The Fun-Guys Didn't Make It

I'm still feeling under the influence! Ha ha. It actually put me in a precarious position last night, too. The day had gone well, I was tired, but felt okay. At 7:00 I was expecting the curator to drop by to have a look at all of my paintings so we could discuss the vision of the show and what to include/not include. Just as I heard her footsteps on my porch I was wracked with cramps. John wasn't home yet and the kids are not allowed to answer the door if they don't know who it is so I ignored my discomfort and welcomed her whilst in a cold sweat! The meeting went very well, but again 20 minutes later the cramps came! Yowsie! I sat down and pretended I needed to make some notes so that I could hunch over without her realizing... I knew I'd feel better if I could get to the bathroom, but I had no idea how long I'd be gone if I went that route. So I muscled through. It wouldn't have been terribly lady-like of me to disappear for 15 minutes. Then again, it is probably not too lady-like of me to be writing about this!

 Forest Magnolia

7x7

acrylic on canvas

sold

In the end the meeting was extremely helpful and I can see her vision much more clearly and it really makes sense. We grouped pieces together, moved them around, talked about which pieces could bridge one section to another. It was really helpful and interesting. We decided my fun-guys (fungi) are not going to be in this show. She liked them a lot, but felt that they wouldn't be as cohesive as other paintings in the context of this show. I'm a little sad because they were definitely painted with the intention of including them, but I do see where she is coming from and I trust her expertise so I am okay with it. The painting I am posting is a little fungus that my friend Debbie showed me at the Kenderdine campus this summer because she knew I was interested in them. It was at the base of a tree along a path by the studio building and it looked like this delicate, glowing flower with these "petals" that curled up. I'm calling it Forest Magnolia and it is 7x7, acrylic on canvas. And it won't be in the show. :(

Now, onto blog business. I have a baker's dozen! Yup, thirteen followers. I clicked on my newest follower to see who she is and it looks like she is new in town! Welcome to Saskatoon Gen! I don't know how you found me, but I am glad you did! And then when I was reading my comments from the other day it looks like Janie, another follower, has an award for me on her blog. Thank you! How wonderful to have new friends! I'm supposed to "go get it" sooooo......

Now to the rules for this Award:

This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming.

These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.

They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Deliver this award to other bloggers who must choose others to pass it on to and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Okay, so I've collected the award and the text that goes with it, thank you again Janie! And now I am supposed to pass it on, so I would like to give this award to these bloggers:

Tammy Hext
Art In Oils
Barbara Muir Paints
Suzanne Berry

Have a great day! It's beautiful here in Saskatoon!

A Full Day

This has been the most exciting day for me... Who would have ever imagined that I would discover comments from Edward B. Gordon on my blog?!!! I am overwhelmed that he took the time to have a look at what I have started here. And then when I realized he read the story of my sad attempt to get one of his paintings I broke into a bit of a cold sweat. Luckily he seemed to have a sense of humour about it and I am glad he was entertained. Seriously, how cool is he anyway? A master painter, a dedicated artist, an intelligent business man, a poet (in my mind anyway), and one class act.

I was so excited to find his comments that I couldn't contain my secrecy any longer. I immediately emailed "my girls"; three of the best friends a person could ask for. The email I sent them was  filled with exclamation marks and OMG's. I'm a lousy typist at the best of times ( I took art in high school instead of typing), but add in shaking hands and it becomes a true gong show. It wasn't long before they emailed back and may I just say that I love them? They were equally excited, if not more so than I was because not only were they hearing about the comments, but they were finding out about my blog for the first time. I would never have imagined that a side effect, if I can call it that, of having kids would be that I would meet the most wonderful women and they would become such a vital part of my life. I am so lucky.

I received an email from the St. Thomas More Gallery curator today wondering if I had thought of a name for my show because she is going to get started on some of the advertising later this week. She said it could be something as simple as Nicki Ault: Recent Work. It seems a bit dry and because all of the pieces are inspired by the boreal forest I feel like there should be some reference to it in the title. I'll have to think on it. My sister put in her two cents and offered up "The Boreal Fo Real". It made me laugh. I'm open to suggestions if anyone reads this.....

You Can Go Back

16x20

sold

And here is another painting that I plan to include in the show. It is acrylic on canvas and is 16x20". It is one of my favorite places to paint en Plein air. Spruce River in Prince Albert National Park. It is the subject of the other two reflection paintings I posted a few days ago. It is a glorious slow moving river that winds its way through the forest then out into the meadows and back in again. It looks different every time I am there.

I am extremely grateful to Barbara Muir, another artist I have discovered in this blogging world, for stopping by my blog and posting such kind-hearted, supportive comments. She is an excellent portrait painter who approaches her subjects in such a unique and vibrant way. Her portraits exude character and life.

Ahhh, this has been a full day. And now to go to bed... my little people register for school tomorrow. My little Tommy will be going to Kindergarten. He is so ready for school, but I don't know if the school is ready for him... he doesn't have a library voice and he likes to use the word "poop" way too much.