Nicki Ault: Canoeing and painting in the Wild

Showing posts with label Canoeing and painting in the Wild. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

By The Boat Launch, Lynx Lake

By The Boat Launch, Lynx Lake

12 x 12"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2016

available

Here is the second of two paintings recently delivered to The Black Spruce Gallery at Northside just before Christopher Lake. I really love creating these reflections. This particular viewpoint was right where we launched our canoes and started our somewhat epic journey to the fishing camp on Sulphide Lake in 2013. Three lakes, two portages and a death defying storm later certainly made it feel epic to moi who had never canoed before, ever. Here is a link to "Canoeing and Painting In The Wild". The 2016 adventure is about to kick off this Thursday! I hope they have fun.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

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
sold

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)

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Jack Pine on Lynx Lake, La Ronge

Jack Pine on Lynx Lake, La Ronge

48 x 30"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2014
sold

I still find myself inspired by my canoe trip experience from summer 2013. I've been thinking about this Jack Pine for months and finally decided to take a stab at painting it. We came across this rocky point on our last day and we felt it was the perfect place to stop for lunch. This tree really made me catch my breath, it was so beautiful. My canoeing partner, Erica, and I took loads of photos of it and the reference picture I chose to work from was hers, I think, so thank you Erica!

I recently saw Cliff Speer from CanoeSki Discovery Company and it sounds like he is planning to run a third annual "Canoeing and Painting in the Wild" trip for summer 2015. If it sounds like something you might enjoy, start thinking about it and check out the highlighted links for more information.

Update: The studio where I paint has decided on a date for our first annual "Open Studio". Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 23 from 12-5, it should be a great afternoon! See details at the top of this blog.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

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.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

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!

Monday, September 23, 2013

The Shield

The Shield

48 x 36"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2013
sold

Recently I have been working on larger paintings inspired by the canoeing and painting trip in August. Here is the first. I decided to work with my acrylics and have been having a great time discovering them again. I really enjoy watering down the paint, letting it be drippy and messy as I sketch out the composition. I then try to let those areas show through the final layers. That is one thing I now remember loving about acrylics- the layering and glazing and building up that can be done in a relatively short period of time because they dry so fast. The same certainly cannot be said for oils, but I love them for different reasons!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Canoeing and Painting in the Wild - Day Four, August 18

The Island on Mekewap

8" x 10"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2013
sold

Our last morning at the Studer fishing camp was perfectly picturesque. I will never forget the absolute tranquility as I sat on the dock with Olivia, the assistant guide's daughter. Together we filtered the water we would need for the journey back to the "real world". As we performed this task, twice we watched an eagle dive from the sky to catch its breakfast. Randi and Erica joined us and we spent a lovely moment of friendship before getting packed up.

Vern Studer, the owner of the fishing camp built a museum of its history; tools, memorabilia and
equipment from the gold rush days could be found within. My favorite part, however, was what hung outside- a Roughrider/ Pilsner beer flag. You don't get much more Saskatchewan than that!

Lori and Vern

leaving our cabin

back: me, Randi, Erica

front: Olivia, Lori, Jane

(Missing: our guide, Cliff Speer, who was taking the photo)

For the entire four days we had all been looking at what appeared to be a boat right off a nearby point, but we knew logically it had to be a rock. On the last morning the girls had to paddle over for a closer look and Olivia "got onto the boat". It is one of those memories that all we would have to say to each other is "Boat Rock" and we would laugh and completely get it.

This is Cliff, our guide and fearless leader, in his solo canoe. He is a master organizer, excellent cook and fantastic photographer. He also does not like changes to bagel recipes- long story, maybe he will tell you sometime! :)

Leaving Sulphide lake was hard- especially on such a pristine morning and we knew the portages would be difficult with the trees that were down from the earlier storm. Sure enough...

