Power Over The Prairies

Power Over The Prairies

8 x 8"

oil on cradled panel

© Nicki Ault, 2012

available exclusively at Lifestyles by Darrell Bell Gallery
sold

I love the colour palette of this one. I always feel proud when Degen Lindner likes my paintings and when she saw this at the Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus this summer, she really liked it.

Pine And Fancy

Pine And Fancy

8x8

oil on panel

This is the second of four paintings I did with a limited palette (Cad. Yellow Light, Phthalo Blue, Crimson, Yellow Ochre and Titanium White) on my second day at the Kenderdine class; another tree top study. I loved the feel of the paint gliding onto the smooth board and again I used the walnut alkyd to speed the drying time. I wish the photo/ monitor could better show the movement of the brushstrokes in the blue sky and the sheen the medium gave the paint. This painting is done on one of the boards I sealed with Golden brand GAC-100, so the actual colour of the board shows through the paint here and there (see detail below). It is a different effect than the second detail I have posted which shows the black under-painting on "Branching Out".

Pine And Fancy - detail

clear GAC-100 under-painting

(the golden yellow colour by the leaves 

is the board showing through)

                 

 Branching Out - detail

black latex under-painting

What I found was that the edges on "Branching Out" looked sharper and slightly outlined wherever the under-painting showed through. I have since rectified that and the under-painting is now more subtle, but in the detail above you can still see some of that black coming through. As well, I found that while painting outside the colours I mixed seemed brighter, but when I got inside the studio at the end of the day I discovered some areas looked dark and flat... actually Degen, the instructor, brought it to my attention. These things all made the paintings look somewhat illustrative to Degen and she said that was fine if that was what I was going for (it wasn't), but if not I needed to add some more light areas, especially to the pine trees, and watch my edges. So I did some tweaking that evening and I liked the paintings far more once I implemented her suggestions. That being said, I really like seeing edges, whether they disappear into one another or sometimes look cut out. What I came away with from that day of painting was that I am still on that almighty learning curve! And it doesn't look like I am getting off anytime soon!



NOTE: The name for this painting comes from a store at Waskesiu Lake that sells candy, new and old hard-to-find kinds, as well as souvenirs and toys... you know, the kind of place where kids love to go with their allowance (i.e. parents money!). My sisters and I have always giggled at the name, Pine And Fancy. We love it! Anyway, this title came to me as I realized I had painted one little pine tree surrounded by a bunch of fancy, leaf fluttering Birch Trees. 

Popcorn Clouds

Popcorn Clouds

20x16

acrylic on canvas
sold

This painting was part of my second solo show in 2008 at a local cafe and was actually purchased by the same neighbor that commissioned the three pond paintings.  The reference photo for this painting came from Degen Lindner (the artist/instructor I consider a mentor) and although I didn't see this sky in person, I felt comfortable painting it because I have seen skies like it. Maybe you know the type; dark skies, brooding clouds, imminent storm... and these puffy little white clouds going about their business without a clue that there is something bigger happening around them. I have always thought these clouds looked like popcorn. I love stormy skies and have been thinking a lot about working on a series with that as the theme for.... drum roll... my next show!!! Yup, I applied for a show at a new coffee shop in town called Moka- very chic, very good area, and they liked the little portfolio I submitted! The paintings will go up on December 8 and run for two months! Yay!!!It will be great to have a goal and a focus again.

I dipped into the archives to find a painting to show you because I have not done anything new lately; the kids are out of school now and so getting to the studio is hard. We just went up to Waskesiu Lake for Canada Day and then stayed for about 6 days. It was so relaxing and the boys absolutely love it there. I took my paints with me thinking I would get up early and do some plein air work, but nope, that fresh air knocked me out and there was no getting up early... in fact, there was also a lot of napping in the daytime! And then to top it off I began reading "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. Big mistake. I couldn't put the darn thing down! And since we got home I have now read the next book in the series, "New Moon". It's really bad! I am addicted! Keep reading or feed the kids? Keep reading or have a shower? Keep reading or maintain the house? Keep reading or, dare I say it, blog? I'm sorry I haven't been commenting on my favorite sights lately. The story of Bella and Edward has consumed me in a ridiculous way. I am going to force myself not to start the next book, "Eclipse" until I reconnect with my life and get some painting done!

