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! :)

Graphite Sky At The Mann And Getting Something Off My Chest

Graphite Sky

36 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

"Graphite Sky" is my submission to the Mann Art Gallery Winter Festival Art Show and Sale this year. 

Whew! January was something else! So glad it's over and the daylight is staying a bit longer. My son is on the road to recovery after having surgery last month and he is back at school full-time now that second semester is underway. We are doing all we can to make sure he heals well and returns to his active life better than ever. On top of this stress, recent tragedies in our community have affected me in a deeper way than I realized. I have always had a heightened awareness of people and their emotions, but I find as I get older, this "sense" is becoming even stronger. As wonderful as it is to be empathetic and care about others, it is also extremely overwhelming. I have experienced dark times before, so I recognize the symptoms and, thankfully, as a result I am trying to muster the energy to be a bit more proactive this time around. I almost forgot I had a therapy "sun" light because I haven't needed it in the last few years, but I pulled it out the other day and it is already making a difference. A few other tweaks and hopefully my happy self will be back and better than ever in no time.

I actually haven't written on this blog for over a month. I have never gone that long before, but, to be honest, I have been disenchanted and have needed this time to regroup, reflect and reassess. 

It's funny (funny strange, not funny haha) how I find myself in the position of having experienced the most exciting and successful eighteen months of my artistic journey, and yet I have also simultaneously experienced some of the most discouraging and hurtful moments as well. I generally go through my days feeling grateful and believing that my glass is WAY more than half full, but somehow this last year I allowed the words of the naysayers to take a prominent place in my ear. Maybe because these naysayers were rather vocal and hard to ignore. Maybe because some of the harsh words came from unexpected places, people I thought were in my corner. Maybe because their negativity was more confident than my joy.

I think that's why it was important for me to write my first blog post of the new year as a celebration of my colleagues. I wanted to take the high road because what I really felt like doing was ripping a strip off my art community and how petty and jerky it can be.

Guess what? There is room for all of us and there is a place for all of us. There is room for people making political art, deep and symbolic art, abstract art, playful art, three dimensional art, disturbing art, expressive art, realistic art, stylized art and yes, GASP, there is actually room for art whose main purpose is to add beauty to the world.

I have been on the receiving end of a few too many jabs over these last eighteen months from other artists who "are not interested in simply painting pretty pictures" or who think "galleries are a thing of the past" or who think "everyone paints landscapes around here, they are so overdone" or who wanted me to know the idea for my solo show "Mood" was not that original. All of these things were demoralizing and felt mean-spirited and, yes, it got to me. It stung. It was certainly an eye opener. BUT...

I am still going to make art. I am going to move forward. I am going to learn. I am going to get better at what I do. I am going to be here in ten years.

I am also going to continue to celebrate Every. Single. Time a piece of original art sells, whether it is mine or someone else's, because you know what that means?  

It means it can be done and this dream IS possible!

Onward!

Graphite Sky

Graphite Sky

36 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

Here is one of my BIG announcements!!!

About three and a half weeks ago Darrell Bell asked if I would paint something specifically for the next show he was putting together for the gallery, the theme being black and white.

Um... yes!

I delivered the work on Saturday and the show was installed on Wednesday with a Happy Hour reception planned for Friday from 4-6 p.m.! I can't wait to see the finished product. It is going to be a sleek, minimal and modern show and I am thrilled to have been asked to create something! Darrell also created a painting and the rest of the show is pulled from the stunning inventory at his gallery. The group of artists in this show is diverse and stellar, I find myself thrilled and shocked to be among them. I have definitely had a few "I'm not worthy" moments. I mean look at this list: 

Michael Batty, Darrell Bell, Ronald Bloor, Stanley Brunst, Vicki Christou, Tod Emel, Michael Hosaluk, Ernest Lindner, Zachari Logan, Trevor McDonald, Jackie Miller, John Noestheden, Alison Norlen, Laura Payne, Adrian Stimson, Dave Stonhouse, David Thauberger, Mark Totan

Pinch me, I might be dreaming! (And I am tired enough that I actually really might be!)

I really love the painting I produced. It shows much better in person due to the subtle touches of colour that add to the overall atmosphere, like pale violets and blues at the horizon and pale, dusty yellows where the sun glows behind the clouds. One of my favourite elements is the dark stripe of black across the field. I feel like this painting has a very modern touch and would look great in just the right sleek and well designed space. 

I copied this invitation from Darrell Bell Gallery's Facebook post:

As a side note, I think that is my all-time favourite David Thauberger painting.

I will be dropping by the Happy Hour to enjoy the cocktails and snacks and, of course, the art! Come if you can!