Cliff cleared what he could so we could get our gear and ourselves over or under the trees. The above tree was huge and was broken off right at its base. Again, we were extremely awed by the power of the storm and grateful we lived to tell about it! When we got to the other side of the portage I found a four-leaf clover for Olivia and then everyone began looking. In one small area we had to have found ten of them! We decided that this massive patch of four leaf clovers gave us the good luck we needed when we were stuck in the storm three days earlier.

After we paddled across Duck Lake and completed the second portage we felt ready for lunch so we found a great picnic location on a rocky point.

Jane doing one last sketch

Eventually we had to accept the reality that it was time to move on and complete the last leg of the journey. We launched our canoes one last time and paddled across Lynx Lake back to our starting point, soaking in the beauty every step of the way.

bringin' it home!

This trip was a high point of my summer. I have much to be grateful for: new experiences, memories that will last a lifetime, new friendships and the strengthening of existing ones, perfect weather (storm aside), an opportunity to do what I love and come home inspired to paint even more, delicious food that I never imagined could be prepared under these circumstances (out of a backpack on a canoe trip) and two guides who worked hard to create a unique, safe adventure for us. I am also grateful for Olivia and the sweetness she brought to each day... catching fuzzy bear caterpillars, picking berries for us, teaching us about plants (ie. I now know Labrador tea grows all over the place in this area!) and creating beautiful paintings with her own innocent style.

Thank you Cliff, CanoeSki Discovery Adventure is top notch!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Canoeing and Painting in the Wild - Day Three, August 17

Fast Moving Clouds, Mekewap Lake

6" x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2013
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/fast-moving-clouds-mekewap-lake/167185
sold

Day Three brought another beautiful morning. Unfortunately I did not sleep well, this time not because of storms but because I had a funny tummy all night.

After breakfast our CanoeSki guide, Cliff, consulted Vern for the best destination for another day of painting. Vern suggested we go to Mekewap Lake which would involve another short paddle and portage leading us to this entirely fresh water, spring-fed lake. Vern said that at one time this lake was called Clearwater Lake but at some point along the way it had changed to Mekewap Lake. We were all quite curious and since not many people have the opportunity in their lifetime to see a purely spring-fed lake, it was a no-brainer that we should go there. My concern was that because I was not feeling 100% I might drag the group down and be a hindrance on a great day. In the end everyone had my back so I went even though I felt bad for being the weakest link.

As we worked our way around Sulphide Lake to find the bay where the portage was, we had to get through a narrow passage blocked by a beaver dam! Unexpected obstacles are a part of canoeing, opportunities to learn are around every corner. The portage sight was a bit hard to find and when we got there the mosquitoes were rabid in this part of the forest. The good news was that no trees came down! Most of the portage was uphill, so it seems that Mekewap Lake sat at a slightly higher altitude than the other lakes we had crossed.

As soon as Erica and I pushed off in our canoe her cell phone rang! It was the first real signal she got in the three days, maybe because of the higher altitude. Anyway, it was great timing because she was able to wish her daughter a happy birthday.

The photos don't do the lake justice; the colour of the water was rather odd, an aqua blue of sorts and very clear. The lake was small and cold and the best part was a little tiny island with a handful of trees on it. That is where we went to have our picnic lunch and paint for the afternoon.

photo © Erica Bird

Randi, Erica and Jane

more brave swimming with leeches sans Nicki

my painting spot for the day

me painting

photo © Erica Bird

I loved this little island and I imagined how romantic it might be to camp there for a night, especially if the ants miraculously disappeared.

photo © Cliff Speer

When we got back to home base we all decided to paint a bit more. I worked on a painting of the island by looking at my camera screen. We also had a lovely meal with Vern and two of his guests who were helping him with a few jobs around the camp. Vern told wonderful stories about meeting his wife and about how the Studer homestead was established 1936 by his father during the gold rush. I found it all quite interesting and was in awe of his memory at the age of eighty-eight.

photo © Erica Bird

the generator shut down early but Erica wanted to keep painting-
where there is a will there is a way!

