Dapple

Dapple

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold at Darrell Bell Gallery

I am so happy with this one! Yes! I love the abstracted feel of it and I love that neutral backdrop to those shots of vibrant colour.

So I have more big news! Darrell Bell has decided to open a second gallery in the old Lifestyles location! His main gallery is upstairs in the same building (4th Floor, Canada Building, 21st Street, Saskatoon), and now with this development he will have a street level gallery with a whole different vibe. I can hardly wait to see it! He is going to carry my 8x8 oil paintings as he did with Lifestyles, but he will also feature some of my large work in this new gallery. Last week I delivered four 8x8's as well as six big canvases for installation and the first day of business is this Saturday, November 19. I will be there for the Grand Opening that day from 2-5 and would love to see you if you have time to pop in!  

 P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, check out my interview on the Daily Paintworks news blog!

Hillside Ascent

Hillside Ascent

16 x 16"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

The novelty of experimenting with this series has not yet worn off. I want to take it further! The question is- where will it go?

 P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, check out my interview on the Daily Paintworks news blog!

Island Edge, Heart Lakes

Island Edge, Heart Lakes

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

I've been reminiscing about the boat tour I took of the Heart Lakes in Waskesiu this past August. I have a real fascination with islands and the edge of this one intrigued me with the rickety pine trees marching their way down to the deep blue water.

P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, check out my interview on the Daily Paintworks news blog!

Festivities

Festivities

20 x 20"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

This whole new series feels like one big celebration. A celebration of changing seasons, a celebration of colour- both bold and muted, a celebration of inspiration, a celebration of opportunities, a celebration of joy found in the landscape, but mostly a celebration of every single day that I get to do what I love.
 

P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, check out my interview on the Daily Paintworks news blog. Another reason I feel like it's a celebration around here!

Little Lynx Lake

Little Lynx Lake

6 x 6 "

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

I was so groggy when I painted this yesterday even turning my music up didn't help much. I saw my interview in the Daily Paintworks blog just before I went to bed and I was so excited I had trouble falling asleep!

It was fun to do a mini version of Lynx Lake and I was reminded of how much I love to paint water!

Daily Paintworks Spotlight Artist Of The Week = Me!

Road Closed

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016
won by Cindy Gillet (DPW contest)

On Monday I received an email from Sophie Marine of Daily Paintworks asking me if I would like to be the "spotlight artist of the week" for their website, blog and daily email! Um...yes!

I opened my gallery on the Daily Paintworks site in 2011 when it changed from a small ten or twelve artist site to an open format which any artist in the world could join. Since that time it has grown to approximately 1600 painters and it truly is international! Imagine my delight that somehow my art caught their attention!

For one week the paintings I post into my Daily Paintworks gallery will be bumped up to the top of the What's New page and rotate among featured artists like Carol Marine, Abbey Ryan, Qiang Huang, Victor Tristante, Rita Kirkman, Brian Burt and Karin Jurick. As well, a Daily Paintworks buyer can enter to win "Road Closed" at the end of the week! I have also been interviewed for their blog which you can read here if you are so inclined.

I am honoured to be invited to be the Spotlight Artist of the Week! Thank you Carol, David and Sophie at Daily Paintworks!

The Ceremony of Fall

The Ceremony of Fall

16 x 16"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

I hope I am not boring you yet! Man, this new series has me fired up! I haven't felt this intrigued in awhile- especially with a subject I have tackled before: my beloved prairies. There is something about the fluttery, colourful leaves against a neutral backdrop that really has my head spinning with ideas. After I did this one, I tackled a different scene on a 20 x 20 which I will show you as soon as I get a good photo. I am even contemplating scaling things up to a 30 x 30 'cause sometimes I get crazy like that!

A Time To Dance

A Time To Dance

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

The colours in this particular area of Bridget's acreage were absolutely spectacular! The pink and red leaves especially took my breath away.

This is the newest in the series. Elements are more abstracted, kind of like in "Flitter". I am heading to the studio right now to start working on a big one!

Oh, and I've joined Instagram! It is fun, but I am on a bit of a learning curve. Until now I had never hashtagged in my life! I would love it if you would follow me over there, just click here or on the Instagram icon on the right side of this page. Some different things will be happening as I get the ball rolling. Maybe some more real-time things as it is the only social media thing I will be doing with my phone.

Have a great day! And now it's paintin' time!

River Dance At Home

River Dance

© Nicki Ault, 2016

The other day I had the great honour of being invited to an acreage just outside of the city limits which belongs to a dear friend and passionate art collector. Not only was I invited to his beautiful home, but I was treated to a delicious, fresh, locally sourced lunch he prepared for me with great care and attention. I am not sure when the last time was that I felt so special. 

When I arrived I met his two gorgeous dogs, one loved getting a good scrub behind his ears, and then I immediately received a delicious glass of chilled white wine. Sigh. Lucky girl that I am, I was then taken on an extensive tour of his substantial art collection which extended to every nook and cranny of his house. It wasn't long before I came upon "River Dance" in his second floor guest bedroom; an abstract reflection he purchased from my show at Hues Art Supply in January 2014. It looked amazing in a gorgeous frame from Vanishing Point and I felt overwhelmed that it was in the company of work by other artists like David Alexander, Clint Hunker, Paul Trottier, Kathy Bradshaw, Kim Ennis, Degen Lindner, Greg Hargarten and many others. 

Sometimes life gives you days that just feel so right.

Over The Treetops

Over The Treetops

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

Standing on the height of land at Bridget's acreage offered full circle views of the surrounding area, including the distant river.