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)

Archive for September, 2025

Autumn Leaves, Trask River OR

Monday, September 29th, 2025


 

Trask River OR, 27H x 33W inches soft pastels on paper
Autumn Leaves, Trask River, Oregon 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper (2020), 27H x 33W inches framed size (2021). White mat, white wood frame with crackle finish. Showcased in Biafarin/Exhibizone’s international online exhibition, Seasons: Fall 2025 October 1st through December 1st.

Kingdom Animalia 2025

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025


 

Fruit Bats, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Fruit Bats, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, 27H x 33W inches framed size (2021). White mat, white wood frame with crackle finish.

Kingdom Animalia - 2025 - Nikki Coulombe - Fruit Bats - Artwork BadgeShowcased in Exhibizone’s international online exhibition, Kingdom Animalia 2025 September 20th – November 20th.

One of my most memorable and favorite experiences of all time was seeing what we initially thought were pinecones until they started moving – thousands of fruit bats in the pine trees at Adelaide Botanic Gardens, located within the city limits. On a very hot summer day at sunset we sat and watched them fly low across the river while skimming their bodies across the water, then fly back to a tree, settle on a branch and lick the water off their fur.

Creative Minds 2025

Friday, September 5th, 2025


 

Chrysanthemums Chair, 29H x 29W x 29D inches refurbished vintage chair, woven canvas strips, layers of plaster cured, sanded and carved. Painted with acrylics, varathane, and waxed to enhance colors.
Creative Minds 2025 - Nikki Coulombe - Poster Chrysanthemums Chair showcased in Biafarin / Exhibizone’s ‘Creative Minds’ showing online Sept. 6th – Nov. 6th, 2025

See more info about the chairs, upcycled from 1960’s plastic lawn chairs – blog posts detail work in progress on Sept 10th, 2015, Sept. 29th, Oct. 18th, and finished on Jan. 14th 2016. The chair is carved and painted underneath also.

Thumbnails of drawing, painting, adding plaster petals, carving and sanding layers, then repeating the process:

  Chrysanthemums Chair, initial sketch on plaster, detail Chrysanthemums Chair front detail, paint outline Chrysanthemums Chair detail of additional plaster petals  
  Chrysanthemums Chair front sanding after 1st paint Oct. 2015 Chrysanthemums Chair back, layering more plaster Chrysanthemums Chair finished, back detail