson Mandela Memorial, at Madiba’s Capture Site for the first time. A spectacular tribute to Nelson Mandela –South Africa’s first black president died aged 95 – by artist, Marco Cianfanelli, marks the 50-year anniversary of Mandela’s “Long walk to freedom.” Upon President Jacob Zuma unveiling the artwork on the 6th of August 2012, Cianfanelli stated: “This represents the momentum gained in the struggle through the symbolic of Mandela’s capture. The 50 columns represent the 50 years since his capture, but they also suggest the idea of many making the whole; of solidarity. It points to an irony as the political act of Mandela’s incarceration cemented his status as an icon of struggle, which helped ferment the groundswell of resistance, solidarity and uprising, bringing about political change and democracy.” It is incredible how only from a certain point, about 35m before the sculpture, do the 50 steel column constructions the image of Mandela, facing west, comes in to focus. The museum takes you on a journey through the life of Mandela and his battle against Apartheid that brought about a democratic South […]

Nov 12

by Nicola in Art, Cities 0 comments tags: Art, BeanOn Photography, Boy Parts / Girl Parts, derelict, Exhibitions, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, The Green Camp Gallery Project, Umbilo Road

Artwork transforms derelict building space

The Glenwood Gazette published a few of my words and photographs, Friday, 7th November, on how artwork transforms derelict building space at The Green Camp Gallery Project. View the original post and images here: beanon.co.za/green-camp-gallery-project/

Oct 29

by Nicola in Art, People 0 comments tags: Art exhibition, Artists, BeanOn Photography, Ctrlroom, derelict, Durban, Gallery, KwaZulu-Natal, Open-air, Sinegugu Ngwenya, South Africa, The Green Camp Gallery Project, Umbilo Road, Wi-Fire, Xolani

The Green Camp Gallery Project

Found in lower Glenwood, the rebirth of a derelict now known as the Green Camp Gallery Project beats with its heart in the open. Partly a work function – Wi-Fire, powered by Ctrlroom, sponsored the free Wi-Fi for the event – I wouldn’t have missed for the world. An experience that took me back to my school days (my maths is exceptionally bad so I won’t even attempt to work it out…) when learning about the history of art, and all I wanted to do was draw and be creative at every possibility. Xolani, simply known as ‘X’, started the project towards the end of last year and has hosted a number of exhibitions since then, although Boy Parts/Girl Parts was the first of its scale. Sinegugu Ngwenya – Ctrlroom’s temporary Marketing and Brand Communications Trainee – exhibited, “I Never Thought I was a Feminist”, where people could interact and engage with the subject matter. Ngwenya presented a recording of her stories for all to listen to; those that took the opportunity, within an open cubical, were moved by the experience and the sensitive subject matter. “Don’t fuss about the battle, when you stand to lose […]

Oct 20

by Nicola in Art, Beach 0 comments tags: Beach Bums, BeanOn Photography, derelict, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast, South Africa, Westwood Beach

Slow death of a derelict

A slow death of a derelict, next to Beach Bums, Westbrook Beach, north cost, KwaZulu-Natal: Around 1940, the owners, a wealthy Indian couple, departed South Africa to return to India. The couple left the house to their children who’d never set foot on the property, and the place died a slow death – pieces removed bit by bit by the squatters, whom to this day, still inhabit the hills across the road. The property is now in the process of being reclaimed as part of the beach; however, legalities prevail.

Aug 21

by Nicola in Art 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Close-up Photography, Experimental, KwaZulu-Natal, Lemons, Macro Photography, South Africa, Strawberries

Macro Photography

The urge to experiment with marco photography engulfed me; however, when I realised I’d given a macro Tamron lens away with my old camera I tried to bury the urge. The trying bit didn’t last too long when I decided to find out how close I could get with a 18-108mm lens. Well, I raided the contents of my fridge and came across the perfect object to experiment with; something I’d done before, but sadly lost all the photos when I damaged (dropped from a coffee table onto a tiled floor) my external hard drive. As you can see, macro photography should only be done with a macro lens, even close up photography needs to be done with the correct lens. And, there is nothing more perfect than the knobbliest lemon growing in one’s backyard…

Aug 11

by Nicola in Art, Nature 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Blueberry Hill, Early morning, Exploring, KwaZulu-Natal, Piggly Wiggly Country Centre, South Africa, The Midlands Meander, The Waffle Inn

The Midlands Meander

The Midlands Meander brought happiness to us all while browsing at Blueberry Hill’s shop selling homemade treasures; a satisfying brunch at The Waffle Inn; a gem discovery at Piggly Wiggly Country Village where I could have bought everything displayed within Fancy That – what an apt name – fancying almost everything for my new apartment! And of course afters bought at the Belgium Chocolate shop – the best chili stix in milk chocolate that explodes in the mouth, leaving your senses tingling for minutes after the creaminess dissolves. Oh and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect…

Apr 25

by Nicola in Art 0 comments tags: Ansel Adams, BeanOn Photography, Focus, photo, Photography Quote

Focus with photographs

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” ― Ansel Adams