Rick the Model

Rick

graphite on paper

The other day I ran down to the art supply store to get a tube of paint and a few canvases (I have my first official commission for 3 - 7x7 paintings!). Depending where I park I have to walk past one of our city's commercial galleries, Rouge Gallery, to get to the store and on this day that is exactly what happened. I decided to stop in really quick even though I was dressed in my painting clothes and definitely not looking like I had money to spend on any of the art in the place. As it turned out I am so glad I did because the featured show was by an artist named Rick Pilling. Eleven years ago when I began taking the odd drawing class he was one of our models! At the time he was a Fine Art student and began to pose for studio classes, likely to make a bit of extra income, but also to understand what it required to be a model... and yes, he was nude which made this all very admirable in my eyes. He did a great job for us and really seemed like a great guy. Since then he has obtained both a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts and his work has taken off. I am thrilled for him and the success he has found. Please click on his name above to see his work at the Rouge Gallery. Take note that in his portfolio there is a beautiful portrait of Degen Lindner who is also represented by Rouge Gallery and who has been a mentor to me. 

I found this unfinished sketch of him from a night class when he was our model... a decade ago!

As a side note, my dear Sammy turned eight today! I can't believe it. In another eight years he will be driving!

Rain Is Coming

Rain Is Coming

7x5"

oil on paper

I went to the studio this afternoon and decided to create another cloud painting- it was just too fun last week and luckily it was fun again today. Now that I have uploaded this image I realize that it is likely a bit darker than in real life. The land at the bottom actually has more dark green to it. Here it looks quite black. Anyhoo, I like how it looks. I like the stormy moodiness of it. I am finding it a smidge of a challenge to work with such a limited palette; 12 oil colours including Titanium white. I have to start somewhere though, right? I was poking around online and found a great sale on a brand called "Shiva Signature Oil Paint" that has been around for a really long time. If anyone knows anything about them please leave me a comment- as good as the deal sounds, it won't be a good deal if they are low quality. 

I've been thinking about the way I paint, especially since I have been playing with oils. When the artists at the studio saw my the sky/clouds I painted last week they offered positive feedback and then made a comment that they kind of reminded them of Degen's work (her gallery link is "not found"). Of course I took that as a compliment, but I got worried that maybe it seemed like I was copying. I took a step back and contemplated. My final judgment was that, in fact, these skies were very different than the kind she would paint, but maybe my handling of the paint had been influenced by her. Some parts of the clouds were painted without much mixing and that is something she would do. When you admire work of other artists I think you can really learn by studying their techniques, their colour choices, the way they set up their compositions, and then use what you've learned when you go to paint your interpretation of the world. I find the idea of creating a mood or atmosphere in clouds by using unexpected colours quite fascinating. I am a huge admirer of a local artist named Greg Hardy. Now here is someone with a real point of view. The scale of his work is impressive and I can't get enough of how he expresses and interprets his subjects. Click here to view his portfolio of recent exhibitions... especially take the time to click on the Michael Gibson Gallery and the Nicholas Metivier Gallery to see Mr. Hardy's skies and clouds. They are breathtaking and like none other.

I feel like with every piece of art I am drawn to, I am gathering information, I am making mental notes, I am absorbing. Maybe I am all the art I have ever admired. Maybe this next stage of my life is going to be me taking this internalized knowledge and letting it out on canvas. In my own way. Finding my own point of view.

Brighter Days

Brighter Days

7x7"

acrylic on canvas

 I made this painting as a gift for a special person who just turned the big 4-0. Unfortunately the details and brushstrokes don't show well in this image. I also think the dark edges around the clouds are not that hard in reality. As usual it looks better in person with proper light on it.

