Lucie Blaževská
Visual arts, graphic design
Lucie Blaževská is a graphic designer, art tutor and practising artist. Originally from the Czech Republic, Lucie has embraced the culture and art scene of Aotearoa since moving here in 2014, further developing her artistic style from a wide pool of influences and techniques. She is the founder and operator of Lucie Blaze – limited-edition skateboard collections, and creative workshops for youth and for women.
Artistic expression came naturally for Lucie, and a creative career was always in her future. She studied the history and theory of art at Palacký University, before moving on to study graphic design at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, with a one-year internship studying visual communication at the Ecole d'art Maryse Eloy in Paris. After personally experiencing the healing properties of making art and craft, she is now pursuing a postgraduate degree in art therapy at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design.
Lucie’s love for art and design connects with her desire for helping others, sharing skills and uplifting young people through art. While journeying through India she held a three-day art workshop in the Khushi Rainbow Home, which is an orphanage for girls who once lived on the streets. Since she has been in Aotearoa she has been involved in art-mentoring roles on projects such as Manawa Ora (Ngā Rangatahi Toa) and art tutoring for a programme called Girls to the Front (Connect the Dots Charitable Trust). In 2019 she participated in a six-month art programme called Toi Ako where she worked with two women from the Elizabeth Knox care home (also through the Connect the Dots Charitable Trust). She has also worked as an art tutor for Creative Matters, which holds after-school art classes for children.
+ What I can teach you
My main workshops are Design Your Own Board, where you can create unique artwork on a blank skateboard deck, and Learn and Create, which is designed for women, allowing them to explore their own female inspiration through paper collage on canvas. I would like to take this opportunity with the Ockham Collective to introduce a series of new creative workshops, like watercolour, linocut, paper collage, screen printing and an introduction to graphic design. All workshops are designed for complete beginners with no previous experience in art-making. Everyone is creative and I aim to provide an environment where you will come to this conclusion on your own.
+ My teaching style
I won’t tell you exactly what to do but I will rather guide you and help you to tap into your own creative energies. All of my classes will start with an introduction to the artistic medium, a bit of theory and a lot of practical hands-on experiments. I’ll do the demonstrations along with you. The group dynamics will play a big role in how I conduct the class. If you tell me at the end of my classes that you didn’t know you could make this, then I succeeded.
+ My most significant artistic moment
I secretly dreamed of becoming an art mentor but I didn’t believe I could do it – until I got an amazing offer through Ngā Rangatahi Toa to be involved in an art mentoring role for their project Manawa Ora. I did it and I did it well. Since then I realized it’s something I could build on and develop further so it actually has a deeper transforming and healing effect on people. This experience set me on the path to pursue an art therapy degree.
+ Most enduring influence
My family, music, nature and myself. My dad loves rock and jazz, and he used to run a punk recording studio. My mum is a hippie. They played all sorts of music when I was growing up, which really influenced my creative expression. They noticed I made paintings based on how I felt when I listened to the music they played. Even now music plays a huge role in my creative outcomes. Nature, too, never ceases to amaze and inspire me. A lot of my colour combinations come from nature. I have also learned to find a drive and motivation from within, and to not depend on external influences as they might come and go.
+ Who I'd most like to collaborate with?
Okay, this will sound like I’m a weirdo... but I don’t know of a visual artist who I’d like to collaborate with. When I paint or do illustrations or design something, I don’t tend to speak - so that would make it difficult to collaborate. However, I can imagine painting while a band or a musician plays. That would be a kind-of dialogue where I would respond artistically to what I hear. In that case, I’d love to collab with Baobab Orchestra (until I jump up and dance), The Veils (I love how their music makes me feel), Dead Can Dance, Coco Rosie and Yann Tiersen.
+ Fave youtube clip
One of them is Goran Bregović performing Ederlezi in the Basilica Superiore di San Francesco in Assisi in 2005 – not because of the clip itself, but for the music. I have goosebumps every time I listen to it. I also love Aurora Live at The Current - her music, movements and facial expressions make me feel so much joy. Ok, now something artsy: I love José González’s Heartbeats (a former Sony ad), purely because of my love for colour. I wish I was there when this was shot - I’d be like the kid hiding behind the corner.