Moss Study

Moss Study

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/moss-study/463726 
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I am psyching myself up to start another big canvas, this time the subject will be the stunning moss and rocky hillside my paddling partner, Erica, and I found on Sulphide Lake in 2013. We were on a four day canoe trip with CanoeSki Discovery Company; the adventure was called "Canoeing and Painting In The Wild".

Have you ever been strolling, wandering, paddling, rowing, hiking, biking or jogging along and suddenly WHAM! nature hits you right between the eyes with something so glorious, so unbelievably breathtaking that you can do little more than stare with your mouth wide open, eyes brimming with tears? I hope you have had that experience. It is like a miracle. That is how I felt when I saw this moss-laden rocky hill. I was overcome with such gratitude to find myself there in that very moment to witness this bit of nature in the light of that morning. The moss was utterly illuminated. It was spectacular. And Erica was the right person with whom to experience it. When we had to paddle away I almost felt a sense of loss. To this day I am in awe of what we saw.

A Corner Of Mekewap

A Corner Of Mekewap

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
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I revisited the photos I took from the canoe trip two summers ago and found some more I wanted to paint. Mekewap is a lovely little fresh water, spring-fed lake that we had to portage into. There was a sweet tiny island where we had lunch and spent time painting. I kept thinking how fun it would be to camp there over night- it was so peaceful and isolated, and you wouldn't have to worry about bears!

On another note, we didn't end up fishing on the morning we planned. We woke up to strong winds- the lake was rolling...

... it sounded and looked like the ocean.

"The sea was angry that day my friends" ~ George Costanza (Seinfeld)

Canoeing and Painting In The Wild

Last August I went on the first ever "Canoeing and Painting in the Wild" trip to Lac La Ronge Provincial Park. Aside from experiencing an epic storm as we crossed our last portage, the adventure was peaceful, stunningly beautiful and quite productive. The food was ridiculously delicious and far exceeded my expectations. Among other tasty things, we had coconut rice pudding, homemade stew and some sort of delicious fried cheese as an appetizer one night. So good. It was hard to believe it all came out of backpacks and coolers. Our homebase was rustic and cozy- I slept so well after all of the fresh air and exercise and painting. I loved the feeling of seclusion- there was nobody around for miles, just sounds of nature going about its business. The opportunity to escape from the city was just what I needed and I returned feeling strong, proud and like I accomplished something not many people have done.

Cliff is in the process of taking registration for the second "Canoeing and Painting in the Wild" adventure which will run in August. If this sounds like it might be up your alley, really think about it. If you have any questions he would be happy to answer them for you (his contact info is in the above poster) or if I can help in some way, you can always contact me through this blog, my Facebook page or at nicki.ault@shaw.ca. You will be awed by the beauty found on Sulphide Lake.

P.S. In the poster I am the first person in the canoe on the right.

Canoeing and Painting In The Wild - Year Two

On The Shadow Side of Pine

6 x 6"

oil on canvas board

© Nicki Ault, 2013

sold

If you check in with this blog now and then you might know that last summer I was lucky enough to join in on a fantastic new adventure called "Canoeing and Painting in the Wild" by CanoeSki Discovery Company. We drove about five hours north (of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) to the La Ronge area where we set off on a four day excursion to a remote part of the Canadian Shield. For a girl like me who had never canoed before, it was a bit intense, but for those who had canoed I think it was rather leisurely.

The great news is that Cliff Speer of CanoeSki is planning to run another trip this year to the same location at about the same time of the year (mid-August). I highly recommend this opportunity for anyone who enjoys the challenge of plein air painting. I felt privileged to be part of the trip and to see such untouched land in my own province- I felt even more honoured to be able to paint it.

The Shield

48 x 36"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2013

sold

Upon our return I wrote a blog post for each day of the trip. If you would like to read more about last year's adventure please follow these links:

Canoeing and Painting In The Wild - Day One
Canoeing and Painting in The Wild - Day Two
Canoeing and Painting in The Wild - Day Three
Canoeing and Painting in The Wild - Day Four

For detailed information regarding summer 2014 please go to the CanoeSki website and thanks to Cliff for using a couple of my paintings as visuals!

Rocky Point, Lynx Lake

Rocky Point, Lynx Lake

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2014
sold

Another little painting inspired by the canoe trip. I think Cliff at CanoeSki is planning to organize another excursion this year, so if you like plein air painting and adventure, keep it in mind. (It is likely to be in August again).

Canoeing and Painting In The Wild

Time is closing in on me, but I have to say that I am getting really excited about the adventure in which I will soon be immersed. In just a few weeks I will be traveling two hours or so farther north than I have ever been before (in this province). I am registered for the first ever "Canoeing and Painting In The Wild" plein air painting excursion by CanoeSki! The guide will drive us from Saskatoon five and a half hours north to Lac La Ronge at which point we will launch our canoes on Lynx Lake and make the seven kilometre journey to base camp. Within that seven kilometre distance we will cross three little lakes (Lynx Lake, Duck Lake and Sulphide Lake) and portage twice.

 
I'm a little concerned that my arms will rebel after that work-out and not co-operate when it is time to paint! It may end up being a photography expedition... if I can even lift my arms to do that! A little upper-body strength training over the next three weeks might not be a bad idea.

Each time I think about discovering this new landscape I feel giddy inside! Lac La Ronge is situated on the Canadian Shield, so I expect to see beautiful rock formations and weathered trees jutting out from craggy shores. Swoon. I really hope I will be able to channel my inner Group of Seven for the four days we are out in the "wild".

There is still room for a couple more people so if you are interested please contact Cliff through the CanoeSki website. The adventure runs from Thursday, August 15 to Sunday, August 18.

Hillside Opening

Hillside Opening

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

It has been a long, long winter in Saskatchewan. Long. Very long. I am ready to welcome this late spring with open arms and one way to do that is to get outside and paint, so that is on my agenda for the coming week. I am also eager to get some plein air painting practice under my belt for an adventure that I am eagerly awaiting.

Several months ago I met the owner, Cliff Speer, of an outdoor adventure company called CanoeSki and in our conversation I mentioned the idea of a plein air painting adventure via canoes. I explained that I really enjoyed painting in the open air and would love to have access to remote places- especially in the northern part of our province. When I paint outside I am usually alone so I am not likely to go too far off the beaten path, but I would love to go on an excursion that was a bit more involved. When I think of plein air painting I envision the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson paddling and hiking around lakes and rugged terrain to find the perfect painting spot. I've always wanted that experience- it seems very romantic! 

Happily Cliff contacted me in the new year and voila, he was working on a plan and wanted some input. With some back and forth emails, phone conversations, a few suggestions from moi and a whole bunch of work on his part, Cliff has now launched "Canoeing and Painting in the Wild"! The excursion is going to run mid-August this year and I am thrilled! Now we have to get enough people signed up and on board for the adventure. Please take a minute to look at the following links where you will find more information:

Overview: http://www.canoeski.com/northern-waterways-canoe-trips-2/

Details and description: http://www.canoeski.com/canoeing-and-painting-in-the-wild/

Cliff's blog: http://www.canoeski.com/canoeing-and-painting/canoeing-and-painting-in-the-wild/

Thank you to Cliff for grabbing this idea and running with it and also for using my plein air paintings as visuals on his website. I hope it is a huge success!