textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
“Field of Dreams” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley
textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Sunny Celebration 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 cheerful poppies in vivid reds and surprising pops of color keeps your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the joyful feeling.
In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and reds contrasted against a lavender-blue sky with gentle clouds drifting by, I’ve arranged the aspens in a circular pattern to give you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest. Using diagonal leading lines with the tree trunks and limbs, your eye gazes into the focal point where all of the elements come together. Meanwhile, utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.