Canola

Canola

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

Lots of this particular delightful scene happening right now, especially in the north... from what I could tell, the southern fields are almost done with the bright canola yellow. A lot changed in the week I was at the lake with the kids. So glad I got out there when I did. Now I am waiting for the golden wheat fields to ripen from their earthy green hue. Soon...

Roadside Canola at Neuanlage

Roadside Canola At Neuanlage

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold

There is a growing, little town about twenty minutes north of Saskatoon, Neuanlage, where more and more houses are being built. It is in the heart of farmland and canola fields. Right there next to lovely new bungalows are glowing yellow fields. To drive down the main street is to drive right next to the edge of a canola field. It is Saskatchewan in a nutshell.

Rejoice

Rejoice

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold

The canola is glorious right now. Every day it gets more intense. That yellow is the colour of happy. It's the time of year when a good number of the prairie population has its fingers crossed that Mother Nature will work for us rather than against us. We need rain, but not too much. We need heat, but not too much, We definitely don't need hail or a plague of grasshoppers. And no tornadoes. The summer is a bit of a nail biter around here and we always hope the best for our farmers. Fingers crossed for the great bumper crops of 2017!

Sunshine On Earth

Sunshine On Earth

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold

Finally! I got some painting done!

It was a lovely day at the lake yesterday, but not overwhelmingly hot. In the shade on the deck while painting, I had four layers on! But I tend to run a little on the cool side. My son thought I was crazy bananas, but what are you gonna do?

Anyway, it was wonderful to get this canola field out of my head and onto a board. I am still swooning from all the yellow I saw on the drive north. More to come!

I love painting!

Billow

Billow

12 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold

This one was still wet at the Mother's Day Tea. I had literally just put some finishing touches on it. I walked in the door, scrambling because I was running late, and boom! - it sold. I probably could have sold it a few times over that day. It's funny how some paintings are like that. I can hardly wait for the canola to start blooming in about a couple of months. I hope to get loads of photos this season and try some new ideas for painting Saskatchewan skies over yellow fields. This ultra rectangular format was really conducive to that very theme.

Road Closed

Road Closed

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

won by Cindy Gillet (DPW contest)

When I drove out to Aberdeen last month I came across this old road. There was something very appealing about it to me; its disheveled, over-grown, leading-to-nowhere state juxtaposed against the bold, under control canola fields on either side struck me as something I wanted to try to paint. There was actually a sign posted nearby that said "road closed" so that seemed like the natural title for the painting.

Cloud Swell Over Canola

Cloud Swell Over Canola

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/cloud-swell-over-canola/401601
sold 

Again, the clouds were fun to paint, but it was the canola that initially caught my eye.

Blue Corner

Blue Corner

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/blue-corner/401182
sold

On the drive up to the lake the canola fields were glowing. It was quite the site- it made me wish I was the passenger so I could be taking pictures along the way. This painting was a playful experiment - the clouds were fun.

On another note, the other day I learned about an unfortunate and creepy website (wallpart.com) that is stealing artwork from the internet, then making and selling posters of the art which they have not received permission to use. Some of my work came up on the site as well as the work of many other artists I know. NOT COOL. The thing is, it actually seems like anyone who has ever put an image on the internet could be affected if that image can be found in a search. They are selling posters of personal images, too. Like I said, creepy. Big time. I have signed a petition to hopefully have the website removed. Seems like a long-shot, but I really have no other idea how to express my feelings on this. If you feel so inclined, here is a link to the petition and here is an article about this website. Thanks!

UPDATE: Please read this article for further information in regards to what the wallpart site is really about. Avoid that site altogether.

Canola

Canola

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/canola/368851
sold

Oh boy, this painting looks so much better in person. It almost glows. The effect is lost on my computer screen. It's another experimental expression of the prairies in a very simple way. 

Under A Turquoise Sky

Under A Turquoise Sky

8" x 8"
oil on cradled panel
Nicki Ault, 2013
available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

 You can't get much more Saskatchewan than  glorious canola field!

A Simple Life

A Simple Life

4.75 x 4.75"

oil on canvas paper

© Nicki Ault, 2012
sold

This is another painting I put in an Ikea frame... white frame with a white matte... and it looks sharp. I still have another to show you and then I will post the larger work that I created for (and sold at) the Family Tree show earlier this month. I really have to kick it into gear because Art Trek is in 10 days and I have not really got much in the way of larger work to show- mainly just my daily paintings. I planned to be at the studio all day today, but my son woke up sick and it looks like he has Strep throat. But once again, there is always a positive in each situation... after being at home all day (except for the jaunt to the doctor's office) my house is a bit cleaner than it was before!