Art Treks Europe

“Coming Home” New Palette Knife Painting from Tuscany by Niki Gulley

August 4, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with the best views of the surrounding valleys, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. The long curving driveway and undulating wheatfields draw your eye back through the rolling hills. Beautiful, billowing clouds drift overhead. Early morning light casts dramatic shadows creating a rhythm beckoning you to journey up the drive, guiding you to your new getaway you can call home.

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

***

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

If you’re interested in joining us, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

***

Colorful Rose Garden Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 21, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

When we checked into our B and B in Tuscany this year, we were greeted by beautiful rose gardens surrounding the property. WOW! With such a plethora of gorgeous blooms, it was really hard to narrow down what to paint. Finally I landed on these crimson beauties with a peek at the Tuscan villa in the distance. I adore the cypress trees so indicative of Tuscany so I made sure to include them in the background. I also loved how this ancient twisted vine hugged the scene, creating an organic window of the view beyond. Filled with joy and color, I hope you are transported to this serene escape.

For details on more of my Tuscany or rose garden paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks next year to Spain, Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

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

“Popping Magic” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 3, 2023

18″ x 24″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

I painted “Popping Magic III” this spring not too far from my home. This might have been one of the best years for the poppies and wildflowers. The explosion of color was incredible! This morning started out slightly overcast, and the sun kept peeking in and out of the clouds, creating a soft glow to everything it touched. I wanted to capture that radiant light and joyful energy illuminating your journey as you wander through this magical field of blooming glory. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of springtime with the wildflowers abloom!

For details on more of my Texas paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

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

June 6, 2023

30″ x 40″ textured painting on wrap around canvas

“Memories of Sunshine” was inspired by our trip to Provence, France. 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.

***

“Memories of Sunshine II” is available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX.

•••

For more details on my textured floral paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

If you’d like to join us on an Art or Foodie Trek, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

“Colors of Colmar” Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

June 5, 2023

12″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Painted on location in the Alsatian town of Colmar, France, the scenery was inspiring everywhere you looked. Straight out of a postcard, practically every view is storybook picture perfect. Today I set up my easel amongst the Russian sage and Black-eyed Susans to capture their joy and energy with a sliver of the cross-timbered architecture in the distance to set the stage. I hope you are transported to this beautiful, magical place!

Painting amongst the Russian sage and Black-eyed Susans

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

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

***

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

New Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 26, 2023

24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these uplifting sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture. Bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, fill your home with joy and beauty. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view. Full of warmth and vibrancy, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

For more information on this painting, please contact,the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX at https://www.goodartcompany.com/niki-gulley.

And to see more of my palette knife contemporary floral and landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

***

For details on our plein air painting and photography Art Treks workshops in Europe, please check out ArtTreks.org.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Highly Textured Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 19, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I can’t believe there are sunflowers blooming in every garden in Switzerland. You know I had to paint them! Here are some beauties outside of our B and B with the gorgeous mountains behind them.
 
If you’d like this uplifting painting to bring joy and color to your home, visit nikigulley.com/climbing-sunshine/.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Visiting Vineyards and Wine Tasting with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

April 18, 2023

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

In the above painting you can see an example of the vineyards dotting the hills of this Tuscan region. With the weather turning colder, you can see the first signs of fall as these colorful grapevines turn beautiful oranges and golds. I was attracted to the vibrant vines contrasted against the progressive miles of rolling hills dotted with more grapevines, olive trees, and plowed grain fields. The gorgeous, plump purple grapes were ready to harvest at any moment. Setting up my easel across from this vineyard, I began recreating the soft light that would break through the clouds and illuminate various hilltops and plantings. I arranged the vines to lead your eye back to the hill town and the beautiful countryside. I hope you can taste the delicious wine and escape to Tuscany with me!

Visit my shot at nikigulley.com/awaiting-harvest/ to purchase “Awaiting Harvest.”

To join us on next year’s Foodie Trek to Tuscany, or Iceland, visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Spaces fill up quickly!

Tuscany Foodie Trek

October 12 – 19, 2024

***

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.

***

Uplifting Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

April 17, 2023

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Started on location in Tuscany, these bright, smiling faces just lifted my spirits and I had to paint them to share their cheer with you! Beyond these joyous sunflowers, the quintessential Tuscan farmhouse has the best view of the surrounding valleys. Misty clouds rise from the horizon as cooler nights meet warmer days and set the stage of the magical light and dreamy allure of Tuscany. 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 interested in purchasing this piece, click here nikigulley.com/sunshine-serenade/.

***

For details on more of my Tuscany or sunflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Portugal, Spain, Tuscany, or Iceland, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

2024 Schedule

Portugal Art Trek

March 10 – 17

•

Spain Foodie Trek

March 18 – 24

•

Iceland Art Trek

August 5 – 13

•

Tuscany Foodie Trek

October 12 – 19

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

“Field of Dreams” Large Triptych Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

April 10, 2023

Three 48″ x 36″ canvases to form a 48″ x 90″ triptych
textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Field of Dreams 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 reds and purples keeps your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the joyful feeling.

To purchase this original painting, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/field-of-dreams/.

Or, if you would prefer a print on canvas, please e-mail Niki Gulley for details.

NikiGulley.com

***

If you’d like to join us in Provence this summer and learn to paint like Van Gogh, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

***