I can't remember a time that I didn't have an artistic pursuit but I found my true love with painting. Although I enjoy exploring with different techniques and materials, I primarily work in oils with an abstract style. Thick paint placed with a palette knife and strong geometric shapes are often found in my paintings.
After earning a degree in Business Admin/Marketing, I went on to several "Big Girl" corporate jobs and then owned and ran a design business in Hawaii, importing antiques from the mainland. My education was rounded out through the UC Berkeley Extension Art Program and the College of Marin Art and Design Program. I am fortunate to have had wonderful instructors as well as the insightful critiques of my fun, fellow painters.
Niki Gulley’s passion for painting began in grade school when she had to draw something as mundane as shoes for art class, and loved every minute of it. Her parents enrolled her in private lessons and she was hooked. Following her childhood in Chicago, Niki relocated to Dallas to pursue an art major at SMU. Since she disliked the freezing Illinois winters, Dallas seemed like the place to stay after graduating.
Next, Gulley entered the world of advertising, working as art director for a local magazine. After a few years passed, Niki felt like something was missing. So she started painting again every free moment. This is what she had been missing and she began to feel fulfilled again.
It is from this feeling of true joy that Niki translates onto canvas. She seeks to capture the beauty of our landscape, utilizing vivid colors in oil paint and pastels to convey a particular mood. Gulley invites you to reconnect with nature and escape day-to-day responsibilities along with her in these creations.
