IG: @kiapickeringart
nakiapickering.com

Be Brave, Beatrice!

Nature, and especially the Maine coast, have always been near and dear to my heart. I grew up surrounded by nature. I would play in the mud, lay in the grass, and run through the trees. My family made summer day trips to the Maine coast, where I would explore the tide pools, splash along the shore, and collect little treasures. This helped me grow a deep love and respect for nature that lives within me to this day. One of my main goals for my thesis was to create a world based on our own, but with a touch of magic and whimsy. I wanted to create a place that is both recognizable as somewhere we’ve been before, but is different from what we know, with living creatures as the inhabitants rather than humans. I hope to use my work not only to bring joy to myself and others but also to help share my love and respect for nature with all who view it.

Bio

Nakia Pickering is a fat, queer, chronically ill woman who was born and raised in New England, spending her childhood running through the woods and absorbing the magic of nature. Her early years were spent at the White Mountain Waldorf School where her love for nature and art bloomed. These loves carried into college where they came to life in her illustration work. After graduation, she plans to remain in Portland with her partner and will continue to enjoy tiny donuts and gelato while sharing the beauty of nature with those around her.