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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Neighborhood Heron

Friday, October 25th, 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.

 

Chicory

Saturday, November 13th, 2021


 
Chicory, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Chicory, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper (done April 2021 – now sold), showing through December in Las Laguna Art Gallery’s online exhibition, Botanical Art and Illustration.

Chicory

Thursday, April 15th, 2021


 
Chicory, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Chicory, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper. Sold.

First Snow 03 – finished commission

Friday, November 9th, 2018


 
First Snow 03 - 01 replica - finished commission

First Snow 03 – 01 replicated – finished commission

Special Orders

Thursday, February 11th, 2016


 

Zen Garden 02 replicated, 24H x 59W x 1D inches mixed media on canvas
Special order, Zen Garden 02, replicated 24H x 59W x 1D inches mixed media on canvas, special order finished, sent and received. Replications are unique from the originals.

Zen Garden 02 replicated for special order, general outline Zen Garden 02 replicated for special order, progression detail 02 Zen Garden 02 replicated for special order, progression detail 03

Zen Garden 02

Saturday, May 9th, 2009


 

 Zen Garden #2, 48W x 24H x 1D inches texture medium, sand, white glue, modelling paste, kitty litter (new of course!)

Zen Garden 02, 48W x 24H x 1D inches mixed media: texture medium, sand, white glue, modeling paste, kitty litter (new of course!), plaster. Wrapped sides painted, frame unnecessary. Sold but can be recreated, not exactly, but in the same spirit as the original.


 

This painting won the Visual Art Society of Texas title of Artist of the Year (2009) for me at Thursday night’s meeting. This piece hangs vertically, horizontally or can be flipped upside down 2 ways; four different orientation hanging options.

Most of the Zen Garden series are experimental, seeking various ways to obtain the raked sand look without having to pay high prices for the ready-made texture mediums that don’t cover much surface. Zen Garden #2 uses kitty litter bought at the dollar store mixed in varying portions with the above fillers, scooped into a large ziploc bag that was cut in the corner and squeezed out like cake icing onto the canvas. I still had to maneuver the medium into place with fingers because it was so thick coming out of the bag, due to the new absorption factors of new brands of kitty litter. I’ll experiment with aquarium sand and pebbles, or any number of other pet products that are far less expensive than art supplies.

While titles and awards can help refuel encouragement, finding our own source of motivation keeps us working and growing continually, regardless.  Robert Genn in The Painter’s Keys has some interesting words about the subject of jurying and acceptance or non-acceptance, quoting Jung, Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.

Neighborhood Heron

Thursday, March 19th, 2009


 

Neighborhood Heron, 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted

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.

Sold but a similar piece can be recreated upon request. Please allow 7 days to paint before shipping.

Started with a base coat of very watered down translucent pthalos green mixed with cerulean blue. Spraying rubbing alcohol over a damp painted water-based surface then allowing it to dry without moving it will create starry, spotty textures. Salt shaken over wet paint allowed to dry, then wiped off with a dry cloth will produce similar effects.

Alcohol loosened up the entire surface of paint, so using fingernails under a damp smooth t-shirt cloth, I rubbed off areas to shape the heron and winter trees. This represents a super argument for the wingin’ it methods!
In college I took a pottery course for one semester, and the thing I remember most is the instructor saying how it’s a good idea to allow some of the raw characters of the materials we work with to remain and “speak” without trying to smooth over and perfect everything. She was of course referring to clay, but over the years I’ve found that it applies to many other mediums also. In Heron, the branches extend into the body of the bird, connecting it to its environment. The effect also does a subtle play on the motion of its flight too.

Showcased in the J. Mane Gallery’s Fins, Feathers and Fur 2020 exhibition.

Chapala Wind

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009


 

Chapala Wind, Mexico 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted

Chapala Wind – Lake Chapala, Mexico, 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.

Sold but a similar piece can be recreated upon request. Please allow 7 days to paint before shipping.

Sprayed alcohol loosened the paint and I was able to scratch it, at first with my nails and then a pottery tool. Thanks to Karen Xarchos for all the feedback and additional information. We worked together painting murals in Ottawa for a couple of years. Karen has done extensive work in restaurants and homes in the Ottawa area.Thumbnails: phase 1 and 2 in progress.

  Chapala Wind, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, phase 1 Chapala Wind, phase 2: spraying alcohol, scratching paint

Decaying Ceiba Leaves

Sunday, March 8th, 2009


 

Decaying Ceiba Leaves from the Mayan Tree of Life, Costa Rica - 11H x 11W x 3D acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted
Decaying Ceiba Leaves, Lake Cote Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica, 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Sold.


 

Ceiba Leaves, Lake Cote Cloud Forest floor, Costa Rica, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress Ceiba Leaves, Phase 2, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress

Jone’s Falls

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009


 

Jone's Falls, Ontario, Canada - 11H x 11W x 3D acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted

Jone’s Falls,  near Thousand Islands, Southern Ontario, 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Frame unnecessary. Hang on a wall or display on a flat surface.

Sold.

 
Some barely noticeable lines were scratched on wet paint here and there, and they break up the space  into sections now, if you compare the 3rd thumbnail and the finished piece.

 Jone's Falls, mapping out composition, removing paint with cloth Jone's Falls, phase 2 work in progress, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas Jone's Falls, phase 3 work in progress, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas

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