Wild Poppies

Wild Poppies

(commission)

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2019

sold

I was recently asked to do a little prairie scene with red poppies as a special birthday gift for someone who adores this flower. I am told she loved, loved, LOVED it! Of course that makes me very happy.

Navy Blue Marsh

Navy Blue Marsh

6x6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold

A snippet of Saskatchewan.

Sometimes on a bright but windy day, the dugouts and marshes take on a deep, dark blue colour.

Neutral Storm

Neutral Storm

6x6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold

Swelling storm clouds over the prairie, but not yet dark and ominous.

Late Afternoon Backlighting

Late Afternoon Backlighting

6x6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold

I still love this colour palette and most recently used it on "Pewter and Platinum Glow" which pre-sold before Open Studio. I do believe these colours have not seen the last of me.

Forest Clearing

Forest Clearing

6x6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold

A new product was used on the underpainting of "Forest Clearing"- Transparent Earth Red Fast Matte by Gamblin. And by fast they mean  fast! It's an oil paint but the drying time has been kicked up and I swear it was almost dry in an hour. I really loved the colour of this earthy red so I left quite a bit of it glowing through in the distant forest. Really happy with this one turned out.

Wet Earth At Sunrise

Wet Earth at Sunrise

6x6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

I had to make this one up. Other than the winter when the sun comes up at 9:00 a.m., let's just say I don't see the sun rise very often.

New 6x6's for Open Studio!

A sampling of brand 

new 6x6's 

available at Open Studio

© Nicki Ault, 2018

I have been so busy with other things that paintings my 6x6's tends to get put on the back-burner. The last time I painted any would have been for the daily painting project I did for Art Now two months ago. It's always fun to have some on hand for Open Studio, so I have been taking a break from large work to ensure I have my display boards filled for Sunday's Open Studio. Above are nine new ones, but there are more, so please come and see them in person!

Let's Walk Together

Let's Walk Together

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

(commission)
sold

A little commission requested by my sister to give to her friend as a wedding gift. 

A path like this is meaningful to the couple, so of course I was touched to be able to paint it for them. May this little painting always remind them of the day they chose each other and may they walk through life with abundant love..

Sleep Well Under The Vast Night Sky

#12 - Sleep Well Under The Vast Night Sky

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

Daily Painting Project III

sold

That's a wrap!

This daily painting project was absolutely fantastic! Full disclosure: I haven't been feeling well for the entire project, but having these paintings to do each day motivated me to get out of the house and into the studio. It ended up being a great distraction.

I am very grateful for the enormous support I received over the last twelve days. Thank you to everyone who let me know just how much you were enjoying the process and looking forward to each daily post. And thank you to those who snapped up the pieces they loved. This nocturne plus the four below are available. If you are interested, please send me a message via Daily Paintworks, Facebook or Instagram. *UPDATE: Today's night sky just sold so the below four are the remaining pieces.

#1 - Lake Drama

#5 - Pale Field

#10 - Dreamland

#11 - Forest Aura

I will have the entire project with me at my Artist Talk at Art Now (Prairieland Park) on Friday (2:00- Assiniboia Gallery booth) and anything that hasn't sold will be available at that time.

Forest Aura

#11 - Forest Aura

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

Daily Painting Project III

sold

This one photographed a bit dark. In person, the sunlight really glows behind the forest.

Suddenly the project is almost over! One more painting to go and then we are at twelve! The response has been fantastic with seven of the ten previously posted pieces already sold! Crazy! I didn't see that coming. Anyway, they will all be temporarily displayed at my Artist Talk on Friday and then released to the purchasers after that.

I am excited to reveal the new work I am delivering to the Assiniboia Gallery for installation in their booth at Art Now. A big 36x48 piece will debut along with six brand new 10x10's. These never-before-seen paintings will be on display and for sale all weekend. My plan is to post them on my social media late afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 20 and before the opening gala at 7:00 p.m.  

To top things off, my application was accepted earlier this year by the Saskatchewan Craft Council and I will have four of my 2018 6x6's framed in shadowboxes represented in their booth! I am so appreciative of their support!

The city is starting to buzz. Everyone is getting excited. It is going to be a great weekend at Art Now!

Be interesting. Buy art!

Dreamland

#10 - Dreamland

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

Daily Painting Project III

sold

I find this one dreamy - the soft palette is making me all warm and fuzzy! It is inspired by the sunset the other night when I was driving home from the store. I was stopped at a traffic light, pulled out my camera (not phone) and took a quick photo to remind myself. When I painted it I used my little camera screen to look at the photo. Not easy but it allowed me to get creative and make a few things up, like the entire field area!

Two paintings left in the project and the big art fair is this weekend!

Clarity

#9 - Clarity

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

Daily Painting Project III

sold

There is something so hopeful about a clear, blue prairie sky.

Three Little Evergreens, Spring at Waskesiu River

#8 - Three Little Evergreens, Spring at Waskesiu River

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

Daily Painting Project III
sold

Ever since we did the landscaping in our yard a few years ago I have enjoyed watching plants grow again. Among our new perennial plants and shrubs, we had one tree placed in the corner of our yard; a little weeping Spruce. For the last two spring seasons I have been intrigued by the glorious colour of the new growth on the tips of its branches, so when I went to the lake in May, I really took notice of this same thing on the little trees in the forest. These sweet evergreens on the edge of the river made me really happy.

Sunset Striae

#7 - Sunset Striae

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Daily Painting Project III)
sold

The project is going swimmingly! At the halfway point, four of the first six have presold! The sold work will not be released until after my Artist Talk at Art Now on September 21st, so that I can display them in the Assiniboia Gallery booth before and during my presentation.

