New Paintings Delivered to Darrell Bell Gallery!

Rustle

40 x 30"

acrylic and oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

Yesterday I delivered fourteen paintings to Darrell Bell Gallery! Photos of the new work will be posted over the next several days. I had this one was at the studio, so I took it over as well. "Rustle" won the Hues Art Supply Award at the Mann Art Gallery Winter Festival in 2018. I really love the colours and the fluttery effect of the leaves. I hope it finds a place to call home.

The Day's Retreat - New Work at Assiniboia Gallery

The Day's Retreat

10 x 10"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available at Assiniboia Gallery

On Monday, Bridget and I drove to Prince Albert to retrieve all of the artwork that our studio group submitted to the Mann Art Gallery 42nd Annual Winter Festival Juried Art Show and Sale. On Wednesday, I then drove to Regina to deliver my two pieces from that show (including "Rustle" which won the Hues Art Supply Award), along with three others, to the Assiniboia Gallery.

Above is one of the new 10 x 10's I took to Regina; I will show the other in an upcoming post.

Rustle

40 x 30"

acrylic and oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available at Assiniboia Gallery

Last Phase: Saskatchewan Afternoon

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available at Assiniboia Gallery

Faux Island At Paignton, Waskesiu

12 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017
 available at Assiniboia Gallery

When I arrived at the gallery I was greeted by my own painting, "Festivities", right at the entrance!

 photo © Nicki Ault, 2018

photo © Nicki Ault, 2018 

A little grid of my 10x10's was displayed in the beautiful glowing front room of the gallery. The large painting you see on the left is actually hanging on a wall suspended from the ceiling a few feet in front of a big picture window and on the other side is another painting on view to the street.

photo © Nicki Ault, 2018

I'm glad I made the time to deliver new work... they were getting low and I am very grateful for that!

Besides all of this travel, our studio group had a big planning meeting on Tuesday and my son had a band concert on Thursday! Whew! It was a busy week!

A Win at The Mann!

Rustle

40x30"

acrylic and oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available

I made the announcement on Facebook and Instagram, but I realized I forgot to share the news here on my blog. My painting, "Rustle", won the Hues Art Supply Award at the Mann Art Gallery 42nd Annual Winter Festival Art Show and Sale!!! It was a great surprise and not only did I win the honour, but I also left with a cash prize!

 "Rustle" in its surroundings

photo © Nicki Ault, 2018

The opening reception was a fun night with a large crowd, great art, yummy food and live music. Apparently this year had the most submissions of any of the forty-two years so far: 243 pieces of art! I am quite thrilled that guest curator, Carole Epp, selected "Rustle" for an award.

my painting "Last Phase, Saskatchewan Afternoon"

curated with other submissions

photo © Nicki Ault, 2018

I was my own date for the night, but I knew lots of people when I got there. The drive to the show was peaceful and I was gifted with a breathtaking sunset. At one point, with the sun very low in the sky on the west side of the van, the snow on the east side was glowing the most warm and beautiful peach colour! I stopped a couple of times for photos and tried to memorize the rest. I was nervous about the dark highway drive back to Saskatoon, but the roads were dry and clear, plus after winning an award I wasn't tired at all. I think I sang all the way home!

Rustle

Rustle

40 x 30"

acrylic and oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available

I'm still loving these fluttery, leafy paintings. It is similar to "Dancing With Myself", although this one has some earthy greens in it. I actually have a new one started on my easel right now... a bit more zoomed in and a different palette. Stay tuned for that.

I can't believe this painting was done in October and I am just posting it now! Yeesh! What a crazy time. I literally have thirty-three blog posts drafted and ready to post. That means there are thirty-three paintings I haven't shown yet! Some are sold some aren't. I've never been in this boat before, so I'm going to just keep paddling and moving forward. Maybe someday I will be caught up!

Rustle

Rustle

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

I had time to get to the studio for a couple of hours or so yesterday. I was terribly exhausted, but all of that was soon forgotten as I delved into another small exploration of fall colour and foliage. While I painted this I kept imagining the gentle prairie winds rustling the autumn leaves and making the colours dance. My plan is to spend the day today at the studio working on a larger version of these recent studies. Time to play!