Perth Voice Interactive

IT’S become a refuge for the bored middle classes – the dreaded sip and paint.

Hordes of unfulfilled folk quaffing chardonnay while painting their beloved chihuahua or pedigree cat.

Thankfully, Perth artist Nicola Milan is giving the whole concept a delicious dark twist with a Tim Burton-inspired sip and sketch at Fringe World.

Forget about your beloved Trixiebell and your favourite vase of begonias, and get ready to dive into a gothic world of steam punk and Victorian dread.

Milan is a bit of a renaissance woman – writing dark poems, painting quirky characters and singing jazz.

She started out drawing cartoons as a kid and one of her first characters was a fat obnoxious cat called Gumtuck, a self-confessed Garfield rip-off.  

She went on to create a cartoon blog – sharing useless but interesting facts about strange animals – and then co-wrote with her mum the illustrated book Monster-in-Law: A Survival Guide, a cathartic way of getting over her engagement breakup.

But it wasn’t until she started experimenting with pastel pencils and drawing gothic creatures that she found her true calling.

“I’d been singing jazz for a while and watching Tim Burton movies and reading all manner of books on vampires, werewolves and other fantastic creatures,” Milan says. 

“Anne Rice and the Brothers Grimm of course were also faves. I’d also watch olden day movie matinees and loved the costumes, so it was a combination of slightly strange, slightly macabre, rather obnoxious characters combined with elaborate costumes that ended up spilling into my artwork.”

Milan went on to launch Thelonious Creature, a popular and whimsical art brand inspired by Victorian gothic and steampunk.

At Burton and Bubbles, Milan shows participants how to turn their quirky ideas into fully realised characters, and how pastel shading can add depth and gothic charm.

“All materials are provided and the class is perfect for both beginners and experienced artists,” she says.

Away from the easel, Milan is a sultry jazz singer and has performed at the Ellington Club, at festivals across Australia, and even done a few gigs in London.

“I like it all – the improv, the vibe, the rhythms, the beautiful melodies, the interesting chords, the history… and I have a low voice so it works for me,” she says.

If that wasn’t enough, she also writes gothic-style poems.

“I sit in the crossroads between darkness and light. I am but a paradoxical creator drawing cartoons one day and gothic creatures the next,” Milan says.

“Poems about death mixed with stupid rhymes about boob jobs.

“Both sides pull at me to be honest. Similarly my art and music both pull at me for time too. It’s a little annoying. I wish they’d cooperate a bit more.” 

With Burton and Bubbles coming up, we asked Milan to choose her favourite Tim Burton movie: “Edward Scissorhands is a classic but it also makes me cry and Winona Ryder is annoying. Therefore, it would have to be a toss up between Sweeney Todd and Dark Shadows,” she says.

“I love Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp. Such great character actors. I like Tim’s use of the absurd. He doesn’t hold back.” 

The 90-minute Burton and Bubbles is at the Ambassador Bar, 59 Aberdeen St in Northbridge from 6.30pm-8pm on January 24. Tix at fringeworld.com.au and to find out more about Milan’s art see nicolamilan.com.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK