Beyond
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2017
available
Sometimes
sunsets are not spectacular, but they can still be brilliant, with the sun setting beyond the clouds creating a beautiful backlight that reflects and
shimmers on the water.
Speaking
of "beyond", I am beyond grateful for the amazing support I have
received this year in all things art related in my life: shows attended,
purchases made, posts liked, commissions commissioned, blog stories
read, Instagram followed, Facebook shared, and comments made. You have
no idea how all of these things keep me motivated and how I strive to do
better and better so that the time you spend joining me on this journey
does not feel wasted. Is it weird that I want you to be proud of me? Or
at the very least, not bored by me? Let me answer that- yes, maybe a
little weird, but it's true, so I'm okay with that.
Our
big Open Studio was a wonderful event despite it probably being the
worst day we could have chosen. We picked the date in
the spring and, for various reasons, we chose the second last Sunday in
November rather than the last Sunday as we had in other years. It turned out it
was the day of the Santa parade, the Nutcracker ballet matinee, a
race with a the closure of the Broadway bridge and our CFL team,
the Saskatchewan Roughriders, actually made the semi-finals this year and the game
was at noon! Yeesh. It is beyond miraculous that anyone showed up!
I
had a record breaking day,
beyond my expectations, with my 6x6 paintings- eighteen of them finding
their forever homes, and many of them with shadow boxes, so props to my
dad for helping me get those done. I sold a big painting which was
emotional for me, not because the painting was leaving me, but because
the lovely woman who purchased it did so with an inheritance
she had received. She wanted to do something long-lasting and special
with the money, and she chose one of my paintings. Cue the tears. It
touched my heart immensely. I also sold a painting via Facebook during, and
unrelated to, the Open Studio which was rather exciting; my new
piece
"Keep Me Where The Light Is" is going to the home of a
diplomat! A Canadian Ambassador if you will!!! Crazy! And I sort of
sold another painting (it's on hold), but I am waffling on letting it go
(I may want to keep it), in which case they will commission me for a
piece anyway, so it's all good.
It
was exciting to see the 6x6's fly out of the studio... eight of
nine brand new pieces, not even posted, are gone and only "Beyond" remains... so let me know if it would
make a good Christmas present for anyone. I have two more, even newer, 6x6 paintings to post soon that are still available... both of them starry night skies, so stay tuned.
© Nicki Ault, 2017
What I feel is beyond words. I don't say that lightly. I really mean it. I may actually be teary and emotional until the new year. I love painting. I love painting. I LOVE painting. And I can't believe that is what I am doing with my life.
Thank you!
