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.
 
 

 

 

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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.
 
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“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/

 

Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

“Falling Water II”, Skógafoss, Iceland ©2022 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’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks to Iceland in 2024 or for a Foodie Trek, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly! 
 
Check out http://www.ArtTreks.org for more details.
 
 
2022 Schedule
Alsace 
Art Trek – Aug. 20-27
Tuscany 
Foodie Trek  – Oct. 8-15
 
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
 
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“Peaks and Valleys” Palette Knife Painting from Isle of Skye by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Peaks and Valleys” ©2022 Niki Gulley
12″ x 16” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Days 5: Isle of Skye – Quiraing
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Next up on our Scotland Art Trek itinerary was a morning stop at the Quiraing, a unique area filled with high cliffs, hidden plateaus and unusual rock formations. Allowing a full morning for my painters to capture the land’s unique beauty, everyone did an amazing job! I chose this vantage point with some of the purple heather growing in the foreground, adding a nice color contrast to all of that lush greenery. The photographers hiked all around, capturing unique angles and then we all treated ourselves to lunch. Afterwards, we stopped at Mealt Falls to take in the waterfall’s power and beauty, and then we finished the day back in Portree.

To purchase “Peaks and Valleys,” please check out https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-ii-2/.

 

Photographers searching for that perfect angle to capture the Quiraing’s beauty.
 
 
Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.
 
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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly! 
 
Check out http://www.ArtTreks.org for more details.
 
 

 

2022 Schedule
Alsace 
Art Trek – Aug. 20-27
Tuscany 
Foodie Trek  – Oct. 8-15
 
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
 
***
 

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

 

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

 

“Autumn Awakening” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Autumn Awakening” • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting 
SOLD •  ©2021 Niki Gulley
 
Just Sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! As we were nearing the end of our New England adventure, the temperature dropped 30 degrees overnight and we woke up to 20 degrees and frost the next morning. Luckily the view out our window was beautiful and I could continue to paint the magnificent fall foliage from the comfort of indoors that morning! The lighting coming through the clouds was so dramatic, causing the leaves to glow. The soft breeze that was blowing caused the foliage to sway and dance to its own rhythm and I wanted to capture that movement and energy in “Autumn Awakening.” I liked how the distant mountain was a deep shade of purple since the sun wasn’t on it, and how it set off the contrasting complimentary colors in the foreground. Created with palette knife and thick paint, this canvas is loaded with texture, color and movement.

To see other pieces available through the Good Art Company Gallery, visit goodartcompany.com/gacart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25&sort=20a&page=1&zenid=417ih04llasuk7pl1h0qhj32k1.

•••

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

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

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

 
***
 
We will be leading another Art Trek to Vermont in October 2023. If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 

 

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

Palette Knife Oil Painting of Stowe, VT by Niki Gulley

 

 “Autumn in Stowe” ©2019 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting 
 
Just Sold!  During our New England Fall Foliage Art Trek that my husband, Scott Williams, and I taught, we painted this gorgeous valley in Stowe, VT with its iconic church nestled among the vibrant foliage. Painted with palette knife and oil paint, this canvas is loaded with textured, color and movement!
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

***

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

Strolling through a birch forest painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Woodland Stroll” ©2022 Niki Gulley
10″ x 20” textured oil painting

Today we continued our counterclockwise adventure around Iceland to arrive in the north, near the massive, impressive Godafoss waterfall. Unfortunately, our weather turned for the worse, and it was way too wet to paint the falls. However, just over the mountain, 20 minutes away at our b and b, the skies were fairly clear with even occasional glimpses of sunshine. I loved these birch trees all over their property, leading you down to the gorgeous view of the mountains in the distance. Sprinkled with summer wildflowers, I set out to capture the light casting long shadows from the trunks and causing the grasses to glow in the foreground, leading to a feeling of joy and serenity in this beautiful spot.

Close up texture detail of Woodland Stroll: 
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2022
 

 

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

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

 

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

 

“Autumn Concerto II” Fall Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

“Autumn Concerto II” ©2020 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting 

Just sold through The Statton Gallery! I painted this colorful birch trees on location with the fall hues emerging in all of their glory. I loved this grove of trunks that twisted and turned, slicing bright white through the tangle of autumn leaves. Painted over several mornings, the air was crisp but the sun made for beautiful painting conditions that illuminated the subject and warmed the air. I hope you, too, can feel the thrill of being surrounded by nature on a perfect fall day.

 
***
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her fall aspen and birch tree paintings.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 

Last Day of Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“The Black Church II,” Iceland ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 6″ x 8” textured oil painting
 
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 8 – Snaefellsnes Peninsula

 

 

Just sold! We continued our Art Treks adventure around the country to the west, finishing our trip on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The last stop on our itinerary was to visit the famous Black Church. Being the only church made of black construction material on the island, its distinctive appearance stands out rising out of a relatively large, flat plateau. I wanted to capture not only its color and shape, but the dramatic clouds surrounding it. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this little piece is loaded with texture, color and movement. 
 
To treat ourselves at the end of the trip, we went to one of the few Michelin restaurants on the island and had the most delicious, fresh meal with newfound friends. None of us were ready for the trip to end!
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

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

“Golden Light” ©2021 Niki Gulley
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

 

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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.