The Passionate Sky in "Seeing Red" at Darrell Bell Gallery

The Passionate Sky

48 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2019

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

A new group show, "Seeing Red", opens at Darrell Bell Gallery tomorrow! I submitted a brand new painting, "The Passionate Sky", based on a photo I saw in an Instagram Story by Geof at @glassandtin_ . I am very grateful he gave me permission to use his photo and it is amazing this all occurred before I even knew about the red-themed show! Serendipity I guess!

The opening reception is tomorrow, please come if you can.

September Lines

September Lines

20 x 20"

oil on panel

© Nicki Ault, 2018

All Rights Reserved

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

The opening at the gallery last night was lots of fun despite a glitchy elevator situation. People came, people laughed, people enjoyed the art... and some pieces sold including this little landscape of mine. To be honest this is not an accurate photo, but it is the best I could get. The sky is actually more purple than blue and the wheat field really glows in the light. 

I was extraordinarily touched by a friend who, with tears in her eyes, purchased "September Lines" last night. She told me that this image was exactly a moment she remembered experiencing. The painting represented "the moment" she held in her memory and her reaction to it was intense and emotional. I did not ask her what it reminded her of because I honestly felt like it was so personal that a busy gallery was not the place to ask her to elaborate. Also, it was quite likely none of my business.

I am continually and profoundly motivated by reactions like these where someone connects to the light, energy, mood and emotion I try to portray through my art using landscape as a subject. It has become a real driving force. And I am grateful.

Sparkling Water, Waskesiu River

Sparkling Water, Waskesiu River

30 x 40"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

Oh, this one makes me happy.

The water. The water turned out.

Come see it in person at the opening of "Painting The Landscape" TODAY from 5-8 pm at Darrell Bell Gallery. So excited!

Rain

Rain

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

In the show opening tomorrow at Darrell Bell Gallery...

The Space Between

The Space Between

48 x 24"

acrylic and oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

Something a little different for the group show "Painting The Landscape". A bit of a riff off "Boreal Cool Down" which was painted for my solo show at Assiniboia Gallery this past June.

The invitation...

Quiet Inferno and Painting The Landscape Group Exhibition!

Quiet Inferno

48 x 48"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

Ta daaaa!!!

I am so happy with how this huge canvas turned out. The impact is a bit lost on a small screen, but in person it has a quiet power, and that sunset really glows! It's the show-stopper I hoped it would be.

I have been working feverishly on this and some other new large work for a group show, "Painting The Landscape", which opens on Thursday, October 18th at Darrell Bell Gallery. The opening reception is the same evening, so please, do come!

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.

Graphite Sky

Graphite Sky

36 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2018

available

Here is one of my BIG announcements!!!

About three and a half weeks ago Darrell Bell asked if I would paint something specifically for the next show he was putting together for the gallery, the theme being black and white.

Um... yes!

I delivered the work on Saturday and the show was installed on Wednesday with a Happy Hour reception planned for Friday from 4-6 p.m.! I can't wait to see the finished product. It is going to be a sleek, minimal and modern show and I am thrilled to have been asked to create something! Darrell also created a painting and the rest of the show is pulled from the stunning inventory at his gallery. The group of artists in this show is diverse and stellar, I find myself thrilled and shocked to be among them. I have definitely had a few "I'm not worthy" moments. I mean look at this list: 

Michael Batty, Darrell Bell, Ronald Bloor, Stanley Brunst, Vicki Christou, Tod Emel, Michael Hosaluk, Ernest Lindner, Zachari Logan, Trevor McDonald, Jackie Miller, John Noestheden, Alison Norlen, Laura Payne, Adrian Stimson, Dave Stonhouse, David Thauberger, Mark Totan

Pinch me, I might be dreaming! (And I am tired enough that I actually really might be!)

I really love the painting I produced. It shows much better in person due to the subtle touches of colour that add to the overall atmosphere, like pale violets and blues at the horizon and pale, dusty yellows where the sun glows behind the clouds. One of my favourite elements is the dark stripe of black across the field. I feel like this painting has a very modern touch and would look great in just the right sleek and well designed space. 

I copied this invitation from Darrell Bell Gallery's Facebook post:

As a side note, I think that is my all-time favourite David Thauberger painting.

I will be dropping by the Happy Hour to enjoy the cocktails and snacks and, of course, the art! Come if you can!

