Bio, Exhibitions
“Images and ideas are powerful, and presenting them is what I do best, ultimately as a traditional Artist most comfortable painting or drawing. My approach toward Art emphasizes value in the work process where means to expression are diverse, and despite the outcome, creativity is an attitude toward life.”
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Short Bio - Nikki Coulombe
Nikki grew up in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Three years of formal education in Calgary and Red Deer with a major in drawing lead to a home-based business as a freelance Artist in eastern Ontario while her children were young. During that time, working with teachers and within the community she designed and executed a significant number of educational projects with themes of Art History, multiculturalism, and environmental issues.
1989 - 1993 Nikki created, developed and manufactured Original Earthbags, high quality, hand-painted pre-shrunk cotton shopping / multi-purpose bags - 2 registered Canadian trademarks -sold at Art and Environmental Shows, via mail order across Canada, some internationally.
After a successful Solo Exhibition in 1993 selling mostly paintings, she determined a future on that route, but the momentum of freelance work dominated her schedule until moving to the United States during November 2002. Commissions included paintings, designing and painting murals, consultation and custom Artwork for clients, Interior Designers and their associates in the Ottawa region. Budgets and deadline parameters extended her creative edge and exercised her capacity for improvisation. Utilizing a variety of skills, she is acquainted with a multitude of media, styles and subjects. Nikki and her husband now live near Dallas, Texas where she has reestablished her career with an entirely new body of work.
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“While awaiting a Green Card for the first few years in the U.S. without the usual demand to produce for others, I’ve ventured into mixed media projects, photography, and painting subjects I’ve always wanted to try but never had the time to. Here in the U.S., rebuilding an entirely new body of work of mainly paintings, favorite pastimes are drawing and design. I don’t think I’ll ever release my attachment to the representation of recognizable objects, but do try to leave elements of the abstract in every piece.
Travel between Canada and the U.S.A. is the most prominent thing influencing most recent work, in particular, paintings for The Majesty of Trees Solo Exhibition scheduled for June - July, 2009 at the Nature Art Gallery in The Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina.”
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Exhibitions 2006 through 2008
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White Pine Bows - 20 x 34 x 1.5 inches Acrylics on stretched canvas. Narrow 1/2 inch wide wood frame, dark brown stain. | |
| Framed $650.00 |  |
White Pine Bows 20 x 34 x 1.5 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas will be showing at the125 Mile Exhibition, July 24th - August 15, 2008, presented by the Visual Arts Center of Texas (VAST, Denton) in partnership with the Department of Visual Arts at the Texas Women’s University. Opening Reception ceremony on July 31st, 2008, 5:30p.m. - 7:30p.m.
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Salt Spring Island Fog, B.C. Canada, early morning - 18 x 24 inches - pencil, eraser, dry pastels, colored pencils on paper, framed size 28.5 x 34.5 inches | |
| Framed $750.00 | |
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| Unframed $650.00 | |
Salt Spring Island Fog 18 x 24 inches pencil, eraser, dry pastels, colored pencils on paper, framed size 28.5 x 34.5 inches. Accepted for VAST’s 2009 Calendar. All accepted original works will be displayed during November- December, 2008 at The Chestnut Tree in Denton, TX. Meet the Artists and purchase a signed calendar (or more!).
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Firewheels - 18 x 24 x 2 inches, Acrylics on stretched canvas. Painting extends out onto narrow frame. | |
| Framed $550.00 | |
Firewheels 18 x 24 x 2 inches Acrylics - Texas and Neighbors Regional Art Exhibition at the Irving Arts Center 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving, Texas April 26 through May 24th, 2008.
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Polypore Fungi - 58 x 41 x 2 inches Acrylics and modeling paste on stretched canvas. | |
| $1,500.00 Framed | |
Polypore Fungi on exhibit at the VAST 40th Annual Spring Exhibitionin Denton, Texas April 10 through May 29, 2008. Meadows Gallery 400, E. Hickory, Denton
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Eastern White Pine 18 x 24 inches Oil Pastels on paper, framed size 21 x 27 inches | |
| Framed $750.00 | |
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| Unframed $650.00 | |
Eastern White Pine AVAA 32nd Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit in Arlington, Texas February 15 through March 28, 2008
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Lizard Love - Photography, 11 x 14 inches, Black mat and frame | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Lizard Love Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, February 6th through March 17th, 2008.
