Gentle Lake

Gentle Lake

30 x 48"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold

My newest painting! I love how the light shimmers in this one. There are some subtle details that are lost in the photo; there are tiny dashes of warm, glimmering orange hues which add a bit of zip among all of the cool blues and purples. For the next two weeks this painting can be viewed in a newly installed exhibition.

Studio On 20th has a group show at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery! Yesterday we hung fifty-one pieces of original art by our eleven studio artists at this esteemed gallery on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Curating the space was a daunting task, but we pulled it off and we left feeling proud and excited. The show looks stunning! We would love to visit with you at the reception if you have time to pop by. Details are as follows:

Gordon Snelgrove Gallery  (same building as the Art Department)

July 23 - August 3, 2018

Gallery hours are Monday to Friday 9:30-4:30

Artists' Reception - Friday, July 27 from 7-10 p.m.

A Little Adjustment

A Little Adjustment

48 x 30"

acrylic and oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

I am so excited to show you this painting!

The studio where I paint has a group show at the Gallery at the Frances Morrison Central Library right now. Ten of us worked from the same three traditional subjects in art (landscape, still life, the figure) over the last ten months, so this show exhibits all of our interpretations of the same subjects. We all had to step out of comfort zones in one way or another. Here is my figurative piece. I am very excited about it - a real stretch for me. The sketching of the figure on the canvas took me a full day (the largest drawing I have ever done), then rather than paint the whole thing with brushes, I stained many, many layers using oil paint and rags- with drying time between between sessions so I could build up layers. Her hair was mostly done with brushes and then I pulled paint off with rags to create highlights and depth. Also, only three colours were used on the entire piece.. 

It is a bit scary to put something out there that is not my usual thing, but exhilarating too! I want to do more!

Trio

 

Trio

each 6x6"

mixed media

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available

I meant to post this yesterday, but one thing led to another and it never happened. It was a busy day! And my son was in a band festival, so among everything else, it was a priority to attend that.

Our opening reception for "reconfigured" was last night and we had a full house! Thank you to everyone who attended, the support you give our studio is appreciated and we value your friendship and enthusiasm.

The show will be at The Gallery at the Frances Morrison Central Library until May 17. Other work produced for this project will be shown at our Mother's Day Tea- we generated more work than this gallery could hold!

Low River

Low River

24 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

This was my first effort on the subject of a landscape for the group show I am in next week, the other subjects we tackled were the figure and a still life. I painted this on a bright yellow ground and it changed a LOT from beginning to end. It is a nice and decent painting, but I decided to make another effort as I wanted to submit a painting that I was more excited about and that I felt represented elements that felt more "me". My second effort turned out to be just that, so it will be in the show which opens next week.

Come if you can, it is going to be an interesting show for the viewing public! Here is the invitation again:

I'm Ready! Mother's Day Tea Today!

my studio all cleaned up

© Nicki Ault, 2017

I am exhausted, but I am ready. I hope you come! It's our third annual Mother's Day Tea 2017 at Studio On 20th. We are open from 12-4 today, Sunday, May 14th. We are located at 236A between Avenues B and C on 20th Street in Saskatoon. Look for the door to the left of the Odd Couple restaurant, we will have an A-frame sign on the sidewalk pointing to our doors.

one display of my small work

© Nicki Ault, 2017

The invitation again for easy reference...

And the sign to look for...

See you there!

Light Hearted

Light Hearted

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2016

available

This painting is derived entirely from the little 6x6 I did called "Hidden Juniper". Gosh it was fun to paint the bright colours popping off the neutral grays! The most bright, most chromatic orange in this painting was made by mixing three colours: Cadmium Orange by Daniel Smith, Minium Red by Rublev and a dash of Magenta by Winton (a student grade oil, but I love the colour- it mixes so well with so many others!).

detail

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 27 is the day! It is our third annual Open Studio Show and Sale where I paint. Please come... 236A 20th Street W from11-5. If the idea of original art doesn't entice you perhaps the thought of my home-made Skor bars will!

Open Studio 2016

In exactly one month it will be that time of year again... our Studio On 20th Open Studio Show and Sale. Mark your calendars, it is going to be a good one! These women are pounding out some great work! It is so inspiring to work amongst them, to see the creativity and passion that they bring to their work and to feed off that energy. I am lucky!

Event details...
Who: eleven Saskatoon artists... Bridget Aitken, Nicki Ault, Kathy Bradshaw, Jan Corcoran, Ann, Donald, Jane Harington, Miranda Jones, Brenda Kennedy, Karen Maguire, Amira Wasfy, Carol Wylie
What: show and sale of most recent work
Where: Studio On 20th, 236A 20th Street W, Saskatoon (between Aves B and C), upstairs
When: Sunday, November 27 from 11-5
Why: for the love of art and in support of those who make it

Second Annual Mother's Day Tea Show and Sale

The studio where I paint will be hosting our second annual Mother's Day Tea on Sunday, May 8th and you are invited! Please come and enjoy great company, beautiful art, delicious tea and yummy scones plus other delectable treats. We will have our most recent work on display and available for sale. Last year's event was so much fun- we hope to do it all again this year. Maybe you are taking your mom out for brunch or lunch and looking for something else to do... well, we would love to see you at our studio! Unfortunately we are not wheelchair accessible; we are on the second floor and there are about twenty-five stairs to climb, so please keep that in mind. Studio On 20th is located between Avenues B & C on 20th Street- look for the door to the left of the Odd Couple restaurant.

My New Home Sweet Home

Well, the news is good... the permanent studio has heat, insulation and electricity! Yes!!! These are shots from the end of moving day (Friday) and it is already looking a lot more settled after Saturday and Sunday. I am sharing the space with Bridget Aitken and it may take a little time to sort out how we will best work together in this space, but I know we will make it feel like a second home for both of us. "The Studio On 20th" that's where I'll be if you need me! :)