Iceland Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 25, 2026

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3: Afternoon Location – Turf Houses

Today we encountered a new challenge. How to capture sod-roofed houses set against grassy hills, built upon – you guessed it – more turf. That’s a lot of green upon green upon green! This Viking village dates back about 200 years, and it’s been preserved to it’s original state. Not something we see everyday, so we just had to do our best to capture it despite the green challenge. A good lesson in mixing colors, warmer in the foreground and cooler in the distance to help the background recede.

Meanwhile the photographers explored another waterfall nearby. While that cascade is smaller in stature, it is no less impressive. It tumbles down over the rocky mountain and empties into a river carving its way through the lush, craggy valley below.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

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Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Switzerland Art Trek
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

“Black Beach Glow” Palette Knife Painting of Iceland by Niki Gulley

August 24, 2026

SOLD • 5″ x 7” textured oil painting

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2: Afternoon Location – Black Beach & Puffins

On our second afternoon in Iceland, we set out to find adorable puffins diving off cliffs to capture their morning’s catch. After that we visited the Black Beach where the rock formations and caves were formed out of black lava. Giant basalt columns stacked one right after the other dominate the shoreline. I wanted to capture their texture and the peaceful glow as the sun rose on the horizon in this little painting.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

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Tuscany Foodie Trek
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Switzerland Art Trek
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

***

Painting Lighthouse in Iceland with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

August 21, 2026

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

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

Day 2 – Vik

Scott and I absolutely love lighthouses. Beacons of hope. Lighting the way. Each one unique architecturally, honoring its heritage and traditions. So, on our Iceland Art Trek that we just led, our students and us were excited to set up our easels / tripods and capture this striking beauty perched high about the ocean on the south coast. It was a gorgeous day to paint – sunny and 70 degrees! In Iceland!!! So, we took full advantage of that. The sun rising on the horizon added another ray of hope, and I enjoyed playing one light source off the other. I hope you enjoy the view, too, and feel the warmth lighting your path!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

Tuscany Foodie Trek
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Switzerland Art Trek
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

August 20, 2026

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

Iceland Art Trek – Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 1 – Skogafoss

What a glorious way to start our Iceland Art Trek! First stop, Skogafoss, a massive, powerful waterfall that’s carved its way through ancient moss covered lava rocks. Truly inspiring and just what we needed to refresh our souls! Surrounded by lush grassy mountains, this cascade surges downward with such force and power. Today we set up our easels 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 see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

Tuscany Foodie Trek
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Switzerland Art Trek
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

New “Playtime” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

July 29, 2026

14″ x 11″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

Filled with whimsy and movement, I hope “Playtime” captures the memories of swinging from sturdy branches on a lazy summer day. Using staccato strokes, adds to the energy of the moment while fun pops of color build excitement. Not a care in the world, I hope you can feel the joy as you fly high and soar on a dream.

To view more of my palette knife impressionist landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.

Or, e-mail me at Niki Gulley for more information.

“Meandering Meadow” Painting Bursting with Colorful Wildflowers by Niki Gulley

July 28, 2026

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just sold! I’m having so much fun painting in Asheville’s certified pollinator habitat – surrounded by actual wildflowers while painting wildflowers! The purple spires you see dancing in the foreground are the real deal, keeping me company while I work.

This piece is all about capturing that feeling of wandering through a summer meadow where every color of the rainbow seems to be blooming at once. My palette knife allows me to build up those chunky, textured strokes that make the flowers feel dimensional and alive. I love how the painting evolves as I work – sometimes a stroke of yellow becomes a sunflower, sometimes purple becomes a spike of salvia.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

“Cypress Serenade” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

July 27, 2026

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I painted “Cypress Serenade” on location in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Hugging so close to the ground, soft and voluminous, acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture their drama before they disappeared. Wildflowers blooming in the foreground set the stage and I decided to have fun by repeating those colors throughout the scene, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment.

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Iceland Art Trek
August 2026
FULL

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2026
Only 4 Spaces Left!

Switzerland Art Trek
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

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, visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

***

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New Van Gogh Inspired Sunflower Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

July 24, 2026

24″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

I had so much fun painting these colorful flowers from our deck last week, that creating just one canvas wasn’t enough! Filled with so much uplifting color and cheer, the blooms led my palette knife to joyfully skip across the canvas capturing their sunshine. Surprising pops of color peek through so every time you gaze into this one, you discover something new. Set against the gorgeous mountain backdrop, dramatic clouds dance overhead and hopefully all of your cares drift away!

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my sunflower and wildflower fields paintings.

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

Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley Paints New Sunflower Series

July 23, 2026

24″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

The past few weeks have been absolutely gorgeous for painting outside and revel in the cool mountain air. Our flowers on the deck are so colorful and uplifting that I had to share that joy with you. Unfortunately, my green thumb skills need a little work as my sunflower seeds have not sprouted. But, fortunately I have a vivid imagination and can paint them exactly as I wished they’d bloomed.

There is one thing I did leave out of the scene, though. As I was nearing the end of the painting, I had an unexpected visitor in our yard. Thank goodness I was on the upper deck, but still, this large papa bear was only about 20 feet away – yikes! The hazards of plein-air painting.

Click here to see the video of him: https://www.facebook.com/ScottWilliamsPhotography/posts/pfbid0XSQpDaomcPxhtR6pTn5m5VfkSpq619CstwwVXd19xRrmgicinwW8TqqLtYrEFCQ8l.

Despite a moment of heart failure there, I’m so happy with how these cheerful flowers turned out. May they bring some much needed happiness and sunshine to your day!

To see a video of the finished painting, the inspiration behind it and a close up on the texture detail, check out. https://www.instagram.com/p/DaDj94ZCYuv/.

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my sunflower and wildflower fields paintings.

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

Poppy Field in Tuscany by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 22, 2026

“Pops of Summer”

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley

Day 7, Pienza: TUSCANY FOODIE TREK

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

My husband and I lead a Foodie Trek to Tuscany almost every year, and I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees. I love trying to capture it in different ways, and mother nature had her hand in me choosing this location today. You see, there was a strong possibility of rain and this is one of the few locations I’ve found in the entire Tuscan countryside with a covered area that could keep me and my painting dry in the case of that liquid sunshine arriving mid-stroke. Fortunately because of the weather, the clouds in the sky were voluminous, beautiful and full of drama. Poppies blooming in the foreground just added to the excitement and energy of the moment. And, luckily I was able to capture the majority of the scene before the storms hit!

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For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

***

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for Artists, Foodies and Travelers

Led by Scott Willams and Niki Gulley

We will be returning to the gorgeous Swiss Alps in 2027. These Treks are amazing adventures to explore new cultures and be a part of what makes traveling expand your world and enrich your life. Whether you’re a painter, a photographer, food lover or just want to travel in small, friendly groups, this is the trip for you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join in the fun as our trips fill up quickly!

Tuscany Foodie Trek
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 3 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/

Spain Foodie Trek
March 13-20, 2027
https://www.arttreks.org/spain-foodie-2024/

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – Aug. 2, 2027
https://www.arttreks.org/switzerland-2027/

Tuscany Foodie Trek
Sept. 25 – Oct. 2, 2027
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2027/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Day 3: Afternoon Location – Turf Houses

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Day 2: Afternoon Location – Black Beach & Puffins

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for Artists, Foodies and Travelers

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3: Afternoon Location – Turf Houses

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2: Afternoon Location – Black Beach & Puffins