Cattails

Cattails

20 x 24"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

This painting took a few turns as it unfolded, but where it ended up has made me very happy. I am all about the soft palette. I wanted the focus to be the strip of low-laying land with the cattails, but I also tried to make sure the cattails weren't too "in your face". As long as it doesn't look like a series of hotdogs standing in a field, I feel I have succeeded!

Morning Paddle, Sulphide Lake

Morning Paddle, Sulphide Lake

24 x 48"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

My most recent effort in a new size- the largest of several paintings I have done from the last morning of the canoe trip I took in the summer of 2013. I loved working on this 24x48 inch canvas. It was somewhat intimidating being so very rectangular and all (I love working on squares), but once I began to lay things out it started to get fun.

I love playing with reflections and water. Hopefully that is obvious. The goal for the forest was to use colour to express life next to neutrals which express death where the trees have been ravaged by the elements. And so it is in the forest: a constant, beautiful, dependable cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Throwback Thursday

Ripple Effect

24 x 18"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2011

sold

I just got this painting back from the Black Spruce Gallery by Christopher Lake. It has also been in a group show in Ayr, Ontario. It is a well traveled piece! I love doing these abstract reflections; they have all been inspired by Spruce River. It needs a new home, so if you are interested please contact me... let's make a deal!

Second Annual Mother's Day Tea Show and Sale

The studio where I paint will be hosting our second annual Mother's Day Tea on Sunday, May 8th and you are invited! Please come and enjoy great company, beautiful art, delicious tea and yummy scones plus other delectable treats. We will have our most recent work on display and available for sale. Last year's event was so much fun- we hope to do it all again this year. Maybe you are taking your mom out for brunch or lunch and looking for something else to do... well, we would love to see you at our studio! Unfortunately we are not wheelchair accessible; we are on the second floor and there are about twenty-five stairs to climb, so please keep that in mind. Studio On 20th is located between Avenues B & C on 20th Street- look for the door to the left of the Odd Couple restaurant.

Throwback Thursday

Joy

7 x 7"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2010

sold

This is a commission I received six years ago from my neighbor. Her husband spends many hours carefully planning and tending a beautiful pond in their backyard; it has been his "pride and joy" (although now that he is a grandpa I am sure his grandchildren have taken over that title). She wanted to surprise him for his birthday and asked me to create a painting for him. It was a bit tricky because every view of the pond had either the garage or fence in it, so visually I was having trouble getting inspired to paint it even though the elements of the pond itself were lovely. I decided to suggest to her that I do three small paintings rather than one large one. This way I could focus on what her husband truly loved. And so that is how we proceeded.

Hugh's Pond

7 x7"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2010

sold

Pride

7 x 7"

acrylic on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2010

sold

Flax And Wild Grasses

Flax And Wild Grasses

30 x 30"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

There wasn't really flax in the distant field, but I enjoyed pretending. This palette makes me very happy.

This Land I Love

This Land I Love

36 x 36"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

A painting based entirely on another painting I did years ago. I love the wild prairie.

Spring Puddles

Spring Puddles

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

This is entirely made up. After my little road trip the other day I was inspired by the water in the fields, but the overall landscape was rather bleak. It got me fantasizing about the beautiful greens that will soon make their appearance; it really won't be long now.

Throwback Thursday

Good Morning Meewasin

18 x 24"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2012

sold

I painted "Good Morning Meewasin" almost exactly four years ago. It was a scene I had always wanted to try and now I have painted the subject several times over. Saskatoon has the most beautiful trails and parks along the riverbank, the Meewasin Valley, and in the fall the colours are spectacular.

This painting went into a show I did that spring with my Dad; my paintings were mostly tree related and my Dad, a wood worker, featured his beautiful wooden bowls and wooden accessories. We called the show "Family Tree". It was hands down the best art show experience I have had to date. The memories we made are precious and I am so happy to have helped my Dad cross something off his bucket list. Here are a few pictures from the event:

I am being flooded with memories as I write this post. Happy Throwback Thursday! 

"Good Morning Meewasin" resides in a beautiful home in Calgary...

Snow At McPhee

Snow At McPhee

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nicki-ault/snow-at-mcphee/470679
 sold 

I took a day trip on Sunday. I had to drive to Prince Albert anyway to pick up the paintings from the Mann Art Gallery, so I decided to take a bit more time and go all the way to Waskesiu. It was an inspiring drive. The landscape started out with very bright, almost golden light, and the fields were wet and soggy. The further north I drove, the more gray and dull it got. Instead of puddles and water there was ice and snow. Eventually, by the time I arrived in Waskesiu, it was snowing. I spent some time going to my favourite spots and taking pictures, but I didn't stop long enough to paint. It was inspiring to see my happy places in a different season. It has given me food for thought.

Mossy Bank - Sulphide Lake

Mossy Bank, Sulphide Lake

36 x 48"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

I guess I took an unintentional hiatus from the blog. I have been painting a bit, but with two large paintings on the go and nothing finished, there was nothing to post. Plus with the kids out of school this week I got my days mixed up and forgot yesterday was Thursday, so no TBT post. Anyway, I finally went to the studio for about one hour last night which felt great! "Mossy Bank" was dry enough to transport home to photograph and I actually took some time to work on the other large painting- a colourful prairie. It very well may be done now, too. I will look at it with fresh eyes this weekend and make the call.

Speaking of this weekend, I am excited for Sunday! I have to drive to Prince Albert to pick up the paintings from The Mann Art Gallery since the Winter Festival show is now done. I think I am going to go early and drive all the way to Waskesiu for a photo excursion. I am not sure yet if I will try to paint en plein air, but it is a possibility. It will depend on time. Road trip! Yay!