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

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

Painting Tranquility in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains

 

16″ x 20″ textured mixed media painting on canvas by Niki Gulley
 
Continuing on our journey to escape the Texas heat this summer, we retreated to the gorgeous Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The setting was so beautiful and peaceful that I just had to pull out my paints and start capturing all of that joy and tranquility! Here is my finished painting of the Dillon Reservoir. 
 
Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings. 
 
 

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

 

New Contemporary Summer Aspens Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

 

“Rhythms of Summer VI”  ©2022 Niki Gulley

24″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting on canvas

Colorado in July is such a beautiful sight to behold! Cool mountain breezes and woods loaded with tranquil aspens invigorate your soul while cheerful lupine and native wildflowers lift your spirits and fill your heart with joy. Nature’s symphony dances to a tune that is music for your senses. Loaded with texture and color, may “Rhythms of Summer” transport you to this magical land of summer serenity.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife aspen and birch paintings.

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

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

New Colorado Wildflower Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

  

 

 

SOLD • 24″ x 36″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

 

Just Shipped! I was honored when my collectors reached out to me to create two special custom pieces for their new home in Colorado. I just wish it hadn’t have been under such tragic circumstances. You see they were one of the unfortunate families devastated by last year’s Colorado wildfires and everything they owned was burned to the ground. Truly heartbreaking! 

So, wanting to turn that tragedy around, they definitely needed some beautiful, cheerful landscapes to add joy and color to their new place. First they asked me to create a snow-dappled mountain backdrop loaded with colorful wildflowers frosting the foreground. Sprinkle in few of my signature aspen trees and hopefully nature’s palette creates a harmonic concert to fill their hearts and home.

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured Colorado paintings.

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

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

 

The Joys of Doing Art Shows with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 Perhaps I Should’ve Listened to My Parents about Becoming an Artist…

It’s interesting in talking people to find out that most of you guys have no idea what goes into exhibiting at an art show, but you’d like to know. So… for something a little different this month, how about if I regale you with the process?

It often starts with the show attempting to fit 250 artists’ SUV’s and trailers (or in our case an 18′ box truck with a 5′ lift gate) into the set up area which allows about 20 vehicles at a time to unload. Next, you dolly your canopies, display walls, art and support materials (or in our case, we push eleven 6′ x 3′ x 8′ six hundred pound carts) to your booth space.

Yes – that’s right! We all own or rent our tents and walls. The show does not supply these. Our fair fees just cover our 10′ x 10′ piece of concrete. Next, we then proceed to erect our outdoor galleries, which on our fastest day takes about 7 hours – that’s as long as there is no heat, humidity, rain, or extra dollying (like uphill over grass at the Cottonwood Art Festival.)

Then, when the weekend is over, we pack each artwork in protective wrapping and take it all down. Luckily this process goes quicker and we can finish in 3 to 4 hours, although it’s usually dark by this point. And, occasionally such as in Ann Arbor and Chicago, the show has allowed locals to drive on the streets while you are still loading up.

We then proceed to drive home, often about 1200 miles spread over two days. Usually this goes smoothly other than having to pull in at every state’s commercial truck weight station, with the occasional inspections (where you pray you receive no fines or delays.) This particular summer, besides getting some warnings in Wisconsin during out impromptu truck inspection, we ran into a few other surprises. Despite our vehicle having rather low mileage, our sway bar fell off in the middle of Tennessee, we were towed and impounded for the low price of $525 in Chicago’s suburbs despite having a parking pass, and lastly our tire blew out on the freeway 10 miles from a town in Ohio on a Sunday. Did I mention almost all businesses are closed on Sundays in Toledo? Fun stuff!

Needless to say, I am so grateful to all of you that come out to support us and allow me to continue my passion for painting!!! Scott’s getting closer to retirement, so you may be seeing us less in future years. Sadly, this was our last summer in Ann Arbor, and I will really miss you guys! But, keep in mind I am only a phone call or e-mail away if  you need some artwork to lift your spirits.

 

 
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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
E-mail –  Niki Gulley
 

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.
 
***
 

Where Two Continents Collide on Art Treks Iceland Adventure

       

“Rural View II” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12” textured oil painting
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 7 – Thingvellir National Park / Stykkisholmur

 

Just Sold! On the seventh day of our Iceland Painting and Photography Workshop we led, we stopped by one of the major attractions in Iceland, Thingvellir National Park. One of the highlights is when our group got to “see” where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
 
 
After hiking around the park, we ventured onto our last hotel along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. I was taken by their simplistic architecture, often topped with bright red roofs to add a pop of color to the natural landscape. I chose this barn and set out to capture its shape, the colors and light hitting the structure, and the picturesque, idyllic, quiet scenery surrounding the building in all directions. I was drawn to the complimentary color palette of orange/gold grasses contrasted against a beautiful blue sky reflecting into the pond behind the barn. Playing off those colors in the distant mountains, I wanted this piece to be full of texture, joy and energy. 

 

 
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.
 
***

“Autumn Hideaway” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

“Autumn Hideaway”  ©2022 Niki Gulley
16″ x 20″ textured oil painting 
 
After we finished teaching our Art Trek to Vermont, my husband and I stayed another few days to try to capture the gorgeous scenery on canvas and film. This morning, we ventured up to the majestic overlook by the Von Trapp property to capture the spectacular scenery. I loved how this cabin was perfectly tucked into the mountainside surrounded by vibrant fall foliage. The slightly overcast day made the colors pop even more! I hope you, too, can enjoy the crisp autumn air and a peaceful escape from the bustle of city life.
 
To purchase “Autumn Hideaway,” please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/autumn-hideaway/.
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

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