Friday, October 30, 2015

Stark Day On The South Saskatchewan

Stark Day On The South Saskatchewan
6 x 6"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015

There is no snow yet! I have to say that we have been extraordinarily lucky this fall, we have enjoyed a beautiful season and with Halloween around the corner it looks like we are home-free in respect to good weather. 

At this time of year there is often a blanket of white covering the land. This October is an exception with the frigid river in our beautiful city juxtaposed against the earthy barren banks of the South Saskatchewan river.

I have to say that I fussed around with the mid-foreground of this painting. It was not working at all so finally I wiped the busy marks off and it was instantly better. Very often less is more.




Friday, October 23, 2015

Prairie Intensity II

Prairie Intensity II
8 x 8"
oil on cradled panels
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

A couple of months ago I did a painting for Lifestyles called "Prairie Intensity". I was really happy with the vibe it had (see below), so I decided to try to capture that same power in another painting (above). Maybe this will be the start of a few more.

Prairie Intensity
8x8
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold

On a side note I am extremely excited for my weekend. On Saturday and Sunday I will be attending "Landscape Painting with Gord MacDonald" at Atelier 2302. It is part of a series of workshops Craig Berry is bringing to Saskatoon this fall and I am so happy I got a spot! I will be in student mode for forty-eight hours and I can hardly wait to be more knowledgeable come Monday! Here is a link to view work by Gord MacDonald.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Lonely Bale

Lonely Bale
8 x 8"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

Another painting now available at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery. I still have one more to show you and apparently one of the five new paintings has already sold!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Sandy Cliffs On Kingsmere River

Sandy Cliffs on Kingsmere River
8 x 8"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I spent a lot of time hiking with my kids this summer. The Kingsmere River Trail was one I hadn't done since I was a child, so my memories were vague. I am sure the landscape changed in that time, but I really don't recall what it might have looked like back then. It is possible this sandy cliff was covered in trees and vegetation thirty-some odd years ago and that the river carved its way through the land a little differently.

On another note- big changes in Canada as the federal election is now over. I wonder how the landscape of our country will change over the course of the next few years.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Farmer's Perspective

Farmer's Perspective
8 x 8"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

It's federal election day in Canada! Please go out and vote! Make your perspective heard!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Starting The Night Watch

Starting The Night Watch
8 x 8"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

There were so many stellar sunsets this summer at the lake, I feel privileged to have been a witness. I now have heaps of reference photos to use- I am sure I will get bored of the subject before I run out of material. However... not bored yet! Here I painted the sleepy pines by the lakeside watching the sun set and getting ready to hold down the fort 'til morning. Good night clouds, good night beach, good night water....

Friday, October 16, 2015

Out Pike Lake Way

Out Pike Lake Way
6 x 6"
oil on board

This week I tackled my huge, intimidating (yet exciting) canvas. It is 48 x 48 inches and inspired by the beautiful wild prairie surrounding my friend's newly purchased acreage. It is about Wolf Willow in that landscape. Because I am painting the scene in oils I have had to take the time to let things dry before I move on, so while that happens I also got some odd jobs done around the studio, like making shadow boxes for my 6x6's, wiring some cradled panels, and purging B-R-U-T-A-L, nothing salvageable canvases. They are giving my studio bad karma- they must go. I also decided to paint a little 6x6 which you see above. It has been a good, productive week at 236A 20th Street.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Looking To The Rapids, Waskesiu River

Looking To The Rapids, Waskesiu River
30 x 40"
oil on canvas
© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold 
HaPpY ThAnKsGiViNg!!!

It is hard to believe that it is already that time of the year when we stop and give thanks, but it is... it is Thanksgiving in Canada. I am celebrating with my family today and feeling so grateful for all of the opportunities available to me and my children in this great country of ours. I am so proud to be Canadian; so proud of our multicultural communities and so proud of the stunningly gorgeous landscape we live in. It is difficult not to well up when I stop and pause for a minute to reflect on how good we have it here. I am grateful. 

The above is my newest large painting. It was a challenge as I went from a summer of 6x6's to a 30x40 with no transition in between. It was a bit of a jump, but I am happy with the end result. The Waskesiu River was a real source of inspiration for me over the last several months.
I hope you like it.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Fall Show - Wolf Willow

Fall Show - Wolf Willow
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2015

Wolf Willow. I love it. What is it about those dancing, silvery leaves that captivates me so? I have made attempts to paint their loveliness in the past... sometimes successful (in my mind), sometimes not. I am gearing up to try it again on a large scale, but that big canvas on my easel is daunting.... and it is taunting me- all white and huge and full of potential.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Valley Road Wolf Willow

Valley Road Wolf Willow
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2015

This is a quick little study for some bigger ideas I have brewing. Inspiration is drawn from the fall landscape I drove through on my way out to the Solar Gardens show last month.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Last Light By Ski Beach, Waskesiu

Last Light By Ski Beach, Waskesiu
20 x 20"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold

In my last post I told you about the commission I just finished and how I actually painted two paintings in order to give the client a choice. This is the second painting... a sunset by Ski Beach in Waskesiu that was both intense and calm at the same time. A very different feel from the painting he chose, but it still included all the elements he asked for: a sunset, the lake, light and Spruce. I'm so happy that he ended up with a painting that he loves. Someday this painting will find its way to a home where it will hopefully offer a reminder of wonderful lake memories to its owner.