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!

Sandbars on the South Saskatchewan

Sandbars on the South Saskatchewan

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

Painted on en plein air at a little plot of land outside of town by the river. It was a study for an idea for larger work for my studio's group show "reconfigrured" which opens on Thursday evening. In the end my landscape submission for the show veered quite far from this idea.

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:

Canola At The Crossroads

Canola At The Crossroads

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

I think this one is still available at Darrell Bell Gallery, but to be honest, I don't know. I will get an updated inventory list soon so I can be on top of the situation. I actually found out last Saturday that Darrell decided to keep a grid of my work up for the new show that just started today. Initially he thought it might be a bit smaller than the one he created for "Painting The Landscape", but I found out on Thursday (two days ago!) that it will, in fact, be bigger! There will be a grid of twenty-five of my 8x8 paintings in the back space of the street level gallery. As a result I am delivering eight new pieces today to replenish the stocks! Thankfully there were still some pieces on hand from last month's show as well as pieces I delivered earlier this summer, but I will continue to paint more with the hopes that there will continue to be interest in the work.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Milky Way

Milky Way

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

  

The 8x8's were a hit at "Painting The Landscape"! The show is down now and I think there were only six or seven left of the original twenty. Darrell wants to keep a big grid up for the next show. They will be in a different location in the street level gallery and I will be painting more to replace the ones that sold. Fun!

Choppy Waters

Choppy Waters

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

​This was so fun to paint. I liked experimenting with the brushstrokes to try to get the effect of rough, choppy water and I think the greenish tinge adds to the mood of the wind-blown day. this was the first 8x8 I completed for "Painting The Landscape".

There are two days left to view the show, so if you have time, please check it out. The gallery hours are 11-5 Wednesday to Saturday. Here is the invitation again. The reception date has obviously passed, but the other information remains the same with the show ending on October 7th.

Waskesiu Sunlight

Waskesiu Sunlight

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

For me, this river never gets old or boring to paint. I have all sorts of new photos to work from after my weekend up north at the yurt; photos with glorious fall colours and different viewpoints. Oh, it's going to be a good winter of painting! This Waskesiu River painting is in the group show "Painting The Landscape", details below.

There are three days left to view the show, so if you have time, please check it out. The gallery hours are 11-5 Wednesday to Saturday. Here is the invitation again. The reception date has obviously passed, but the other information remains the same with the show ending on October 7th.

Crescent

Crescent

8 x8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

This painting sold soon after I delivered it to Darrell Bell Gallery for the show "Painting The Landscape". I really love it, and apparently Darrell did too, because he is the one who purchased it! Look for the soft little crescent moon near the treeline.

There are four days left to view the show, so if you have time, please check it out. The gallery hours are 11-5 Wednesday to Saturday. Here is the invitation again. The reception date has obviously passed, but the other information remains the same with the show ending on October 7th.

Canola Fading

Canola Fading

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

This summer I was acutely aware of farmland! In particular, I took mental note of the changes in the canola crops from the fresh, light yellow of the flowers first blooming, to the full-blown spectacle of the intense yellow fields in all their glory, to the pale and greenish colour as the petals started to fall off the mature plants. Quite frankly, I sometimes feel like I am a bit pale and greenish colour as I mature, but that's a post for another day. Anyhoo, this painting is an ode to canola in its final act; beautiful, subdued and dignified.

Saskatchewan: The Height of Summer

Saskatchewan: The Height of Summer

12 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2017

available at Darrell Bell Gallery

A panorama of a canola field and a bright, cheery sky. You don't get much more Saskatchewan-in-the-height-of-summer than that!

Fall Arriving on the South Saskatchewan

Fall Arriving on the South Saskatchewan

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

This was created en plein air on September 10th when ten of our eleven Studio on 20th artists took a painting field trip out to Jane Harington's beautiful plot of land about an hour out of the city. What a spectacular day- we hit the weather right, and, although the wind launched a few canvases here and there, it really couldn't have been better.

all photos © Nicki Ault, 2017

Leaves or Petals

Leaves or Petals

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2017

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

I am still quite keen to explore the series I began last fall after a visit to my studio mate's acreage. I am enthralled with the fluttery leaves and rich autumnal colours. I also find these things are fun to exaggerate. Taking a little artistic license is good for a person!