Starting The Night Watch

Starting The Night Watch

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

There were so many stellar sunsets this summer at the lake, I feel privileged to have been a witness. I now have heaps of reference photos to use- I am sure I will get bored of the subject before I run out of material. However... not bored yet! Here I painted the sleepy pines by the lakeside watching the sun set and getting ready to hold down the fort 'til morning. Good night clouds, good night beach, good night water....

Out Pike Lake Way

Out Pike Lake Way

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/out-pike-lake-way/419843
sold 

This week I tackled my huge, intimidating (yet exciting) canvas. It is 48 x 48 inches and inspired by the beautiful wild prairie surrounding my friend's newly purchased acreage. It is about Wolf Willow in that landscape. Because I am painting the scene in oils I have had to take the time to let things dry before I move on, so while that happens I also got some odd jobs done around the studio, like making shadow boxes for my 6x6's, wiring some cradled panels, and purging B-R-U-T-A-L, nothing salvageable canvases. They are giving my studio bad karma- they must go. I also decided to paint a little 6x6 which you see above. It has been a good, productive week at 236A 20th Street.

Looking To The Rapids, Waskesiu River

Looking To The Rapids, Waskesiu River

30 x 40"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold 

HaPpY ThAnKsGiViNg!!!

It is hard to believe that it is already that time of the year when we stop and give thanks, but it is... it is Thanksgiving in Canada. I am celebrating with my family today and feeling so grateful for all of the opportunities available to me and my children in this great country of ours. I am so proud to be Canadian; so proud of our multicultural communities and so proud of the stunningly gorgeous landscape we live in. It is difficult not to well up when I stop and pause for a minute to reflect on how good we have it here. I am grateful. 

The above is my newest large painting. It was a challenge as I went from a summer of 6x6's to a 30x40 with no transition in between. It was a bit of a jump, but I am happy with the end result. The Waskesiu River was a real source of inspiration for me over the last several months.
I hope you like it.

Fall Show - Wolf Willow

Fall Show - Wolf Willow

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/fall-show--wolf-willow/418340
sold 

Wolf Willow. I love it. What is it about those dancing, silvery leaves that captivates me so? I have made attempts to paint their loveliness in the past... sometimes successful (in my mind), sometimes not. I am gearing up to try it again on a large scale, but that big canvas on my easel is daunting.... and it is taunting me- all white and huge and full of potential.

Valley Road Wolf Willow

Valley Road Wolf Willow

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/valley-road-wolf-willow/417655
  sold

This is a quick little study for some bigger ideas I have brewing. Inspiration is drawn from the fall landscape I drove through on my way out to the Solar Gardens show last month.

Last Light By Ski Beach, Waskesiu

Last Light By Ski Beach, Waskesiu

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

sold

In my last post I told you about the commission I just finished and how I actually painted two paintings in order to give the client a choice. This is the second painting... a sunset by Ski Beach in Waskesiu that was both intense and calm at the same time. A very different feel from the painting he chose, but it still included all the elements he asked for: a sunset, the lake, light and Spruce. I'm so happy that he ended up with a painting that he loves. Someday this painting will find its way to a home where it will hopefully offer a reminder of wonderful lake memories to its owner.

End of Day, Main Beach, Waskesiu

End of Day, Main Beach, Waskesiu

20 x 20"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2015

(commission)

sold

Early this summer I had a lovely email from a fellow Waskesiu enthusiast asking if I would consider creating a painting to represent the feel of the national park at sunset and including Spruce, light, and the lake. Although it seemed right up my alley, commissions are tricky because you never know what the client might be imagining in their head. Never-the-less I agreed to give it a try. Lucky for me he happens to watch my Facebook page and I was able to get an idea of what he preferred based on his "likes" of the 6x6" paintings I posted this summer. That might have been a little cheaty of me, but it really helped me focus on an idea. Actually it helped me focus on two! There was another image that I thought could be the one for him, so I painted it too! I was happy to give him a choice and the above painting is the one he will be giving a home.

I have to say he was a delight to work with and he was totally understanding of my crazy life (two injured kids and a father who broke his hip- all in one month- I am glad September is over) and how it dictated the time I could spend at the studio to get his painting done. If all commissions went like this I would be thrilled to do more.

Adding to My Collection

I am so excited! Yesterday I received the beautiful and funky floral still life abstract painting that I bought from Lisa Daria Kennedy. She is one of the daily painters I have been watching and swooning over for the past five or so years. This is painting #2303 for her. Can you imagine that dedication? It is impressive to say the least. One of my other favourites, Abbey Ryan, just celebrated her eighth year of daily painting and today my painting hero, Edward B. Gordon is on painting #3168. The king of them all is Duane Keiser who pioneered the daily painting movement in 2004. His work is breathtaking. Please click on the links to learn more about each artist and to see the work they create.

So yes, with the purchase of "#2303 Beak" I have added to my sub-collection of Lisa Daria Kennedy paintings (I have five now) as well as my over-all collection of work by artists I admire. The shear joy and excitement I felt when I found the package in the mail is what I can only hope my clients feel when they receive my boxes. This summer I have shipped paintings to Edmonton, Calgary, Kelowna and I have paintings waiting to go to Mexico! It is a wild ride and I love it!

I have said it before and I will say it again... there is something, a certain je ne sais quoi, about owning and living with original art. I don't say that because I am trying to convince people to buy my work, I say that because I have experienced it first hand. To sit and look at a piece that belongs to you, an original piece of art nowhere else to be found, to imagine the mood of the artist, the thought process, the skill and vision they have. And the passion! It moves me to another place. And to know I am supporting an artist in their journey is huge to me. Huge. I will support original art when I can... like the simple and stunning faux vase I bought from Paula Cooley at Art @ Solar Gardens this past weekend. I have always wanted a piece of her work and even though buying it put me in the red for the weekend, I knew it was the piece I had to have. It was the one.

 

Can you blame me? It is a delight. And trust me, I am delighted. 

Thank you Lisa, thank you Paula!

September Fields

September Fields

6 x 6

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/september-fields/414042
sold

The light on the fields at this time of year is quite spectacular. 

Thank you so much to those who came to the art show at Solar Gardens this past weekend. It is most appreciated. Unfortunately it was a little on the quiet side, but that is the way it goes sometimes. I appreciate everyone who stopped by and took a business card- I hope you will check in once and a while to see what I am up to. And please come to the Open Studio where I paint. It is on Sunday, November 20- more details at the top of the blog.

I'm Ready for Solar Gardens!

The weather looks amazing and this is going to be a great weekend at Solar Gardens for art of all types: paintings, fibre art, metal work, pottery, photography, drawings and more. Please come - the show is open Saturday and Sunday from 11-5. You will find me and my work in the big tent (I'm under the high top!). A huge thanks to Judy and Roger for pulling this show together.