Monday, May 16, 2016

Now Available At The Black Spruce Gallery

Further Up The River, Waskesiu
40 x 30"
oil on canvas
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available

Paintings recently delivered to the Black Spruce Gallery near Christopher Lake for their kick-off to the 2016 season on the May long weekend.

McPhee From Highway 264
12 x 12"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
available

Moody Prairie
12 x 12"
oil on cradled panel
© Nicki Ault, 2015
sold

Friday, May 13, 2016

Show at the University Club

© Nicki Ault, 2016

First, let me thank everyone who came by our Mother's Day Tea at the studio on Sunday. It was fun! When it was over I went home and enjoyed an evening with my boys: barbecued steak for supper, pretty flowers, chocolates, hugs and even a little foot rub from my youngest.

Monday morning came and something hit me pretty hard. I felt rather incapacitated, but luckily it let up for the afternoon because I had to get my show hung at the University Club, which I did. I used almost all the paintings I brought and I think it looked quite good when all was said and done. The lighting is a little dark in some areas, so I am not sure how some of the work will look in the evenings.

© Nicki Ault, 2016

© Nicki Ault, 2016

By suppertime I was riddled with aches and pains, complete exhaustion and a headache. I have been down for the count for the last three days, but today I feel more like myself. It has been a long time since I was ill. Lots of sleep was the answer.

© Nicki Ault, 2016

There are easily twenty paintings on display and for sale at the University Club. It is a lovely place to go for a meal, but if you just want to stop in a look at the work the best time to do that is between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon when the restaurant is quiet.

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 © Nicki Ault, 2016

The University Club (formerly known as the Faculty Club) is the first building on the left-hand side when you turn to go to the Administration Building on campus.

© Nicki Ault, 2016

I'd love to hear from you if you get a chance to see the show- it will be up until the end of August.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Turquoise Sky Over Canola

Turquoise Sky Over Canola
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2016

I have neglected my little 6x6's as I prepare large pieces for the University Club show that I will hang next week. It felt good to get a couple done on Thursday and I hope to get outside in the next month to do some plein air work on my little boards. I have plans to go out to Bridget's (my studio mate's) acreage to paint next week, however I am a smidge freaked out by the ticks. Deep breath.

In preparation for the Mother's Day show at the studio I made a pile of shadowboxes thinking I might make a grid of little work in the space I share with Bridget. Well, we hung our work yesterday and my grid didn't materialize- there were too many large paintings to get up off the floor and on the wall. Our space looks really good! I will get pictures today to share with you. My favourite element is actually one wall where we have a huge (48x48) cow of Bridget's centered over our work table.  So fun! Please come if you can... details in the previous post or at the top of this page.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Waterlogged II

Waterlogged II
6 x 6"
oil on board
© Nicki Ault, 2016

Unfortunately things aren't quite so wet this spring.

Lots happening at the studio this week. We are getting ready for our Mother's Day Tea Open Studio and Sale happening this Sunday (May 8) from 12-4. Everyone is welcome, but please note there is a flight of stairs to navigate. Our address is 236A 20th Street between Avenues B & C. There are some gorgeous new pieces of work by the eleven artists, so it should be a lovely show.



Then, right away on Monday, I will be whisking my paintings off and setting up a show at the University Club (formerly the faculty Club) on campus at the University of Saskatchewan. It will be a busy few days!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Operation White Shadowboxes

tower of sanded and prepped boxes
© Nicki Ault, 2016

calm night spray station
© Nicki Ault, 2016

gloves woulda been smart
© Nicki Ault, 2016

I decided recently that I would make some shadowboxes for my 6x6 inch paintings. I have made them in the past and they are a bit of a pain. They take a lot of time to prep and it is not always easy to get a couple of super calm days in a row so I can spray. However, I really want to have a grid of my little paintings on display for the studio's Mother's Day Tea on May 8th, so with the great weather forecast for this week I thought I might have a window of opportunity. I began on Sunday night and "operation white shadowboxes" is well underway.