Canola And Low Laying Field

Canola And Low Laying Field

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

In the last seventy-two hours it poured! Some areas of our province have been hit really hard, in particular Estevan and Arborfield, with devastating results to some families. I love stormy skies and dramatic prairie scenes, but I do not love their potential to wreak havoc

Canola In Bloom

Canola In Bloom

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

I am feeling extremely enamored with the prairies right now even though I have not ventured out of the city for ages, or so it seems. Recently while I was sick and stuck at home I experienced thunder storms, heavy clouds and glowing sun through my window while resting on the couch. It all got me daydreaming about what the countryside would look like and so when I finally got to the studio on Thursday I had to explore those ideas. Canola in all its glory is such an iconic Saskatchewan scene.

July Rain

July Rain

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

I spent some time at the studio yesterday while my kids had some Grandma and Grandpa time. It felt great to be back in that environment, but my energy was low. I guess I am still recovering from being sick. Anyway, the dark skies and rain we have had lately made me want to paint a dramatic canola scene. I found some old reference photos in my folders and went to work. I have another to show you tomorrow. 

The weather for the weekend looks stormy so it may be my chance to get out into the country and take a fresh batch of photos. My friend, who lives a half hour south of the city, has invited me out and offered to give me a tour of the country back roads. The bonus... she knows where to find some flax fields!

Hi!

Hydrangea Arrangement

19 x 13.5"

acrylic, oil and oil pastel on terra skin paper

© Nicki Ault, 2015

sold

Well hello!!!

I have been sick. Seven days in an altered state. Not fun. Not pretty. As far back as I can remember when I get a head cold things become real bleak. My sinuses are hijacked and my eyes water uncontrollably while my head pulses to a less than enjoyable beat. NyQuil and Dristan are my best friends during these times and the best attempt I can make at bathing is a cold cloth on my eyes. Everything else is put on the back-burner. 

Now that I have come out of the other side of that virus-laden hell I am SO ready to paint it isn't even funny! I just have to find time because now the kids are out of school and getting to the studio is not easy.

Hydrangea and Lemon

21.5 x 15.75"

acrylic, oil and oil pastel on water colour paper

© Nicki Ault, 2015

sold

In the meantime, here are the still-available paintings I had in a show at Hues Art Supply a year ago with Bridget Aitken and Jackie Miller. They are a series of floral still lifes which were a great time of experimentation for me. Right now they are available at Lifestyles By Darrell Bell Gallery.

White Bucket Bouquet

24 x 18"

oil on canvas

© Nicki Ault, 2015

available

I look forward to having some new work to show you soon. Thanks for your patience!

Watching The Night Fall

Watching The Night Fall

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

Lots going on these days. Boy is June a busy month! 

I was able to get to the studio on Thursday morning only to discover a dead mouse in the hallway. It was a young one and quite sweet looking as mice go. I felt bad- I wondered if the fumes in the studio were too much for it. It looked like it just called it quits in mid-stride. 

It brought back memories of the teddy bear hamsters I had in first year university. I was taking an oil painting class and my parents let me set up a studio in the basement and that is where I had the hamsters. At that time we used turpentine to soak and clean brushes. My family went away for a few days, so we had a neighbor feed my hamsters. When we got home, she felt so bad... the hamsters had died. I always wondered if somehow it was the fumes from my supplies that did them in. It was quite upsetting- one of the little fellas even had his arm around the other like he was comforting his buddy. I will never forget it.

Complimentary Sunset

Complimentary Sunset

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

Looking forward to getting to the lake this summer and enjoying some more spectacular sunsets.

Golden Prairie

Golden Prairie

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

 sold

What a treat it is to feel like going to the studio! I have spent more time there in the last few days than I have spent in a month. I hope this new-found energy continues through the rest of June because after that my kids will be home for the summer and who knows how much I will get to paint. For now I am going to roll with it and do as much work as I can.

Forest On Sulphide Lake

Forest On Sulphide Lake

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016
sold

I'm starting to get into painting again. Slowly but surely.

September Up Front

September Up Front

6 x 6"

oil on board

© Nicki Ault, 2016

sold

It is a bit rocky as I try to navigate my way back into work mode at the studio. I sat there for an hour and a half yesterday looking through photos, listening to music and daydreaming. Finally I decided to paint this scene from my studio mate Bridget's acreage. I love the earthy gray-greens next to the vibrant oranges of the foliage. 

I have had another frustrating set-back... my van seized up on me. It could have been worse, as my twelve year old pointed out, but it is annoying none-the-less. At any rate, I will embrace the fact that there was no accident or injury and I am sure it will be fixable.

I hope your last few weeks have gone better than mine!

Here's Where I Am At

photo © Nicki Ault

Hi!

It's been awhile. Sorry about that. My hiatus took me by surprise, too.

I think I worked harder than I realized as I got ready for the show at the University Club and two days before that was the Mother's Day Tea at the studio. Just before that my son was home with an injury. And the week after the show went up at the university I was sick, then the next week my son got sick. May was a long month. I honestly felt so worn down that I started to think I was done painting. For good. I had no desire to create, lift a brush, go to the studio or even talk about art. I thought that was it.

To top the whole thing off I got a call on Sunday night of the May long weekend from our tenant (we have a cute little bachelor suite revenue property) who was in a panic. There was water pouring into his home from above and he didn't know what to do. It was 10:00 at night- I stayed with the kids and my husband went down to check it out. As it turned out the owner of the unit above ours was doing some do-it-yourself plumbing and snapped a pipe in the wall. Our place was flooded. Over the next few days the extent of the damage became more and more apparent. A disaster team was called in and within a matter of 48 hours they began gutting our suite. As upsetting and stressful as that was for us, my biggest concern was for our wonderful tenant. What was going to happen to him? How could he live through this mess? What would he do? Well, the answer came soon enough- he had to move and nine days after the disaster, he was gone.

Every now and then things happen that illustrate how quickly things change. You think you are on a certain trajectory and then, wham! the tables are turned. I am still trying to wrap my head around what has happened and the fact that we now have a long road ahead of us, not to mention finding another excellent tenant. 

Thanks for your ear. I promise this page will get back to art soon.

~Nicki