Painting and Photographing Lavender Fields in Provence with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 5, Provence Art Trek: Lavender Fields

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
9" x 12" textured oil painting

On the fourth day of our Provence Art Trek, we set up our easels in this gorgeous lavender field. The color and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter's and photographer's dream come true. Words can't even describe how special that moment was!

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Day 2

Day 3, Provence Art Trek: Les Baux / Chateauneuf

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
7" x 5" textured oil painting

On the second day of our Provence Art Trek, we visited the picturesque town of Les Baux, perched atop its rocky outcropping with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside below. Some folks visited the castle, galleries and shops while the painters set up in this quiet plaza capturing the unique stone residences, medieval cathedral or picturesque courtyard.

In the afternoon we went to one of the most renowned wine towns in the world and sampled some amazing Chateaunef du Pape wines.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visiting Arles with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Provence Art Trek 2015

Day 1, Afternoon Location: Arles 

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9" x 12" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

In the afternoon, we visited the ancient Roman city of Arles, marveling at its in tact amphitheater from 90 AD, triumphal arch, and ancient theater, while retracing the footsteps of Van Gogh and seeing his colorful vision of rather ordinary painting locations. Last stop on our Van Gogh tour, we chose to paint at the asylum where he stayed, creating our own versions of the lovely courtyard garden.

That night, we feasted on mussels, sea bream, various meat dishes and mouth-watering pastries at an award-winning restaurant. Bon Appetit!

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 1, Provence Art Trek

12" x 9" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the first night of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in southern France, we arrived at our B and B and went into town that evening for a wine tasting and amazing dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant. The food was out of this world, the weather was perfect for dining outside, and our new group was great company!

The next morning, our painters stayed at our b and b and painted right there since the grounds were so beautiful.The light raking across the balcony and shutters was so dramatic, and I loved how the gnarly trees framed the composition to make a window within a window. Meanwhile, the photographers visited a nearby 11th century Abbey and took some incredible photographs. We met up later that day and headed to the nearby town of Arles for lunch.

Wine tasting in Provence.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Last Day - French Riviera Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 6, Villefranche - French Riviera Art Trek

SOLD • 12" x 9" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the last day of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera, we all enjoyed a leisurely morning. The painters went down to the harbor and set out to capture the turquoise Mediterranean one last time, while the photographers shot around town and others visited the sights in Villefranche. Dining for lunch one last time along the waterfront, we gave everyone the afternoon to swim, shop or relax. 

We gathered later that day to view a slide show of the photography students' work and to show the paintings we created for the week. It's always so much fun to see what everyone captured during the trip, with each student's perspective so unique! That night we dined on a delicious dinner, sad that the trip was ending but glad that we got to enjoy it with new friends.

Dining near the waterfront in Villefranche.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Day 4, French Riviera Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 4, Renoir's House and St. Paul de Vence - French Riviera Art Trek

7" x 5" textured oil by Niki Gulley

On the fourth morning of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we visited Renoir's house along the coast. Seeing his studio and garden, along with some of his lesser known impressionist paintings was truly a thrill!

Next, we headed north to the Medieval town of St. Paul de Vence, where some of us took a fascinating wine tasting class while others explored and shopped. That afternoon the painters met up and we each chose a different subject. Some chose to paint the rolling hills and valley below, while I was intrigued by this balcony being overrun by Bougainvillea. The magenta color explosion was out of this world, and I just had to capture it!

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Art Treks - Paris with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

“Flowing Radiance” ©2011 Niki Gulley

12” x 24” textured oil on wrap around canvas

My initial study for a 48" x 90" triptych, but I love how this small oil turned out, too! Inspired by Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France, I wanted to paint a contemporary rendition of his lily pond, which would be flowing with color, light, warmth and energy.

I'll have this textured oil painting in addition to many more at the Cottonwood Art Festival, CottonwoodArtFestival.com, next 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 in May for our next ArtTrek to Paris, France, and paint Monet's Gardens in person, 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!

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

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Monet's Gardens oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Monet’s Passion” ©2011 Niki Gulley

12” x 24” textured oil on wrap around canvas

Early morning light washes over Monet’s water lily garden in his beloved home at Giverny, France. Quiet, tranquil colors rim the pond, reflected in the glassy surface, waters casting back sky and foliage in a radiance of hues. Iris leaves front the pond, lilies break its surface, willows brush the water’s edge – everything just as Monet would have seen, now in a fresh, contemporary new work of art.

I'll have this textured oil painting in addition to many more at the Cottonwood Art Festival, CottonwoodArtFestival.com, next 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 in May for our next ArtTrek to Paris, France, and paint Monet's Gardens in person, 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.

"Culmination" - Triptych painting by Niki Gulley

"Culmination" ©2011 Niki Gulley

Three 48" x 30" canvases to form a 48" x 90" triptych

textured mixed media on wrap around canvas

I decided it would be a fun challenge to create an extremely large painting, and I wanted the final piece to be very uplifting, colorful and full of energy. Opting for warm colors and working with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives, I chose this water lily pond reference from our visit to my Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France. The grounds were breathtaking and I could actually see his paintings come to life. I was drawn to the energetic flow and yet calming serenity in this view, and I positioned the water lilies and my paint strokes in a circular pattern to add to that mood. The morning light peeking through the distant foliage added to a sense of mystery and promise that I wanted to capture in paint and share with you that feeling of hope.

I'll have this contemporary landscape painting in addition to more of my large scale oil paintings at the Cottonwood Art Festival, CottonwoodArtFestival.com, next 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 in May for our next ArtTrek to Paris, France, and paint Monet's Gardens in person, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshops.

***

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

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.