The Breakwater and the Boat Dock

The Breakwater and the Boat Dock

10x10"

oil on panel

© Nicki Ault, 2019

sold

The magical time of day when the light is golden.

Graphite Sky at a Party!

Graphite Sky

36 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Assiniboia Gallery

I took this fan-favourite down to Assiniboia Gallery the other day. There is a special event in the gallery tonight and I hope the perfect match for this painting attends. Do you have a modern aesthetic? A sophisticated eye? A designer's vision? If you answered yes, "Graphite Sky" could be the painting you've been waiting for! :)

Dusk In A Ravaged Land

Dusk In A Ravaged Land

24 x 24"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Assiniboia Gallery

This one is another spin-off from a 6x6 I produced in my daily painting project. The other one I painted was a slightly altered composition to accommodate a rectangular format. Both of these were done on boards.

The effect of the sky on this one gave me a hard time. It's funny how simple things like moving from a hard, smooth surface of a board to a bouncy, textured surface of a canvas can affect my approach. Or maybe it's more about the prep of the surfaces. I sealed the boards with a clear-coat so the colour of the board is what I built the painting on. I never paint on a white canvas, so in this case I put on a coat of orange/peach gesso over the surface before I started painting.

The orange gesso looked great with the under-painting! So much so that I tried to keep the effect by mixing mostly orange and orangish-yellow oils to paint the sky. Unfortunately it didn't translate and just felt dark, like there was no light in the sky. The mood from the under-painting and gesso was lost. 

In an effort to salvage the painting, I started making changes and probably re-painted the sky four times until I was finally happy. 

Lessons are learned every time I am at my easel.

Fond Memories of the Farm

Fond Memories of the Farm

8 x 8"

oil on panel

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

A dugout and a warm summer sunset.

The Sun Burns Through

The Sun Burns Through

30 x 48"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

sold at Assiniboia Gallery

Yesterday I drove to Regina with my studio mate, Bridget, to deliver work to her gallery and to mine. We gabbed so much I really don't recall stopping for a breath! I think we solved all the world's problems and we came to two basic conclusions: humans need to stop being cruel to each other and the world would be better off with more art.

I'm really excited about the three new pieces I dropped off at Assiniboia Gallery which I will post over the next few days. Or you can check out the gallery website a bit later today to see them first! I hope you agree that they have a modern feel and that each have the potential to be show stoppers in their own ways. Fingers crossed they go over well and I look forward to feedback from the gallery as they get eyes on them.

This was my first day away from the studio in quite awhile and I missed it! I can hardly wait to get there tomorrow to get started on my next projects. Stay tuned and thanks for checking in!

Skirting The Field

Skirting The Field

8 x 8"

oil on panel

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

The edges of fields by the roadside are often quite interesting to look at: there might be a few thistles or weeds, you can usually see the whole plant and how tall the stems/stalks are, the foliage is visible and you can really see how the plant moves if it is windy.

Take a drive to the country this summer, get out of the car. listen to the sounds, smell the air and think about what you would want to paint, photograph, write or sing about. Then do it. 

It will do your soul good.

Into The Wide Open

Into The Wide Open

8 x 8"

oil on panel

© Nicki Ault, 2019

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

​Another autumn scene inspired by my studio mate's acreage. The downhill path to an open clearing is one of the many lovely vantage points on her property.

The Passionate Sky in "Seeing Red" at Darrell Bell Gallery

The Passionate Sky

48 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

A new group show, "Seeing Red", opens at Darrell Bell Gallery tomorrow! I submitted a brand new painting, "The Passionate Sky", based on a photo I saw in an Instagram Story by Geof at @glassandtin_ . I am very grateful he gave me permission to use his photo and it is amazing this all occurred before I even knew about the red-themed show! Serendipity I guess!

The opening reception is tomorrow, please come if you can.

Prairie Complementary, Contrary Prairie and Prairie Opposites Attract

Prairie Complementary

12 x 12"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

All of these new paintings were recently delivered to Darrell Bell Gallery and are experiments in abstracting the landscape as well as explorations on the use of complementary colours. Each one focused on using blue (primary colour) and it's complement, orange, which is a secondary colour and across from blue on the colour wheel. I then tried to work with colours only on one side of the colour wheel between those two complements.

All of these things and more are ideas I took away from Susan Woolgar's workshop which I attended in Saskatoon at the end of March.

Learning is fun!

Prairie Opposites Attract

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

The Contrary Prairie

12 x 12"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery