Low Spots

Low Spots

8 x 8"

oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2011 
sold

This is the third in my little series of four prairie scenes and the first of my two favorites! Did that make sense? Painting alla prima is very rewarding and I enjoyed the process very much. As I got to the third and fourth painting I had already become better at planning and as a result didn't make as much mud and didn't have to wipe off little areas so as not to mix colours. As I painted this series The Group of Seven was right at top of my mind. I studied many of their paintings a week and a half ago when I was in Toronto. What really struck me was that their studies, mostly done en plein air, were painted in such a rich, thick and sumptuous manner with globs and curls of paint very visible. So in my prairie paintings I tried to work with a well loaded brush and make purposeful marks without much backtracking.

It is so useful to be able to view and study original art. More and more I am coming to realize that even the best photography, whether shown in a book or online, can really never do justice to the real thing.