Use the below code in your form to avoid form flickering which also avoids your image flickering. you don't need to resize the image you are using.
Protected Overrides ReadOnly Property CreateParams() As Windows.Forms.CreateParams
Get
Dim cp As CreateParams = MyBase.CreateParams
cp.ExStyle = cp.ExStyle Or &H2000000
Return cp
End Get
End Property
This will paint the controls in your form and brings the form visible after all controls loaded and avoids the flickering.