May 2016

New “Kid’s Perspective II” Palette Knife Aspen Tree painting by Niki Gulley

May 30, 2016

36″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the joy of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing playful colors and thick chunky staccato strokes add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

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

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

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

May 27, 2016

“Intertwining Beauty” ©2016 Niki Gulley
36″ x 60″ textured oil on canvas

Intertwining Beauty was inspired by a recent trip to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The aspen forest was so dense and beautiful. I loved the pops of vibrant fall colors peeking through the tall, tangled, web of white knobby trunks. Ruby reds grab your attention while staccato strokes of emerald, amethyst and topaz lead your eye around the canvas. I hope you can feel the energy found in nature and its power to invigorate your spirit.

I painted these aspen trees with extremely thick paint and palette knife. The resulting canvas is loaded with texture, color and energy! I’ve painted it on 1 and 1/2 inch deep stretcher bars, with the image continuing around the edges so that it can be hung as is frameless for a contemporary look.

If interested in more information, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of my textured aspen and birch paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

“Aqua Dreams” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 25, 2016

36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

To see more of my aspen and birch tree paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

New “What Dreams Are Made Of” Quadriptych Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

May 23, 2016

Four 36″ x 36″ canvases to form a 72″ x 72″ quadriptych • textured oil painting

In this painting, I wanted you to feel like a little kid again – laying on the ground and staring up into the treetops without a care in the world. I hope you experience the joy of being surrounded by nature and the beauty in this autumn kaleidoscope of colors.

Canvas Prints now Available: Four 24″ x 24″ canvases are stretched on 3/4 inch stretcher bars with the image continuing around the edges to form a 48″ x 48″ quadriptych that does not need to be framed, just like the original . I have also added thick paint in some of the leaves and trunks to add even more texture and making each print one of a kind. Finally, I have coated the canvases with a UV varnish to protect the paintings. The canvases can be hung right up next to each other or spread apart by a few inches to come out to a maximum of 53″ x 53″. I can also make other sizes or stretch What Dreams Are Made Of on deep 1 and 1/2 inch stretcher bars for an additional fee. Please contact me at Niki Gulley for more information on the original painting or canvas prints.

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

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

Lake Como Plein Air Oil Painting by Niki Gulley Just Sold

May 20, 2016

SOLD • 8″ x 10″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Lake Como – Varenna and Menaggio
CINQUE TERRE / LAKE COMO ART TREK

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

Just Sold! On our Lake Como Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop, our group went in all different directions the last day of the trip. Some folks decided to take an all day cooking class where they learned to make pastas, soups and entrees from scratch. While the rest of us visited Varenna castle in the morning and afterwards rode the ferry to Menaggio. We explored the town and treated ourselves to a fantastic lunch, dining al Fresco again before heading back to Varenna. With some down time in the afternoon, I enjoyed our amazing view of the lake and town from our balcony while completing this small palette knife oil painting of the colorful buildings below.

For dinner that night, we navigated the switchback roads to the tiny town of Perledo and were treated to a huge traditional seven-course Italian meal. With every plate being created from scratch with local ingredients, the food and wines were amazing. We left fat, happy and slept like the dead that night!

If you’d like to join us for our next European Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop, please visit art treks.org for more details or e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Just Sold – French Riviera Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 18, 2016

Villefranche and Monte Carlo – French Riviera Art Trek

SOLD • 12″ x 9″ oil by Niki Gulley

Just Sold! On our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we all went in different directions on the third day. I took the painters to this beautiful scenic overlook while Scott drove the photographers along the corniches in search of the best vantages and photographs, while others relaxed at the pool at the hotel.

That afternoon, we explored the bustling old city of Monaco and later that evening tried our hand at the casinos. One person in our group even won $336 on the slot machines! That evening we dined al fresco on a delicious three course meal, enjoying the company of new friends.

A delicious dinner in Monaco.

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! For more details, visit art treks.org.

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.

New Palette Knife Treetop Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 16, 2016

48″ x 36″ textured oil painting

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

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

Sold – “Fields of Joy” Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Niki Gulley

May 13, 2016

SOLD • textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

Just sold! Inspired from a wonderful trip to Provence, we were a little too early for the lavender to be blooming, but we rounded a corner leaving the hill town of Roussillon and came across this gorgeous field of poppies and yellow wildflowers. It was so colorful and joyful, it took my breath away! Set beneath a vibrant blue sky on a beautiful day in springtime, I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of energy. Coming in close on the poppies in the foreground so that you could see their vibrant petals and buds about to pop, I left the field of gold softer in the background so as to not take away from the focal point. A typical stone farmhouse sets in the background, beckoning you to stay the night and let all of your cares drift away.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife floral oil paintings.

For more information on upcoming European Plein-Air Painting and Photography Art Treks workshops led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

New Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 11, 2016

30″ x 40″ textured painting on wrap around canvas

“Memories of Sunshine” was inspired by our trip to Provence, France last summer. Our timing was perfect and the sunflowers were in full bloom. Their bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, the sun dappled path leading you deep into the golden field to the quaint stone farmhouse in the distance, and a beautiful summer day with a few peaceful clouds drifting by made for the ideal subject. The resulting painting is full of warmth, color and texture, and my hope is that when you gaze into it, this piece lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. This year’s upcoming Art Trek to Spain is full, but we are taking reservations for the following year to Tuscany, England and Ireland.
For more details, e-mail [email protected] or go to ArtTreks.org.

For more information on my textured sunflower and poppy paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.

New “Memories of Sunshine” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

May 9, 2016

30″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Memories of Sunshine is inspired from the beautiful sunflower fields we visited in Provence, France. The flowers seemed to stretch forever and the color explosion was out of this world! Back in my studio, I worked from a combination of photos, on-site sketches and memories. Painting the sunflowers full-sized in the foreground helps to bring them to life and hopefully transport you to this happy location. Including surprising pops of vivid color keeps your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the joyful feeling.

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For more information on my textured sunflower and poppy paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.