contemporary floral art

Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley Painting in Tuscany

November 25, 2022

I couldn’t resist painting another day in this beautiful rose garden in Tuscany. Feeling ambitious today and not wanting to be constrained capturing the gorgeous scene on a small canvas, I decided to work much larger. I was attracted to these bountiful climbing roses framing the villa in the distance as they stretched across this arched trellis. Wanting to keep this piece loose and free, I created abstract passages in the scene so these crimson beauties could be the star. Running out of time on location, I’ll finish this piece in my studio with a few final touches to pull everything together, but retain the mood of a dreamlike reality.

For details on more of my Tuscany and Italy 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 France, Tuscany, or Venice, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

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

The Magic of Tuscany Painted by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 24, 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 6, Afternoon: Cooking Class

After a fun-filled morning of wine tasting, we returned to our villa to learn how to make authentic Tuscan meals from a local home chef. From hand rolled pasta, to roasted pork, to various pizzas and appetizers and finishing with a chocolate cherry ricotta torte, they shared their homemade creations with the rest of us, which were delicious!

While the rest of our group was learning how to recreate an Italian feast, I had been admiring this view from the back of our villa. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking with 360 degree views of rolling hills and valleys, dotted by olive groves and quintessential Tuscan farmhouses. Today the late afternoon light was so beautiful how it cast its golden glow on the landscape, and I had to capture it before it was gone. Uplifting flowers from the Tuscan garden frame the foreground as the serpentine roads lead you up over the hills and into the distance. I hope you enjoy the escape to beautiful Tuscany, too, when you gaze at my painting!

***

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.

***

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

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

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

Visiting Vineyards and Wine Tasting with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

November 21, 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 6: Wine Tasting in Montalcino

Today we visited the nearby hill town of Montalcino and sampled their famous Brunello wines. The vino was beyond delicious and the spread of homemade bruschetta and local meats and cheeses were paired perfectly. Stopping off along the way, we toured an ancient Monastery that feels so spiritual in its divine simplicity that everyone found it a highlight of the trip.

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!

***

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.

***

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

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

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

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

September 8, 2022

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.

For more details on my other palette knife 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’d like to join us in Provence next summer and learn to paint like Van Gogh, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

***

“Sunny Dreams” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 7, 2022

SOLD • 24″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Just sold! I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of color and energy. Set beneath a glowing sky on a beautiful summer evening with the sunflowers in full bloom, you can just make out the stone farmhouse in the distance against a backdrop of purple mountains surrounding the plain. Creating almost a patchwork with the sunflowers and their leaves, unexpected pops of red and purple peek out creating a rhythm and energy to the foreground. Perky, circular faces smile back at you and I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.

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

For more information on our plein air painting and photography Art Treks workshops in France and Europe, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

***

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

***

Niki Gulley Paints Bluebonnets in the Texas Hill Country

July 21, 2022

SOLD • 24″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

Just sold through The Good Art Company! This idyllic setting just screamed Texas to me and I had to paint it. The quintessential windmill spins in the distance, signaling a change in seasons as spring leaps forward. Colorful bluebonnets fill the landscape, inviting you to wander through wildflower fields, noble oaks and onto hilltops ahead, sure to treat your journey with amazing views of the Texas Hill Country.

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

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

“Sunshine on My Mind” New Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

July 15, 2022

24″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting on canvas

I saw these cheerful sunflowers planted in my neighborhood every time I got in my car to ran errands and they were so bright and colorful, I just had to paint them! So this week, I dragged my body out of bed at 5 a.m. to capture them at sunrise before our Texas heat reached 100 degrees. While not normally an early riser, it was well worth it to bask in their glory while I was painting. I hope you, too, can enjoy their sunshine and start your day with a smile.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my sunflower and textured palette knife floral paintings.

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

“Azures Waves II” Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

July 14, 2022

SOLD • 24″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting on canvas

Just Sold through the Good Art Company! On our drive through the Hill Country recently, I was drawn to this one lone house nestled amongst the trees, perched on high with this amazing view. A recently formed path guides you on your journey through the azure waves of bluebonnets while you take in their joy and beauty. I hope you, too, can feel the energy and serenity of springtime in Texas!

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.

“Tuscan Vista” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

June 16, 2022

12″ x 16” textured oil painting

I painted “Tuscan Vista” from the villa we stay in when my husband and I are leading our Foodie Trek in Italy. The late afternoon light was so beautiful how it cast its golden glow on the landscape and stone farmhouses, and I had to capture it before it was gone. Uplifting poppies frame the foreground as the serpentine roads lead you up over the hills and into the distance. I hope you enjoy the escape to beautiful Tuscany, too, when you gaze at my painting!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my wildflower and poppy field oil paintings.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

2022 Schedule

Alsace

Art Trek – Aug. 20-27

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – Oct. 8-15

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

New England

Art Trek – Oct. 10-15

***

“Ruby Road” Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Niki Gulley

June 14, 2022

12″ x 16” textured oil painting

I absolutely love it when I come across a whole field of wildflowers – there is something about the transformation of a single dainty flower into a dense explosion of color that inspires awe and delights your senses. 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 its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of ruby blooms draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my wildflower and poppy field oil paintings.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

2022 Schedule

Alsace

Art Trek – Aug. 20-27

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – Oct. 8-15

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

New England

Art Trek – Oct. 10-15

***