I went to the studio yesterday and after two hours or so ended up with nothing. I stunk. Surprisingly, however, I left in a great mood! I had a wonderful visit with the artist (Degen Lindner) who I used to share studio space with and who I consider to be a mentor and the person who has most influenced the artist in me. Anyway, I went back to the studio this afternoon and everything went smoothly. Thank goodness because I wanted to give this gift today! I chose to work on a little canvas I had prepared sometime ago with a dark gray ground, but had never used. It almost felt symbolic beginning with something so dark and then brightening it with layers of colour... symbolic for me and for the person I painted it for who has worked hard to come through some dark days. I do wish the clouds showed better... in them I see Degen's influence. She has this technique of gathering paint on her brush which is not quite mixed thoroughly and then, after she lays it down on the canvas, you can see these striations of colour through the brushstroke. Beautiful. I ended up with a bit of that effect in the clouds and in the foreground, but unfortunately in my hurried photography it doesn't show clearly. 

So, here is to brighter days.... full of colour and rich with layers of experiences.

Shout Out To Degen

I have loved art my entire life. I remember winning a newsprint pad with Grover on it for some art I did in grade one. Then in grade three I remember winning another contest at school and my picture was made into Christmas cards. In grade eight one of my drawings won an honourable mention and I was given a plaque with my art scanned onto it. In high school I took art in grade nine and then signed up for typing in grade ten. The art teacher asked me to join him for a meeting with the principal and they talked me into continuing with art--- hence it takes me a long time to type up these posts! I won the art award at grade twelve graduation. I began University with the plan of taking Fine Arts and really enjoyed my first studio class with Bob Christie, painting in oils (the only time I ever have). In second year I was so intimidated by the Professor, Otto Rogers, and the class that I didn't go back after the first day. I switched to Sociology and didn't take another studio class again, but I kept up with art history. What can I say, I was young and silly. Now I know I could have gained some valuable experience in that class and maybe not lost so much time. Who knows?

In my early twenties I actually got into making porcelain dolls. I won a few local contests and had them in a northern Saskatchewan gallery for a few seasons. Then I got busy with my career and life and didn't do much for years. Turning thirty was hard for me, but from it I decided I didn't want to turn forty or sixty or eighty and regret not pursuing things I loved. So that fall I registered for a Life Drawing class with Degen Lindner. I was so curious to meet her because my grandmother had a large watercolour painting done by her father, Ernest Lindner, and I stared at it in her living room every time I visited her. Degen was wonderful and encouraging from the very first class. I remember the feeling of excitement when I left that first night and vowed to myself that I would never allow myself to let art go again. I have taken many Life Drawing night classes with Degen over the years and also taken 4 painting workshops with her at Emma Lake. She has been positive and encouraging all the way. She is so talented and has such an eye for art of all kinds. I swear every time I have made the changes she has suggested the work is always better. And she has a way of finding something positive no matter what. She is amazing to see in a class teaching and guiding her students...and a wonderful sense of humour to go with all her knowledge... and listening to her talk about the history of her father and other artists is like a precious gift. I have learned so much from her.

After I had my baby in 2002 I slowly let art begin to slip away. Then after my second baby I was so sleep deprived I was just trying to survive each day. She saw I was struggling and asked if I would take care of her plants at the studio while she was at the lake for the summer (2006) and said I could use her space if I liked. How generous is that? And then when she got home in the fall she offered to let me continue sharing the space. Now I am about to get my own space in December and when I told her my plan she was once again extremely supportive. She said it was the right thing for me to do and that I needed my own space because she could see I was getting more serious. You know how they say that there are something like seven people in everyone's life that make such a difference (good or bad) that your life is forever changed by knowing them? Well, she is one of my seven.... and my life has definitely changed for the better by knowing her.

Today I have posted two sketches I did in Degen's Life Drawing classes. Each drawing took about 2 1/2 hours.