When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

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Flowers

January 8, 2025

Sunflowers, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W
Tulips, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W

Tulips and Sunflowers, won Honorable Mentions and are showcased in Teravarna’s 9th Flowers Exhibition for the month of January 2025.Honorable Mention for Teravarna Exhibition 9th Flowers

Both are 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W” white mat and white wood frame with crackle finish.

Categories: Abstract/Realism, Art for sale, award winner, expressionism, illustration, soft pastels, Spring, summer | Comments Off on Flowers

Pancake Ice

January 7, 2025


 

Pancake Ice, Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro OR in Exhibizone's Seasons: Winter exhibition
Pancake Ice, photo taken Jan. 2017 at Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro OR in Exhibizone’s Seasons: Winter exhibition showing Jan 8th – March 31st, 2025

Categories: elements, exhibitions, Forests, landscapes, Oregon, photography, Seasonal, shadows, trees, Winter | Comments Off on Pancake Ice

Shooting Star

December 21, 2024


 

Shooting Star, BC wildflower, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) BC wildflower, Vancouver Island, Canada, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Categories: Art for sale, B.C., Canada, expressionism, flowers, flowers and leaves, Seasonal, soft pastels, Spring, Vancouver Island, Wildflowers | Comments Off on Shooting Star

Cape Meares Fog

December 14, 2024


 

Cape Meares Fog - Mountain Ash, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Cape Meares Fog 02 – Mountain Ash, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. 27H x 33W inches framed size.

Categories: Art for sale, elements, expressionism, Forests, Oregon, semi-impressionist, soft pastels, trees | Comments Off on Cape Meares Fog

Dead but Dynamic

December 6, 2024


 

Dead But Dynamic, Choke Canyon National Park, TX, 27H x 33W inches framed, soft pastels on paper
Certificate for Biafarin Gallery online exhibition, Chaos and HarmonyDead But Dynamic, Choke Canyon National Park, TX, 27H x 33W inches framed, soft pastels on paper. Showcased in Biafarin Gallery’s “Chaos and Harmony” Dec. 7th 2024 to Feb. 7th 2025.

Categories: Abstract/Realism, Art for sale, exhibitions, expressionism, Forests, silhouettes, soft pastels, Texas, trees | Comments Off on Dead but Dynamic

Teravarna Gallery’s “Animals” Exhibition

November 6, 2024


 

Bearded Dragon, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. 27H x 33W inches framed size.

  Sea Anemone, Cannon Beach, OR, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper   New Feathers, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper  


Honorable Mention Award, Taravarna's 10th Annual Animals ExhibitionReceived Honorable Mentions in Teravarna Gallery’s 10th Annual “Animals”: Bearded Dragon, New Feathers, and Sea Anemone, all 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. 27H x 33W inches framed size.

 

Categories: animals, Art for sale, award winner, birds, exhibitions, expressionism, soft pastels, water | Comments Off on Teravarna Gallery’s “Animals” Exhibition

Neighborhood Heron

October 25, 2024


 

Neighborhood Heron, 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Frame unnecessary. Hang on a wall or display on a flat surface. Signed on the side so as not to impose on the composition.
Elements 2024 - Nikki Coulombe PosterShowcased online in Biafarin / Exhibizone’s “Elements 2024” Juried Exhibition Oct. 26th – Nov. 26th: Neighborhood Heron (sold), part of the Magic Square Series, each 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, frame unnecessary. Attractive hung on a wall or displayed on a flat surface.

 

Categories: acrylic painting, Art for sale, birds, contemporary, elements, exhibitions, expressionism, Sold, trees | Comments Off on Neighborhood Heron

Buddha Park, Laos

October 21, 2024


 

Buddha Park 01, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Oct.1st: Buddha Park 01, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Right detail of Buddha Park 01, soft pastels on paper25 km from Vientiane, Laos, Buddha Park displays over 200 large, reinforced concrete statues based on integrating stories from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, created by Luangpu Bunluea Surirat and his apprentices, started in 1958. This is the first of many representations I have planned. I was there in 2016 and took so many photos, intending to do a series of drawings much sooner than today, but couldn’t decide where to start because there are so many interesting pieces and points of view.

Though the sculptures at first seem crudely done – for how easy can it be to manipulate concrete? – the artists have carefully rendered the grace of hands in prayer and portrayed such character in mythological gods, animals, demons, and combinations of all the above. Discovering cows grazing in the neighboring meadow as part of the setting in the far end of the park, it’s a place where the sum of its parts is so fantastic, that to dissect it in any portrayal will not do it justice. Better for you to read this link to all the information about this remarkable human achievement, than for me to only show you snippets of my impressions or try to describe it in words.


 

Buddha Park 02, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct. 4th: Buddha Park 02, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper


 

Buddha Park 03, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct. 8th: Buddha Park 03 – Vishnu as Narayana with Lakshmi and Sheshanaga, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

In the simplest of terms and with limited understanding, here’s my guess at what this group represents:  Vishnu with weapon and symbolic items missing, in the form of Narayana (“He who lies in the waters”), is seen lounging beside Lakshmi, his female counterpart. He is mounted on Sheshanaga, a many-headed serpentine demi-god, said to exist before the creation of the universe and will remain after its destruction.

In the complex belief system of Hinduism, literature regards gods, demi-gods and goddesses assuming many forms, with different names and aspects that change with each incarnation. The broad concepts and multi-layered symbolism are only learned by lifelong (or many lives of) awareness, devotion and practice.  Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are 3 aspects of the One Supreme Being, and are principal deities who create, protect and transform the universe.


 

Vishnu as Varaha - Buddha Park 04, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct 10th: Vishnu as Varaha – Buddha Park 04, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper


 

Durga, Hindu Goddess of War and Strength, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Oct 16th, Buddha Park 05: My best guess is that this is Durga, Hindu Goddess of war and strength, protective mother of the universe, eternally struggling with forces of good against evil. She is usually depicted riding a lion or tiger, with between eight and eighteen hands holding the various weapons and objects that are highly symbolic of her purpose.

18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Work process:


 

Oct. 21st: Buddha Park 06, Airavata, Hindu elephant deity or also known in Thailand as Erawan with Indra. Work in progress:

             
  Buddha Park 06, phase 01 - Airavata, Hindu elephant deity or Thai: Erawan with Indra   Buddha Park 06, phase 02 - Airavata, Hindu elephant deity or Thai: Erawan with Indra   Buddha Park 06, phase 03 - Airavata, Hindu elephant deity or Thai: Erawan with Indra  
  Phase 01   Phase 02   Phase 03  
             

Categories: Art for sale, design, drawings, expressionist, history/multicultural theme, illustration, Laos, series, soft pastels, travel | Comments Off on Buddha Park, Laos

“Landscapes” Exhibition

October 12, 2024


 

Heber River, BC, 27H x 33W soft pastels on paper
Heber River, BC Canada, 27H x 33W inches framed, soft pastels on paper is showcased in The Artist Space Gallery’s “Landscapes” Exhibition through October, then archived for a year.

Categories: Art for sale, B.C., Canada, exhibitions, expressionism, Forests, landscapes, semi-impressionist, soft pastels, trees, Vancouver Island, water | Comments Off on “Landscapes” Exhibition

Purple Pansies

October 11, 2024


 

Purple Pansies, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Purple Pansies, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper – 27H x 33W” framed

Categories: Art for sale, expressionism, flowers, flowers and leaves, garden, soft pastels | Comments Off on Purple Pansies

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