Overhead Inspiration

Overhead Inspiration

6 x 6"

oil on board 

© Nicki Ault, 2013
sold

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/overhead-inspiration/125882 

Well hello again! I did not anticipate taking that much time away from my blog! I was sick, the kids were sick and we went on a family holiday... next thing you know I have been out of touch for weeks! It is often easier for me to make quick updates and stay in touch on my Facebook page, so feel free to click on over and hit "Like"! www.facebook.com/Nicki.Ault.Studio

I'm back and I feel excited about so many things. I have spent more time at the studio in the last few days than I have spent in (what feels like) months. I feel energized, motivated, enthused and ready to go! As a result I managed to get a 36x36" canvas started, three 8x8" paintings done for Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery and three 6x6's finished! I don't think I have done any 6x6" paintings since my retreat to Waskesiu last September. I have completely neglected that size and therefore neglected my Daily Paintworks Gallery, but that is going to change today! And now I have images put on the Daily Paintworks Facebook Weekend Show. I feel like I am back in business! Lots to talk about, but all in good time. For now I hope you enjoy seeing this new painting, "Overhead Inspiration".

I have decided to begin to include the PayPal "buy" link when I post my 6x6" paintings. This size makes up the majority of the paintings in my Daily Paintworks Gallery; the link will take you there to see the purchase/shipping info. Clicking on this link does not mean you are committing to the purchase of the painting- it just takes you to the spot where more information is available.

Thanks for stopping by!

*what a lovely surprise that this sold so quickly! 

Illume

Illume, Meewasin

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

One last little 8x8" kiss for the Meewasin Trail. I'm pleased with the light in this one- it actually kind of kisses the tops of the trees. I'm pretty sure I will revisit the subject again, it has been so much fun playing with all of these colours.

Note: I thought it was a word and when I looked it up to make sure it really was, the dictionary said that "illume" was a poetic word for illuminate. Perfect. Spell check doesn't acknowledge it, though.

Touched

Touched - Meewasin

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold 

Another painted smooch for the Meewasin Trail!

Meewasin- Up Close

Meewasin- Up Close

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I had to do it... I just had to! 

If I could kiss the Meewasin trail, I would, but I can't, so instead I will keep painting it! This is the first of a series of three.

Snow Glow On The River

Snow Glow On The River, Meewasin

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I thoroughly enjoyed painting "Winter On Meewasin" and really wanted to try another view of our wintery riverbank... so I did! I hope you like it.

Looking Up Wolf Willow Hill

Looking Up Wolf Willow Hill

8x8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I wanted to give the impression of climbing or looking up the hill; looking toward the big sky. I also tried to give the impression that the big sky continued down to a lower horizon line beyond the hill. This one was tricky.

To The Lake! Waskesiu River

To The Lake! Waskesiu River

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

Is it okay to say that I am really happy with how this turned out? Going in, the foreground stressed me the most, but with less fussing than I anticipated, I got to a place where I decided it was working. I especially like the contrast of the grasses against the dark water in the lower right corner. If you are familiar with the Waskesiu River, this view is from the left side of the bridge looking in the direction of the lake which is further around the bend.

When looking for a link on the Waskesiu River, I found this delightful little Parks Canada vignette... click here.

Prairie Icon # 3 - Canola Field

Prairie Icon # 3 - Canola Field

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

Here is the third and final painting from the little series of three. I think they would make a great little tryptic, what do you think? Who knows, maybe they will end up selling as a set. Three in a row would look great on a small wall or between two doors.

Prairie Icon #2 - Big Sky

Prairie Icon #2 - Big Sky

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

The second of the little series of three. I love days like these on the prairies: bright, fresh, wide open with feathery clouds streaking the blue sky. There is an easy feel about these kind of days that I miss in the winter; like you just want to slow down, take a deep breath, stop everything and go lay in the field.

Prairie Icon #1 - Flat Land

Prairie Icon #1 - Flat Land

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

Earlier in January I was in the mood to paint some iconic prairie scenes; simple, recognizable, and familiar. I decided to paint them as a small series and hopefully someone will buy them as a set. I thought about what most people would say if they were asked to describe a Saskatchewan landscape and three main themes kept popping in my head: flat land, big skies and canola. I went through my resource photos and found inspiration for these ideas and above you see the first one completed. This one was the most difficult to photograph (even with my super awesome mini photo studio) because of the soft colours throughout the sky and the texture in the top cloud doesn't show easily.

The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour

8 x 8"

 oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery

sold

I am crazy for any light that pours through the forest and creates a magical, vibrant glow. I have been particularly intrigued by late afternoon/early evening light that filters through the forest, bending around trunks and branches. But the conditions have to be just right to catch a show of really beautiful colour. On this particular evening in Waskesiu when I realized how golden the setting sunlight was, I dropped everything, grabbed my camera, tossed an "I'll be right back!" over my shoulder to my family and raced to a favorite place in the forest near the Nature Centre by the lake. The warm, beautiful light of the setting sun was streaming towards me, illuminating the moss and twinkling through the branches.

It truly was a golden hour.

Sky Fire

Sky Fire

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2013

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I just took a group of eleven new 8x8" paintings to Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery and I was thrilled that the store manager wanted to keep all of them! She couldn't stop going on about this particular one so I decided it had to be the painting I posted first. I'm excited about how it turned out- it has the glow I wanted to achieve. The other challenge that I think worked out is the effect of light on the row of clouds at near-center: as they transition away from the setting sun, they change from glowing bright puffs to shadowed clouds rimmed with orange light. Happy.