The Ravine

The Ravine

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

When I think about it, I haven't painted many hills in my day. This was the landscape I discovered in behind Chamberlain on my way to the Saskatchewan Art Fair in Regina this past fall. I got sidetracked by a gravel road that went in the direction of this valley. It was quite lovely there. I'm not sure what the body of water would be called. It seemed too small to be considered a river, but too large to be a stream or a creek. Does anyone know? And would these rolling hills be considered coulees?

Clear Blue Sky

Clear Blue Sky

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

Here is the last of the seven newest paintings you can now find at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery. I love the simple statement it makes about our beautiful prairie landscape. A clear blue sky that goes on forever over a ripe yellow field. Iconic Saskatchewan.

Well friends, last night reality started to settle in. I took my son to a "pre-Collegiate night" to learn about the upcoming processes and decisions around high school registration. When I began this blog he, my oldest, was in Grade Two... and now here I am with a teenager and high school looming. I think I am feeling a bit shell-shocked. Where has the time gone? Everyone warned me that it would go fast, but you just don't realize it until it has happened. Granted we still have a ways to go before he is independent, but this milestone is making me so very aware of the others that are coming: his driver's licence, his first job, a girlfriend, then suddenly it will be Grade Twelve graduation. My head spins. It is all going too fast.

I love my boy...

Fury

Fury

24x10

acrylic on canvas

sold

This little baby is a bit of a departure isn't it? I think I will put it in my show because it perhaps introduces another side of myself... a side I am still discovering. I did it this summer when I went to a week long painting workshop at a northern lake in Saskatchewan this past July. The class was held at the Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus which is a satellite to the University of Saskatchewan and is the world's best kept secret. It has a fascinating rich history which helped shape the art world in this province for many years. I first attended a class there in the summer of 2000, went back again in 2001 and then along came my kids and subsequently my hiatus. :) I finally managed to suppress my mommy guilt enough to return in 2007, 2008 and now 2009. I love it there. It is my happy place. The place where I am not a wife or a mommy... I am just me. It is a place that is helping me figure out just who that is..

But, back to this painting I posted today. It is named "Fury" and not by accident, I might add. I painted it in the evening immediately following the last critique session of the workshop. I had been one of the last students to be critiqued and had just finished hearing ( from a very obnoxious lady in the class) that I should do something with the big red blob on one painting (it was an unfinished piece) and that my paintings had all been done before and that I should loosen up in my technique (I've heard this comment before). I was stunned into silence and later burst into tears in private with my dear painting friend, Debbie, who said all the right things. About half the class went down to the beach to paint the spectacular sky as the sun was quickly setting. After I regrouped I was so angry. I hit that beach in a serious fury (well, painting-wise anyway). I was all emotion and I laid it down on that canvas for the world to see! The next morning the instructor (and probably the artist who has the most influence on me) said, "Whoa, where did that come from?" I had to giggle because it came from some deep spot I didn't even know about before then.

Now, I am all for critique sessions because I can learn so much from really good discussions, but when comments are made that are in  no way constructive, that is where I have a problem. That is likely why I bristled at hearing the comment Edward B. Gordon received about his paintings being "trivial". How is that helpful to him as an artist? And who determines what is trivial? And why do I have to loosen up? And is there something that is inherently wrong with being tight? And...and...and...you're not the boss of me!!!!

On a lighter note, I was beyond pumped today to actually discover I have some followers! I am so appreciative and hope my little stories and paintings always make them glad they checked back in.