Time had gone by way too quickly. In the morning we would be packing up and heading back to civilization.

NOTE: all photos © Nicki Ault unless otherwise stated

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Canoeing and Painting in the Wild - Day Two, August 16

Quiet Place on Sulphide Lake

6" x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2013
sold
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/quiet-place-sulphide-lake/167178

On The Shadow Side Of Pine

6" x 6"

oil on board

We woke to a glorious morning at the Studer fishing camp on Day Two. We were a bit uncertain how things would look when we went outside because it stormed the entire night. Although I didn't sleep well, I listened to the storm and appreciated every board and beam that made the shelter that protected us. The immediate concern, again, was forest fires, but Vern was on top of it and was in constant contact with the RCMP. With that we began to plan our day.

Randi and Jane

Erica and me

Cliff, our guide and the founder of CanoeSki Discovery Adventures, consulted with Vern who showed on the map a remote campsite location on Sulphide Lake just around the corner... and then some. We packed up our painting supplies, filtered some lake water for drinking (thank you Jane), got a picnic lunch sorted out (thanks Cliff and Lori), and set sail.

Right off the bat my paddle buddy, Erica, and I spotted a little dead tree. Now she knows I have an affinity for these burnt-looking beauties, so what does she do? She steers me over so I can get a picture. Nice.

I have spent a lot of time in the Boreal forest, spending my summers in Waskesiu. I never grow tired of seeing a beautiful moss bed or an elk or a breathtaking sunset. I am moved every time and I am usually more excited than my children. I feel honoured to experience these things and I feel like they are a gift. It is not unusual for me to be moved to tears by nature. The small catch is that Waskesiu is a town-site and even when you leave the most populated area you will likely be sharing the road or the forest with someone else. This is one of the things that struck me most about this trip and made it such an incredible experience. We had the forest and the waterways to ourselves; we passed no one else in a boat or canoe, we didn't have to share the base camp or any of the little picnic stops we found. It was somewhat surreal to be that alone in nature, but glorious and liberating too. It was quiet, so heavenly quiet. And for four days it was ours.

photo bomb!

On our way to the painting spot we hugged the left shore, but a section on the opposite bank was calling us, so Erica masterfully steered us over so we could have a look. We ended up discovering one of the most beautiful sights of the entire trip...

I've been asked if I will paint this, but I don't know if I can do it justice. This is exactly the thing that makes me want to cry, it is so beautiful.

Seems like a good time to try to get a signal

After a lovely paddle we found the remote campsite that Vern had suggested would be a great spot to set up for the afternoon to paint.

The weather was perfect, hot even, and we put the thought of any potential storms out of our minds, so we could get down to the business of art making.

my painting spot in the shade

Erica and her excellent sketch

Randi at her easel

Jane working with water colours

The day was idyllic. I honestly don't know if it could have been improved upon. Oh wait... there was one thing. Remember I mentioned that it was hot? Well, why not go for a swim, Nicki? Seems like a simple solution, right? NO!!! No, it was NOT a simple solution for me. Why you ask? LEECHES!!! Even typing that word makes me want to cry. Nature can make me cry because it can be so utterly beautiful, but it can also make me cry because it occasionally involves leeches. I have a phobia of them and it is a legitimate phobia. I cannot deal with them. In my life I have bungy jumped, para-sailed, white water rafted, but I cannot deal with bloodsuckers. No can do.

So I stuck to the shade and the others enjoyed the refreshing lake and I didn't even have any regrets. I know my limits. You will notice in some photos that we wore whistles which is a safety guideline for canoeists in case of capsizing. Well, I informed everyone that I would be blowing that baby if I got a leech on me and they better come to my aid STAT! I am happy to report this was not necessary.

Anyhoo.

At some point in the afternoon we were treated to a fly-by! Vern took his airplane out for a spin and flew by our painting spot. I still can't get over the fact that he is eighty-eight.