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Chive Seed-heads, Photography, Heart Shapes In Nature series, 11 x 14 inches quality print, white mat, white frame with crackle finish, total size 22 x 26inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Garlic Chive Seeds, Heart Shapes In Nature series - Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, February 6th through March 17th, 2008.
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Heart Cloud, Photography, 11 x 14 inches, white mat only, or with white frame, total size 16 x 20 inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Heart Cloud Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, February 6th through March 17th, 2008.
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Heart-shaped Canteloupe, Photography, 11 x 14 inches quality print, white mat, white frame with crackle finish, total size 22 x 26inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Heart Shaped Cantaloupe Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, February 6th through March 17th, 2008, along with the Heart Shapes in Nature Photographic Series, now with many new images available as 2.5 x 3.5″ framed prints, white or black mats with black frames - $7.50 each or 3 for $20. Click here to view the Heart Shapes In Nature website.
2007
Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, TX - Sparkle Light, Shine Holiday 2007, November 6, 2007- January 2, 2008:
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Morning Light - 59 x 40 x 2 Acrylics on stretched canvas, narrow frame stained dark brown | |
| Framed $3,500.00 | |
Morning Light, Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, TX - Sparkle Light, Shine Holiday 2007 November 6, 2007- January 2, 2008
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Sun Shower 03, Photography, 11 x 14 inches, white mat, black frame, total size 22 x 26inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Sun Shower #3, Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, TX - Sparkle Light, Shine Holiday 2007 November 6, 2007- January 2, 2008
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Moon Over Cypress, 14 x 11 Oil Pastels on paper, Paper Places series. | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Moon Over Cypress, Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, TX - Sparkle Light, Shine Holiday 2007 November 6, 2007- January 2, 2008
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Dawn, 13 x 37 x 1 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Dawn, Studio 2600, 2600 Hibernia, Dallas, TX - Sparkle Light, Shine Holiday 2007 November 6, 2007- January 2, 2008
Recent paintings, Group Show at the Artists Showplace Gallery, 15165 Coit Road, Dallas, TX for Autumn at the Gallery, The Associates’ Show November 9 - December 9, 2007.
Three Photos chosen for the City Streets Exhibition at Studio 333, Sausalito, CA October 25 - December 6, 2007:
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Burnt Offerings, 11 x 14 inches, Photography, white, black bevelled mat, black frame | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Burnt Offerings - Dallas, Texas, from Burnt Offerings the photographic series consisting of ten images of the devastating results after an explosion that rocked downtown Dallas on July 25, 2007 in an acetylene and propane warehouse. In the distance: the famous Reunion Tower.
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Phase To Grey, Photography, City Streets series, 11 x 14 inches, white mat, black frame, total size 22 x 26inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Phase to Grey - City Streets series. With a history and reputation for competing with Houston to attract visitors to stay in a beautiful, safe, and interesting downtown area, Dallas makes room for new buildings and upgrades existing ones. This photo: Demolition on the corner of Commerce and S. St. Paul Street, across from the infamous Dallas Grand Hotel which has been vacant and in a serious state of disrepair for many years, now planned to also receive extensive renovations.
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True Colors #63, Photography, San Antonio, Mexico, 11 x 14 inches quality print, white mat, black frame, total size 22 x 26 inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
True Colors #63 - The original photo of one of the digitally manipulated images in the True Colors website series. This photo: A cow wanders the streets of San Antonio, Mexico. Nonchalantly meandering through the neighborhood, tether rope dragging on the road beside her, it’s as if this cow has simply left for a short walk and no one, even the owner, ought to worry about her finding her way home. Click here to view the Photographic Series website.
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Linden Sunset - Photography 11 x 14 inches, white mat | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Linden Sunset , American Juried Art Salon (AJAS) 2007 Fall/Winter Juried Online Exhibition.
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Galahs in Traffic, South Australia - 14 x 11 Oil Pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Galahs in Traffic AJAS 2007 Fall/Winter Online Gallery.
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Mayan Bowl Chair - 29 x 29 x 29 inches, refurbished 1960's lawn chair with layers of woven canvas strips, white glue, and wall plaster sanded smooth in between coats. Acrylic paints, marker, varnish, wax. | |
| $1,100.00 | |
Mayan Bowl Chair Mixed Media, initially posted March 30, 2006. AJAS 2007 Fall/Winter Juried Online Exhibition.