I am excited to see what develops on the next five boards, I love the punch of colour on number seven! Thanks for following along!

Tranquil Conclusion

#6 - Tranquil Conclusion

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)
sold

I am trying to create a variety of work for these twelve daily paintings, so I felt one of my beloved (by me) subjects, a sunset reflection, was in order. They are so fun to do.

Voila! Painting number six! We are halfway there!

Pale Field

#5 - Pale Field

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)

sold

I think the colour is off in this photo. The image on Instagram may show better. 

Did you know I am on Instagram? It is fun over there! I love making "Stories" even though I don't really know what I am doing. Unfortunately I get distracted by the feature sometimes when I should be painting, but I love it when I crack myself up, like I did with the below image I made for a Story...

*giggle*

(Do you know the movie reference?)

Also, using GIF's and stickers is really enjoyable. Sometimes I even make short little videos. Like, really short and I am never in them. Well, you might see my hand doing something. I find it all very entertaining.

Anyway, there is a link to my Instagram page on the right-hand side of this blog (see the camera icon). Check it out if you feel so inclined and follow me if you like - it's easier to engage over there, but I certainly appreciate the support this blog gets, so thanks either way!

Into The Blue

#4 - Into The Blue

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)

sold

I love this one. The deep blue sky is my new favourite and the tiny line of distant canola actually went a long way in activating the field and making it more engaging.

So my last three blog posts revealed: 

1) I am doing a Daily Painting Project

2) I will be doing an Artist Talk at Art Now (Prairieland Park, Sept 21 at 2:00)

3) My talk will take place in the Assiniboia Gallery booth and I will have my daily paintings for sale and on display that afternoon

Here is a question though: Why twelve paintings in twelve days? Seems a bit random, you might think.

There is a method to my madness. Basically I have a four different display boards: one holds thirty 6x6's, one holds twelve, one holds six and one holds four. Because of our family holidays at the end of August I didn't have time to do a thirty day project and, let's be honest, a four or six day daily painting project would have been ultra lame. I plan to bring the paintings with me for the talk, so a twelve painting project seemed worthwhile and would also have a bit of visual impact. I had time to start the project after returning from holidays and even had time to factor in recovery from my unexpected brutal sinus cold AND give the paintings drying time before transporting them.

It has all worked out and I am loving the process of painting these little gems every day.

Silver Twilight, Waskesiu

#3 - Silver Twilight, Waskesiu

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)
sold

I'm thrilled to announce that my Artist Talk, "The Power of Painting Small and Daily Painting", will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the Assiniboia Gallery booth at Art Now!

Two years ago when I attended the very first Art Now in Saskatoon, I remember admiring the Assiniboia Gallery and thinking how it would be a dream come true to be represented by them. Twelve months later at the second Art Now in Regina, the Assiniboia Gallery introduced me as a new artist on their roster! 

A few months ago when gallery owner, Jeremy Weimer, asked if I would consider doing an Artist Talk at the third annual Art Now in Saskatoon, I really wasn't sure if I had much to contribute to the interesting art-focused dialogue that would happen throughout the weekend. Upon further consideration, however, I realized that the evolution of my art practice is a tiny bit unique in these parts and I had loads to offer on the topic of painting small and often. As a result, I agreed to do a talk... but NOT on the stage! Ha!

Leading up to this year's event I decided it would be really fun to take on another daily painting project, although it is smaller in scope than my previous two because our family holidays prevented me from starting the project sooner.

I have always kept my 6x6 size exclusive to me. I have never sold my unframed paintings of this size through a gallery or another vendor. I have made a short-term exception for this event because I hope it will add an interesting element to my talk. The full collection of the twelve daily paintings will be displayed on my portable board and easel for Friday afternoon only in the Assiniboia Gallery booth at Art Now. They are available to purchase as soon as I post them (one has already sold), but they will not be released until after my Artist Talk. 

If you have time and feel inclined to learn how incorporating small-scale work into your art practice might be beneficial, please come to my talk! It will be fun, interesting and informal!

The Prairies

#2 - The Prairies

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018
(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)
sold

I love this size! At one time it was the majority of what I painted and what I sold, but over the last couple of years the 8x8's have taken over. It's going to be fun for me to return to these bite-sized boards for these twelve days.

I told you yesterday that today I would reveal more details about this project. Well... and I can't believe I am about to say this.... I am doing an Artist Talk at Art Now Fine Art Fair !!! ACK!

My topic is "The Power of Painting Small and Daily Painting". I am pretty excited although I am definitely stepping out of my comfort zone, so if you are free on Friday, Sept. 21 at 2:00, I would love to see some friendly faces.

Stay tuned, tomorrow when I post painting #3 I will reveal where I will be presenting my Artist Talk at Art Now.

Lake Drama and Mini Daily Painting Project!

#1 - Lake Drama

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2018

(12 paintings in 12 days - Project III)
sold

I just began a mini daily painting project! 

I will be painting one 6x6 painting every day for the next twelve days and posting them as I go.

This is my third daily painting project, the first two (2011 and 2012) involved painting thirty paintings in thirty days and in each case the project concluded with me displaying and selling the work at an art and craft market. The idea behind "daily painting" is to paint one complete painting each day for a certain number of consecutive days.... or indefinitely! This year's project is smaller than the others I have done, but I am very excited about the reason behind it. More details about this unique project to be unveiled tomorrow with painting numero deux!