Day For A Drive

Day For A Drive

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/day-for-a-drive/401828
sold

A soft day- fresh and calm, perfect for a drive in the country.

Cloud Swell Over Canola

Cloud Swell Over Canola

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/cloud-swell-over-canola/401601
sold 

Again, the clouds were fun to paint, but it was the canola that initially caught my eye.

Blue Corner

Blue Corner

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/blue-corner/401182
sold

On the drive up to the lake the canola fields were glowing. It was quite the site- it made me wish I was the passenger so I could be taking pictures along the way. This painting was a playful experiment - the clouds were fun.

On another note, the other day I learned about an unfortunate and creepy website (wallpart.com) that is stealing artwork from the internet, then making and selling posters of the art which they have not received permission to use. Some of my work came up on the site as well as the work of many other artists I know. NOT COOL. The thing is, it actually seems like anyone who has ever put an image on the internet could be affected if that image can be found in a search. They are selling posters of personal images, too. Like I said, creepy. Big time. I have signed a petition to hopefully have the website removed. Seems like a long-shot, but I really have no other idea how to express my feelings on this. If you feel so inclined, here is a link to the petition and here is an article about this website. Thanks!

UPDATE: Please read this article for further information in regards to what the wallpart site is really about. Avoid that site altogether.

Rock Face

Rock Face

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

The landscape of northern Saskatchewan's Canadian Shield is breathtaking. I am still in awe of some of the sites I saw on the canoe trip in 2013.

A Corner Of Mekewap

A Corner Of Mekewap

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I revisited the photos I took from the canoe trip two summers ago and found some more I wanted to paint. Mekewap is a lovely little fresh water, spring-fed lake that we had to portage into. There was a sweet tiny island where we had lunch and spent time painting. I kept thinking how fun it would be to camp there over night- it was so peaceful and isolated, and you wouldn't have to worry about bears!

On another note, we didn't end up fishing on the morning we planned. We woke up to strong winds- the lake was rolling...

... it sounded and looked like the ocean.

"The sea was angry that day my friends" ~ George Costanza (Seinfeld)

Pre-Sunset

Pre-Sunset

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

That soft, smokey, pinkish light that appears when there are forest fires happening north of your city...

Over The Canola

Over The Canola

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I drove to the lake with my kids yesterday (my husband hasn't started his holidays yet) - what a spectacular show of clouds and canola! I painted this one for Lifestyles last week from an old photograph I took a few years ago and now I am really excited to paint from the handful of new images I took haphazardly through the windshield. The fields were glowing lemon yellow in some places and right before Rosthern I even saw a field of flax! Beautiful. Somewhere along the way was a gorgeous patch of canola with some sort of cluster of fuchsia wild flowers growing beside. It came and went so fast there was no time for a drive-by photo, but I may be able to recreate the impression if I get my paints out ASAP. But first things first, the kids want to go fishing and try out the new hooks Grampa bought them!

Before I forget, here is a picture of the display at Lifestyles with the new paintings I just dropped off...

Blue And Blonde

Blue And Blonde

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

We've finally had some rain... those blue puddles signify sweet relief to a parched land. We've been needing it here in the prairies, but even more so up north in the forests where the fires have been relentless. The good news is they have had rain as well. Some of the evacuees have recently been able to return home and more will go in the next forty-eight hours. I am so happy for them. I can't imagine how difficult it has been. I think of those who have had to stay in the soccer centre with three hundred other people sleeping on cots just feet apart. It's hard enough for adults, but can you imagine if you had babies or small children? Very hard times.

Prairie Chaos

Prairie Chaos

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available exclusively at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery

It's been a bit hard to get into the studio over the last month, but I did find some time a week ago which was great because Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery was in need of some more work. Over a few days time I was able to get six new paintings done and they were dry enough to deliver yesterday. Happily the new wall display they have created for my art is really attracting attention and because it is visible through the front window it is catching the eye of passers-by and they are coming in to the store to have a better look. Good for the store, good for me! Win-win!

Fires In Northern Saskatchewan

Smoke Haze Over Waskesiu

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2013

sold

This is a sad and difficult time for my beloved province. Our northern communities are making history, but in a way that is far from desirable. The largest ever mass evacuations have taken place. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes- forced away from their communities and unimaginably asked to leave pets behind. Why? Because fire is ripping through the northern old growth forest and endangering everything in its path. It is a scary, sad and desperate time. The most recent update says that the fires may not actually be extinguished until the first snow flies. That is not nearly, remotely, ever-so-slightly soon enough. I am not sure there has ever been a time in my life that I wished money was no object. I want to do something for these families to make this extraordinarily difficult time in their lives easier. I am at a loss.

Smoke from these extensive fires has made its way to my hometown, Saskatoon, and remarkably, further south into the United States. Outdoor sports events have actually been cancelled when the air quality is so unacceptable. To put it into perspective we are five to six hours away from where the fires are actually burning.

If you recall, two years ago I went on a painting and canoe trip to the La Ronge area in northern Saskatchewan. Well, that is where the fires are burning. There and further north. I recently heard that there is now a "Lynx" fire... I can only assume that that means there is a fire at Lynx Lake which was the first lake we crossed, then Duck Lake and finally Sulphide Lake to get to our home base for the canoe trip. I am very worried about the fishing camp we stayed at and the wonderful man, Vern Studer, who owned and ran it. What will happen to his family-run business and all of the history in his home-made museum?

getting ready to "set sail" on Lynx Lake

Lori (assistant guide) and Vern Studer (owner of camp)

 Studer Homestead Museum

Sulphide Lake

  Rain, we need you... for days on end and with no lightening. Please come and bring your friends.

 The Jack Pine On Lynx Lake, La Ronge

48 x 30:

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2014

available

Floral Still Lifes At Lifestyles

summer display
Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery

So this is happening! Darrell Bell saw the group show I was in at Hues Art Supply with Bridget Aitken and Jackie Miller and he thought my floral paintings were fresh and summery so he asked if he could have them for his art and design boutique for the summer! One of the paintings sold at Hues, but the other three can be found at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery for the next little while. It is a beautiful store, full of colourful, vibrant, creative gift-ware. In the above image you can see the paintings displayed with gorgeous French pillows and throws.

Available at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery this summer:

Hydrangea and Lemon
sold

White Bucket Bouquet

Hydrangea Arrangement
sold

Above The Lake, Waskesiu

Above The Lake, Waskesiu

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold

I painted this on the beach when I went up to the lake at the end of May. The sky was, in actuality, blue and free of clouds. So basically what I am saying is I made this sky up!