"Mountain Hideaway" ©2010 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 18" x 48" oil on canvas
I just sold this painting to a collector in Chicago and it's one of my favorites. A few years back, I visited Colorado to be inspired by the aspens turning color and to see the gorgeous mountains and scenery. I love it there! My husband and I ventured off the main roads and were exploring back in ranch land where there were hardly any signs of city life. At a couple of points, we even had to wait for the ranchers to round up their cattle herds out of the middle of the roads in order for us to drive in deeper – not something we witness in Dallas!
I wanted to capture that feeling of nostalgia in "Mountain Hideaway." I particularly liked this one ranch – their barn and wood post fence had so much character. I liked how the mountains surrounded the property and created such a beautiful backdrop. The panorama format really worked well to give you a sense of scale and the sprawling landscape. I liked how the road zigged and zagged next to the property, too, leading you back to the house. Also, it was just slightly overcast and the sun would peak out once in a while, creating this beautiful dramatic lighting that I had to capture.
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.
