"Bend Ahead" - New Colorado Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Bend Ahead” ©2015 Niki Gulley

24” x 18" textured oil painting

Inspired by a trip to Colorado in the fall, trying to catch the beautiful autumn aspens leaves before they dropped, we just caught the last glimpse of color before an early snowfall hit. The combination of golden leaves set against the vivid blue sky, and the cool snow shadows contrasted against glowing light highlights as the sun cast its warming rays, was a symphony to the eye! I hope you, too, can slow down and enjoy the beautiful scenery on this winding journey.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at  NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Recently Sold - "Summer Escape" Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Summer Escape," Tuscany ©2015 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 24" x 24" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas set inside an espresso floater frame

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold - "Golden Aura II" Palette Knife Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

"Golden Aura II" ©2015 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 36" x 48" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Just Sold! Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. While combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this birch painting.

Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

New "Golden Aura II" Palette Knife Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

"Golden Aura II" ©2015 Niki Gulley

36" x 48" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. While combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this birch painting.

Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

New Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Spring's Escape," Tuscany ©2015 Niki Gulley

24" x 24" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas set inside an espresso floater frame

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

"Spring's Escape" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Spring's Escape," Tuscany ©2015 Niki Gulley

24" x 24" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas set inside an espresso floater frame

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

"Spring's Escape" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Spring's Escape," Tuscany ©2013 Niki Gulley

24" x 24" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

"Spring's Escape" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Crimson Flow," Tuscany ©2013 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Filled with sweeping poppy rows and golden wildflowers, "Crimson Flow," is loaded with movement, uplifting color and dimension from the thick textured oil paint.

"Crimson Flow" and several of my Tuscany oil paintings are on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Lake Como / Cinque Terre Plein Air Painting Workshop

"Peaceful Harbor," Lake Como, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley

oil on canvas • 24" x 36"

Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly colored unique buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I love this little laid back town of Varenna, which is so peaceful that all of your cares just melt away. 

If you'd like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 7th - 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/artreks. Registration deadline Feb. 17th.

To see more of my paintings from Europe visit NikiGulley.com.

"Golden Aura" new textured birch tree painting by Niki Gulley

"Golden Aura" ©2012 Niki Gulley

48" x 60" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. While combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this birch painting.

Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

Plein Air Painting at White Rock Lake

5" x 7" textured oil painting, White Rock Lake, by Niki Gulley

Dallas Plein Air Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley
 Day 2 - Afternoon Location:  Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake

In the afternoon at White Rock Lake, we switched locations to find better light on our subjects. Everyone was drawn to this peaceful bay and the vibrant fall colors. Even though every painter basically sketched the same scene, it was fun seeing each artist's individual style come thorugh. With just a short amount of time left at the end of the day, I quickly captured the lake, shoreline and autumn foliage with a palette knife and my leftover paint before starting our critique.

A perfect ending to our plein air painting workshop at the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake – sharing our work from each day with new friends after a gorgeous weekend of painting outside. Thanks guys!

If you'd like more information about my upcoming workshops in the US and Europe, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

Or, to see more of my local Dallas and travel paintings, please stop by the Bath House Cultural Center this weekend for my last show of the year, Nov. 18th - 20th. dallasculture.org/bathhouseculturecenter/index.asp

***

E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com.

NikiGulley.com

Painting at White Rock Lake with Niki Gulley

9" x 12" oil painting, White Rock Lake, by Niki Gulley

Dallas Plein Air Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley
 Day 2 - Morning Location: White Rock Lake

On the second day of our plein-air painting workshop, we enjoyed a beautiful morning at White Rock Lake. Focusing on capturing water and the morning light, each painter picked a different vantage point, some choosing only natural subjects and others depicting sailboats on the horizon. I chose to paint these colorful boats largely for their vibrant colors and I liked how the line of the pier leads your eye back to the docked vessels. With a gentle breeze, the water had a little movement and shimmer to it that I suggested along with the vibrant foliage in this peaceful inlet. A perfect autumn morning!

Morning paintings at White Rock Lake.

