October 2024

Painting Covered Bridges in New England with Niki Gulley

October 31, 2024

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

The rain definitely visited Vermont today, but it turns out one of the great things about traveling in an RV is I can still paint out the window and stay dry, even in the wet weather! So on our route from Stowe to Woodstock, we visited one of our favorite covered bridges in Northfield and I painted right from our dining room table. The old red bridge just popped against all of the fall foliage, and I enjoyed capturing its unique architecture.

Painting from inside our RV

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Tall Trees” Contemporary Landscape Painting by Niki Gulley

October 30, 2024

24″ x 18″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

A break in the drizzle in Woodstock, Vermont! And, a chance to paint again. Unfortunately, the rain and wind took their toll on the fall foliage. But, I loved these tall pine trees and the few autumn leaves hanging on. So, I bundled up and set out to capture their height and majesty in this vertical treetop view. I hope they lift your spirits, too, and bring back fun memories of childhood cloud gazing. Now, I hope I can talk Scott into a back rub after craning my neck to paint this one!

To see a video of me painting this one, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/CyVrv3iOAu9/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Palette Knife Waterfall Painting by Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 29, 2024

24″ x 18″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

So many waterfalls. So little time! Since this one is a shorter hike – just 100 steps down and then we merely had to climb over and balance on some slippery rocks, this was my painting spot! Listen to the cathartic rhythm of those rushing falls. Enjoy your escape with us to the mountains.

If you’d like to see a video and hear the rushing sounds of Looking Glass Falls, visit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy56cAKufbJ/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Scenic Byway II” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 28, 2024

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

Just sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! Painted just outside of Santa Fe, the fall colors were gorgeous this year. The contrast of complimentary oranges and blues and yellows and purples created an energetic symphony for the eyes! Bright sunshine warmed up the day and caused the light to glow and dance. I hope you can enjoy the escape of a leisurely drive through the beautiful autumn scenery of New Mexico.

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

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

History Lessons While Painting Gettysburg Bridge with Artist Niki Gulley

October 25, 2024

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Next up on our Fall Foliage Freedom Tour, we left the Northeast and started heading south. Our next destination was Washington, D.C. to visit with friends and family, but we were looking for a place to stop along the way. Low and behold, directly on our route was Gettysburg, so we had to stop in for a history lesson. And, I have a love and fascination with covered bridges, so we found Sachs Bridge and I set up my easel to capture its story.

And, boy did I get a story! Some civil war re-enactors (who also acted in the movie Glory) stopped by to chat with me and tell me all about the bridge. It was used by both Union and Confederate Troops and people claim that it is haunted at night by confederate soldiers. While I was painting, a couple in Halloween wedding clothes were getting their portraits taken, fascinated with its haunted tales. My quiet little painting spot turned out to be quite the exciting site!

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains by Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

October 24, 2024

24″ x 30″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

Here is Asheville, NC in all of its peak autumn glory the last week of October. Of course, one of the challenges of plein-air painting is you never know what is going to change in the scene you are capturing. For instance, our neighbors at our campsite chose to park their black sedan right here in the middle of our picturesque view. Oh, well! The scenery beyond was still beautiful and I was able to take some photos on my camera to finish this one up at home. It also gave us a good excuse to take a scooter ride on that beautiful 70 degree day and check out the picturesque nature trails in the North Carolina Arboretum. Not a bad way to finish up our immersive autumn trip!

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

New “Full Circle” Seasons Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 23, 2024

30″ x 30″ textured acrylic painting on circular board

In “Full Circle,” I started thinking about how everything has its life cycle. Trees evolve from season to season, sprouting buds, forming leaves, turning in the fall and eventually dying back in the winter. Time is a constant. In our lives, the idea of time is often in the back or our mind. How long will we be here and how are we going to spend it? So, here I used nature as a metaphor. I arranged the seasons in the pattern of a clock face, representing the cycle of life. Twelve main trunks act like the hours in a day, arranged in a circle as time ticks on. Gazing into the treetops like looking up to the heavens, light shines through as a reassuring beacon of hope and what’s beyond.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife fall foliage paintings.

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

Experience Asheville’s Gorgeous Fall Foliage in Niki Gulley’s Paintings

October 22, 2024

20″ x 30″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just WOW!!! Our timing in Asheville was perfect. Gorgeous peak color and ideal 70 degree days. The view from our campsite was spectacular and I had to capture those autumn hues before they were gone. Especially since the leaves were falling into my paint as soon as I mixed the next color. I hope you can feel pure joy and energy in this one! And, there may be a little extra real leaf texture as a bonus.

To see a video about this painting, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/CzBw2bNOy_9/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Colorful Birch Tree Painting from Vermont by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 18, 2024

20? x 30? textured acrylic painting on canvas

The weather turned quickly in Vermont! From 80 to 50 and solid rain in just a day. So here I took advantage of my last chance to paint while it was dry and there were still autumn leaves on the trees. Gilded and crimson foliage invite you to explore this golden light filled path. May you experience nature’s joy and serenity while wandering through these woods.

To see a video of the area as I was painting, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOE3TjOlkc/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Fracturing Reality II” Textured Abstract Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

October 17, 2024

24” x 24” textured acrylic painting on canvas

Abstract realism – the synthesis of abstract and realistic painting. Borrowing abstract influences, such as focusing on color, line, shape and rhythm without a concrete, physical object and combining those concepts with depicting something from reality. When you marry these two genres, you get a new style of art that aims to illicit the emotions behind the subject.

In “Fracturing Reality II,” I hope you feel rejuvenated as you gaze into nature’s wonders and escape into your dreams.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

To see more of my textured nature paintings, visit nikigulley.com.