Tim Christie shares his latest art series with a pattern containing the rhythm of life

07 Jun 2023

Tim’s style has been described as a modern synthesis of op art, pop art and geometric abstraction. Multi-disciplinary artist, Tim Christie, tells us about his polydot series where he uses various methods including an abundance of delicate dots using the Resene paint range to form spectacular artwork.

“For my latest 'polydot' series I combine imagery with the Fibonacci spiral to create intricate compositions depicting native birds and other life forms,” Tim says. “The spiral pattern is based on a specific sequence of numbers that replicates the growth progression found in nature and cosmological creation.

“From complex flower petal configurations and nautilus shells, to the way our hair spirals on our heads and beautiful galaxial formations, like our own Milky Way, this pattern is arguably the rhythm of life decoded.

“Combining a 'life' sequence with beautiful lifeforms and symbols of life, like Tiki, was the inspiration for this new series of works.”

Tim tells us that in his experience, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, and he doesn’t specifically seek out places to find it. “Strong ideas usually emerge from a combination of influences that percolate in the subconscious and then find their way into the pre-frontal cortex. 

“Inspiration also comes from doing and iterating. Sometimes you need to work to think, rather than the other way around.”

In 2021 Tim opened his own gallery in central Wellington, working full time as an artist. His practice has become incredibly busy with his collections including original paintings, digital art, lightworks, weavings and NFT art. “I enjoy exploring the intersection between 2D geometric design and 3D anatomical form. As a multi-disciplinary artist I’ve explored and incorporated a wide range of materials into my work. Recycled billboard skins, buckram (book-binding material) PVC, polypropylene, acrylic for my weavings and lightworks. For my paintings I use acrylic paint, including metallics and fluorescents.

“I typically require very bright poppy hues to offset the black backdrops that feature in most of my works. Tim's Golden Kereru including Resene Gold and Resene Proton.

Resene paint has been particularly useful for Tim’s large canvas works, especially in his latest polydot series of original paintings. Tim needs just the right consistency to drop individual blobs of paint onto a canvas, sometimes creating up to 2,500 circles per design. He has also recently been using Resene FX Metallic paint, even mixing the colours together to create the perfect colour combinations. 

“Currently I have to say my favourite shade is Resene Gold as I have been using this a lot to add shimmering qualities to my work,” Tim says. As for my work, I’m always iterating and evolving so my favourite piece is typically one of my most recent. In this case it’s probably ‘Blue Ruru’ from my brand new polydot series. I particularly like how the spiral pattern accentuates the feathers of the bird. This was somewhat serendipitous, a surprisingly good outcome in fact.”

Tim has recently started to incorporate Resene FX Metallic paint into his paintings, including Resene Gold and mixes of Resene Proton, Resene Yeehaa and Resene Go Go Go.

Tim’s art practice emerged out of his career in design. “I was freelancing at the time and also working as the creative director of a software business I co-founded in 2008,” he says. “Whilst travelling overseas in 2016 I had an idea for a series of designs. When I returned to New Zealand I produced some large digital works based around this concept. 

“The first time I exhibited they sold very quickly. I had something that was completely unique and seemed to captivate people. It snowballed from there, including an opportunity to exhibit overseas. I exhibited with Washington Green, the UK’s largest fine art group and won an award. There was a transitional period after which I was able to step away from other work commitments and focus on my art full time.”

“As a multi-disciplinary artist I’ve explored a wide range of materials – from recycled billboard skins and buckram (book-binding material) PVC, to polypropylene, acrylic for my weavings and lightworks.”

You can purchase Tim’s work directly online or find it in a number of galleries around New Zealand including: The Poi Room (Auckland), Boyd-Dunlop (Napier), Soul (Hamilton), Ora (Wellington), Yogallery (Tim’s gallery in Wellington), Lightworx (Queenstown), The Artist’s Room (Dunedin). Overseas Tim is represented by Castle Fine Art (UK), Mash (LA, USA), 5Art (LA, USA).

See more of Tim’s designs: www.timchristie.co.nz

Main image: Tim’s Blue Ruru includes colours like Resene Curious Blue and Resene Niagara.

Published: 07 Jun 2023