Friday, January 6, 2012

Bittersweet Sunset

Bittersweet Sunset, Emma Lake
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2012
sold 

This is officially my first painting of 2012. As reference I used a photo I took last summer on the beach at the Kenderdine Campus which reminded me of a painting I saw at the AGO. It was a little miracle created by Tom Thomson and I wish I could remember what it was called. My painting looks nothing like his, but never-the-less the inspiration from the memory of his work fed me as I painted.

I settled on a title today as I was listening to Adele's "Someone Like You" and I heard the word "bittersweet" in one of her lyrics. In fact, a whirlwind of things were happening around the time I took these reference shots and all of them were bittersweet. For personal reasons I think the title is perfect but I really think it suits the painting, too.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

totally beautiful. love the light at the top of the cloud
peace n love
CheyAnne

Nicki said...

Thank you CheyAnne. It was the glow of the sunset on the top of the cloud that drew me to the scene in the first place. It was something I had to try to paint. I'm tickled you think it is beautiful.

Happy New Year!

Linda Popple said...

Beautiful painting! It really caught my eye. I didn't recognize the name of Tom Thomson so I pulled up his paintings and immediately realized that he was a member of the Group of Seven. I can see his influence on your landscape. Really lovely!

Nicki said...

Happy New Year Linda! It's so good to hear from you.

I'm so pleased this painting caught your eye. I'm quite happy with the result and may try a version of it on a larger scale. I'm lovin' the stormy skies lately.

Tom Thomson is one of my all time favorites. If I allow myself to think about it, I get quite melancholy that his life was cut so short (drowned at the age of 39). I can't help but wonder what beautiful and profound art the world would have enjoyed had he lived to an old age.

Anonymous said...

well done on getting your first painting of 2012 out there and what a lovely piece, the title seems apt especially with that wonderful play of colours on the top of the cloud and the balance of colours in the sky as it moves into the distance.

Pierre Raby said...

What a strong piece to enter the new year! Everything is so perfect and elegantly expressive, colors & light are amazing, great title too. Those incredible storms translate well your inner strenght and that state of emergency felt through your creative process.
Tom Thomson, Nicki Ault, Adele... a pretty evocative trio, I can see the connections...
Nicki, I wish you a wonderful 2012 full of love and creativity!

Nicki said...

Hi Rahina,

I loved the glow of the setting sun on these storm clouds as I stood watching them on the beach. I need to play with this idea more... I have lots to learn about these colours (pinks, oranges, reds). Thank you for your thoughts on this first painting of the year.

Nicki

Nicki said...

Pierre, you are too kind! Thank you for such generous comments. When I see my name in a trio with the other two as you have written them all I can think of is that song from Sesame Street, "One of these kids is not like the others..."!

:) All the best to you!
N.

-Don said...

I love how lyrics from great music can often inform our work - whether it be a title, an idea or simply inspiration. Bittersweet Sunset packs so much power into it that it seems to be much larger than its true size. Thanks for the link to Mr. Thomson's work. I always enjoy the opportunity to 'discover' artists who are new to me. I can see why he's a favorite of yours...

-Don

Barbara Muir said...

So beautiful! Tom would be proud to be the inspiration. Sorry you've had a bittersweet time. Must talk soon.

XO Barbara

Happy New Year!

Nicki said...

Hi Don,

It's true that music inspires and influences other art forms. I love listening to music when I paint... some of the artists at the studio listen to to news talk radio and it drains my energy.

I just may try a version of this painting in a larger format. I'm saying that a lot lately about these skies I'm doing!

I'm happy you enjoyed looking at the link. Tom Thomson is one of my all time favorites.

Nicki

Nicki said...

Hi Barbara,

How nice of you to say that... I wish I could get a day with Tom Thomson- I'd love to watch him work and ask him a thousand questions.

All is well, not to worry. I was referring to a bittersweet time when I took these photos last summer. It's all good!

XO Nicki

Kim Rempel said...

Oh, this too has beautiful drama. So moving. I saw it on my FB feed and meant to comment. You are on a roll. And I just LOVE that song. I can loop it and loop it and never get sick of it.

Nicki said...

I'm really happy with this little one. It makes me happy!

And that is actually what I do with that song... over and over and over again!