If you'd like more information about my upcoming workshops in the US and Europe, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

Or, to see more of my local Dallas and travel paintings, please stop by the Bath House Cultural Center for my last show of the year, Nov. 18th - 20th. dallasculture.org/bathhouseculturecenter/index.asp

E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com.

NikiGulley.com

Art Treks: Tuscany with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

"Morning Textures, Tuscany" • 10" x 8" oil by Niki Gulley

Last Day – ART TREKS: TUSCANY
 with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

After a busy full day in Florence, we decided to take it easy on the last day of the workshop and paint in the nearby town of Pienza. Choosing this quiet alleyway and working on a vignette rather than the sprawling landscape, we each picked a doorway and concentrated on its individual character. The age of the stonework, dating from the era of Pope Pious II, and each home's unique heavy wood doors made for a fun study in texture, and some of the best paintings from the trip!

Two of our students painting in a quiet picturesque courtyard in Pienza.

Our last meal in Tuscany, filled with truffles, pecorino, pasta, vino, fun and great memories!

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If you would like to join us on future ART TREKS to Paris, France in May or Tuscany, Italy in September,visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops.

Or, if you'd be interested in learning how to paint "plein air" or improve your location painting a little closer to home, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13, which tells you about my upcoming Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake, Oct. 29th and 30th. Space if filling up quickly, so e-mail Niki if you are interested.

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

To see more of my contemporary landscape and Italy paintings, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Painting in Tuscany with Niki Gulley

"View from the Villa, Tuscany" 

5" x 7" textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 3, Afternoon Location – ART TREKS: TUSCANY
 with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

After a busy morning and afternoon in Siena, we were all content to stay at the villa for our afternoon location. With it being warmer today, the pool was calling us so we set up our easels under the beach umbrellas, and started sketching the distant hills, foliage, and stone houses. With a short amount of time, we decided to work small and focus on a simple subject. We thought it would be fun to make this quick study very loose and free. So using palette knives and small canvases we layered in the rolling hills, dark to light, and then added the details on top, completing these fun, spontaneous paintings.

Niki Gulley and two of her students in front of their completed paintings at the Tuscany villa.

That night we ventured into town for dinner, and had the best dessert of the trip, fresh figs stuffed with homemade gelato and drizzled with caramel sauce. It was so good, everyone had to order more for the next night!  A perfect ending to a fun, inspirational day.

If you would like to join us on future ART TREKS to Paris, France in May or Tuscany, Italy in September,visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshops. Early registration deadline for a $500 savings is due today!

Or, if you'd be interested in learning how to paint "plein air" or improve your location painting a little closer to home, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13, which tells you about my upcoming Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake, Oct. 29th and 30th.

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Tuscany Plein Air Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley

5" x 7" textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 1 - Afternoon Location - ART TREKS: Tuscany

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

After we finished our morning painting at the villa, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of proscuittos, pecorinos, fresh fruit and a little vino, we ventured out to our afternoon location. Just one of the unique aspects of the Tuscan landscape are the cypress that dot the horizon, so we picked this long curving road lined by cypress for our second subject. This was the only day that it looked like it might rain, but we lucked out and the drops stayed away. The overcast skies are actually quite nice for plein air work because it provides some shade while you're painting, and keeps the light more constant.

So we set up our easels along this overlook, and quickly blocked in our basic shapes and colors. Next we worked on creating volume in the hillsides, and then added highlights and shadows to the bushes to give them more dimension. Lastly, we added highlights to our road and finally the fun part - all of those cypress lining the road. Above you can see my easel set up - I like this simple lightweight pochade box by EASyL (http://www.windriverarts.com/pochade_boxes.htm), which holds everything: palette, paints, brushes and 2 wet boards.

As a reward that night, we treated ourselves to a fantastic Tuscan dinner!

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I'll have this Tuscany oil painting in addition to many more at the Cottonwood Art Festival, CottonwoodArtFestival.com, this weekend, Oct. 1st & 2nd from 9am - 6pm in Richardson, TX. Please stop by my booth to see them in person.

Or, if you would like to join us on future ART TREKS to Paris, France in May or Tuscany, Italy in September, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshops. Early registration deadline for a $500 savings is quickly approaching!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.