What Art Supplies to Pack on an Overseas Plein Air Painting Trek

 
Contemporary Impressionist Painter  – Niki Gulley
Venice Art Trek 

People often ask me how I pack my paints and gear when we travel, so I thought you might like to see a sneak peek at that process. Today I started getting ready for the upcoming Art Trek, my husband, Scott Williams, and I are teaching in Venice. 

First step is preparing my canvas boards. I don’t like to s*tart on white, so I’ve painted a bunch of different colored acrylic backgrounds and I’ll choose whichever color seems best for the scene that day. Aren’t they fun? Like different color starburst candies! 

Next, these will go into my wet painting carrier which has slots in it to keep the wet paintings from touching. 

 

 
 
 

 

To see my plain air landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
***
 
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know.
For more information on upcoming trips, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
***
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

Iceland Painting and Photography Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Ice Drift” ©2023 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3 – Vatnajokull National Park / Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

 

The next morning, we stopped by to photograph more puffins on our way out of town. Because you can never have enough puffin watching! Then we gathered up our merry band of trekkers and headed further east to the Vatnjokull National Park. Here we had several hours to hike and photograph the exotic scenery and another amazing waterfall before our final drive to our hotel located near the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

 
 

 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

***
 
 
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We will be returning to Iceland August of 2024.
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
 

Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Falling Water II”, Skógafoss, Iceland ©2023 Niki Gulley
12″ x 16” textured oil painting
 
Iceland Art Trek: Day 1 – Skogafoss

 

First stop on our Iceland Art Trek this year was the Skogafoss waterfall. Surrounded by lush grassy mountains, this cascade surges downward with such force and power! Today I set up my easel to capture the energy and flow of the water. Creating strokes in diagonal sweeping shapes to enhance that feeling of movement and rhythm, I hope you, too, can hear the flowing water’s music and feel the gentle spray from its mist.

 
 
To purchase “Falling Water,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-ii-2/.
 

 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 

 

 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

“Falling Water III”, Iceland ©2023 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting

 

Iceland Art Trek: Day 1 – Seljalandsfoss

 

For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! This one is so magical and unique since you can walk behind the falls and peer out the cave as the water rushes from above crashing into the reservoir below. I set out to capture the gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Trying to find a dry enough place to paint where the mist wouldn’t keep erasing my drawing was a challenge, but on my third try, I finally found a good spot! Trying to time it so that I could capture the sun as it was setting in the distance just added to the enchanting feel of this location. I hope you, too, can feel these cascades power and beauty.

 
If you’d like to purchase “Falling Water III,” please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-iii/.
 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

 
 
 
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks including a workshop in Iceland August of 2023, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
 
To purchase “Falling Water,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-ii-2/.

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

       

“Falling Water III” ©2023 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9” textured oil painting
 
Iceland Art Trek: Day 2 – Kvernofoss

 

Next up on our Iceland itinerary was visiting another waterfall. My husband and I love waterfalls, and it feels like Iceland has one even better than the next around every bend! So, needless to say we were pretty happy painting and photographing all of the falls the country had to offer. This cascade that we visited today is smaller in stature but no less impressive. It tumbles down over the rocky mountain and empties into a river carving its way through the lush, craggy valley below. I wanted to capture not only the falls, but the water’s path as it flows and snakes its way around the towering rock formations. Other than the midges that would swarm when the sun came out, it was a perfect afternoon! 

 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

 
 
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks including a workshop in Iceland August of 2023, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

Painting Godafoss Waterfall with Niki Gulley – Iceland Art Trek

“Cascades III” ©2022 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting on canvas panel
To purchase, visit nikigulley.com/cascades-iii/.
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5 – Godafoss

 

This evening we arrived in time to witness sunset over the massive Godafoss falls at the top of The Golden Circle. I set out to capture these gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Using diagonal strokes to capture the energy and strength of the cascades, I also wanted to show the mountains they were tumbling over as the water gushed and tumbled. Dramatic sunset clouds drift by, adding to the rhythm and emotion of this special place.The colors were so beautiful in the sky and created a rainbow of reflected colors in the cascading water. Sketching out my composition and squeezing out my colors ahead of time helped me be able to capture this fleeting moment. I hope you can hear the surging water and feel the joy of this magical place.
 
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 
 
 
***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

“Cascades” from Iceland by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

 

“Cascades” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 12″ x 9” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 4 – Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
 

 

 

On Day 4 of our Iceland Art Trek, Scott drove the photographers to visit the glacier lagoons. Meanwhile, I stayed back and painted on the beautiful grounds of our hotel. The waterfalls in Iceland are incredible and practically around every turn – crashing through cliffs, splashing over rocks, bubbling downstream and trickling out to sea. This one was actually next to our hotel and screamed that I had to capture it! I chose to paint this scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey the movement and energy of the rushing water and the texture in the cliffs and rocks. Also, adding to the joy of the moment, summer’s last lupines dot the landscape with brilliant hues of blues.
 

 

 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
***
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

“Golden Light” Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Golden Light” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 8 – Kirkjufellsfoss

 

Just Sold! We completed our Iceland Art Trek that we taught on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with its dramatic scenery and other worldly feel. First we stopped at Kirkjufell, the cone shaped “church” mountain and its waterfall on the north side of the peninsula, and also the most photographed spot in Iceland. Truly unique in its appearance, this lush conical mass rises from the earth, towering over the flat terrain around it. Sunlight caused the grasses and sky to glow, and I wanted to capture not only the unique, bizarreness of this “Church Mountain,” but also the peaceful river carving its way in front of it reaching out to the sea. Choosing a multi-colored palette adds to the joy and energy of this magical spot. 

 

 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Iceland Painting and Photography Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Ice Drift” ©2022 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting
To add this painting to your art collection, go to nikigulley.com/ice-drift/.
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3 – Vatnajokull National Park / Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

 

The next morning, we stopped by to photograph more puffins on our way out of town. Because you can never have enough puffin watching! Then we gathered up our merry band of trekkers and headed further east to the Vatnjokull National Park. Here we had several hours to hike and photograph the exotic scenery and another amazing waterfall before our final drive to our hotel located near the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

 
 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 
 

 

 
2023 Schedule
Venice – Carnivalé 
Art Trek – Feb. 12-18
Tuscany
Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3
Provence
Art Trek – June 24- July 1
 
New England
Art Trek – Oct. 10-15
 
2024 Schedule
 
Spain
Foodie Trek – March  
Portugal
Art Trek – March 
Iceland
Art Trek – August
Tuscany 
Foodie Trek – October
 

 

 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

Painting and Photographing Godafoss Waterfall on Niki Gulley’s and Scott Williams’ Art Trek to Iceland

      

“Cascades III” ©2022 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting on canvas panel
To purchase, visit nikigulley.com/cascades-iii/.
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5 – Godafoss
 

 

That evening we arrived in time to witness sunset over the massive Godafoss falls at the top of The Golden Circle. I set out to capture these gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Using diagonal strokes to capture the energy and strength of the cascades, I also wanted to show the mountains they were tumbling over as the water gushed and tumbled. Dramatic sunset clouds drift by, adding to the rhythm and emotion of this special place.The colors were so beautiful in the sky and created a rainbow of reflected colors in the cascading water. Sketching out my composition and squeezing out my colors ahead of time helped me be able to capture this fleeting moment. I hope you can hear the surging water and feel the joy of this magical place.
 
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 
 
***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***