Mayan Bowl Replica/Chair also placed 2nd in the 3D category at Grand Prairie Arts Council’s Open Juried Art Show and Sale September 30 through October 5, 2007.
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Lucas At The Museum - 11 x 14 inches pencil, eraser on paper, white mat and white wood frame 22 x 26 inches total size. | |
| Framed $550.00 | |
Lucas at the Museum 11 x 14 Pencil and eraser on paper, originally posted March 23, 2007 part of the exhibition Growing Up and Looking Back - Reflecting on Childhood, Parenting, and Home at Gallery RFDin Swainsboro, GA October 12th - November 3rd, 2007.
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March Winds - Ode to Jackson Pollock via Oil pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
March Winds 11 x 14 inches Oil Pastels on paper. Part of the Paper Places series, March Winds was originally posted March 15, 2007. GPAC Open Juried Art Show and Sale September 30 through October 5, 2007
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Phenomenon, Photography, San Antonio, Mexico, 11 x 14 inches quality print, white mat, black frame, total size 22 x 26 inches. | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
Phenomenon, Photography posted October 26, 2006. GPAC Open Juried Art Show and Sale September 30 through October 5, 2007.
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True Colors #3, 11 x 14 inches, digitally enhanced photography with white mat, unframed | |
| Framed $250.00 | |
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| Unframed $150.00 | |
True Colors #3 Visual Rhythms / Ritmos Visuales, an all-media juried exhibition that embraces the flavors and rhythms of Latin American influenced art and cultures at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, scheduled July 28 - September 3, 2007.
The storefront photo was taken in Guadalajara, Mexico. Beyond the clutter of typical-style pottery and items for sale, a child in a high-chair peeks out from behind a shelving unit The chair in front of the child indicates that someone, probably Mom - no doubt also the store-owner- was there a few moments before, feeding him or her. Two dogs and some pigeons scan the floor for leftovers. The room has a courtyard open to the sky, typical of the area, and there are more pigeons up on the window ledge on the back wall. Please visit the True Colors website to view more of my creative tribute to Mexico.
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Adam - 11 x 14 inches pencil, eraser on paper, white mat and white wood frame 22 x 26 inches total size. | |
| Framed $550.00 | |
Adam - Merit Award winner, cash prize at theVAST 19th Annual Juried Exhibition held in Denton, Texas July 29 - August 23, 2007.
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Calgary In September, Alberta, Canada - 14 x 11 Oil Pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Calgary In September 14 x 11 Oil pastels on paper, framed size 26 x 22 inches, placed Second in the Paintings category in Plano Art Association’s annual One-Two-Five Show Exhibition in Plano Texas on April 11 - May 8, 2007. Calgary In September is part of the Paper Places series.
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Eucalyptus Tree, Queensland, Australia - 14 x 11 Oil Pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Eucalyptus Tree American Art Jury’s 2007 Spring/Summer Online Exhibition and gallery.
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Morning Light - 59 x 40 x 2 Acrylics on stretched canvas, narrow frame stained dark brown | |
| Framed $3,500.00 | |
Morning Light American Art Jury’s 2007 Spring/Summer Online Exhibition and gallery.
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Redbuds ~ Dry Pastels on charcoal paper ~ 14 x 11 inches with white double mat and white classic-style frame, total size 26" x 22" | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Redbuds American Art Jury’s 2007 Spring/Summer Online Exhibition and gallery.
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Tennessee Poppies, Hwy 40 northeast - 11 x 14 Oil Pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Tennessee Poppies American Art Jury’s 2007 Spring/Summer online exhibition and gallery.
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Wild Canada, NE Ontario - 14 x 11 Oil pastels | |
| $550.00 Framed | |
Wild Canada The Artist Showplace Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition, Plano, Texas Feb. through March 2007
2006
Gold In The Mountains #1 Started late in 2005, this painting has evolved through many changes. This first thumbnail shows the painting at an early stage when I thought it was finished. It was accepted into the American Juried Art Salon (AJAS) 2006 Spring/Summer Online Exhibition.
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Gold In The Mountains #1 - 20 x 16 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas. Posted Nov. 4, 2006; view multiple images of work progression. | |
| Framed $950.00 | |
Further development on Gold In The Mountains #1: the second image shows the painting as it is finished now, posted on November 4, 2007.