New “Fields of Joy” Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Fields of Joy” ©2015 Niki Gulley
 24″ x 36” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

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.

“Fields of Joy” along with several of my new palette knife paintings will be featured in my One Woman Show, hosted by the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. If interested in more information on pricing or purchasing this palette knife poppy painting, please contact The Good Art Company.

The Good Art Company Gallery
Niki Gulley – One Woman Show
Opening Reception / Meet the Artist – April 3rd, 5pm – 9pm
Show continuing through April
218 West Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX

New Tuscany Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley at the Good Art Company

“Peaceful Pursuit,” Tuscany ©2015 Niki Gulley
 30″ x 48” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

This painting is inspired from a trip to Tuscany we took a few years ago when my husband, who is a professional photographer, and I spent about a week scouring every inch of the countryside for the best poppy fields and views. I was particularly drawn to this peaceful scene, even if the poppies weren’t as prolific as in other fields. I loved the calming, sweeping shapes of the hills and the vibrant reds contrasting against the softer grasses and white wildflowers. The road beckons you back to the stone farmhouse in the distance, while dramatic voluminous clouds dance across the sky, mimicking the foreground shapes and creating a sense of harmony. Repeating colors throughout, I love how the Impressionists used vibrant hues to add to the mood of a scene and create flow, so I brought my contemporary approach with broad strokes and thick texture to their traditions. I hope you, too, can feel a sense of peace and joy when you gaze into this Tuscan landscape.

“Peaceful Pursuit” along with several of my new palette knife paintings will be featured in my One Woman Show, hosted by the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. If interested in more information on pricing or purchasing this palette knife Tuscany painting, please contact The Good Art Company.

The Good Art Company Gallery
Niki Gulley – One Woman Show
Opening Reception / Meet the Artist – April 3rd, 5pm – 9pm
Show continuing through April
218 West Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX

New “Spring’s Glory,” Texas Hill Country oil painting by Niki Gulley

Spring’s Glory,” Texas Hill Country ©2015 Niki Gulley
 36” x 60” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

“Spring’s Glory” was inspired by a trip to the Texas Hill Country. The spring conditions were perfect, and the bluebonnets were amazing! While we were near Fredericksburg, we took a scenic drive along the Willow City Look and as we approached the top of a hill about half way around, we were greeted by this gorgeous view of the rolling hills and bluebonnets in full bloom. Then, to top it off the sun was setting in the distance casting its golden glow and backlighting the wildflowers. I had to capture the magical moment, enhancing the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky and along the ground. Arranging clouds, the road and rows of bluebonnets in rhythmic sweeping shapes to create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

“Spring’s Glory” along with several of my new palette knife paintings will be featured in my One Woman Show, hosted by the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. If interested in more information on pricing or purchasing this palette bluebonnet painting, please contact The Good Art Company.

The Good Art Company Gallery
Niki Gulley – One Woman Show
Opening Reception / Meet the Artist – April 3rd, 5pm – 9pm
Show continuing through April
218 West Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

New “Golden Tangle” Fall Foliage Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Golden Tangle” ©2015 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil on canvas


I painted this golden oak at White Rock Lake last fall. I loved how the canary yellow leaves glowed from the late afternoon sun as it illuminated the foliage from behind. Being backlit, the trunk went an inky velvet black and all of its gnarly limbs popped against that gilded backdrop, which I accented with flecks of crimson. Created with palette knife and a lot of thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with texture, uplifting color and energy.

If interested in more information on pricing and purchasing this palette knife fall scene, please contact The Good Art Company.

To see more of my textured contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

 E-mail Niki Gulley


New “Marching into Autumn” Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Marching into Autumn” ©2015 Niki Gulley
10″ x 20″ textured oil on canvas


I painted this colorful autumn scene near my home when the fall foliage was first starting to appear. I loved the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of the cypress contrasted against the multitude of greens surrounding it. The patterns of the shadows underneath the trees created a sort of rhythm and I played up the angles of the trees and strokes to add to that feeling of a driving beat. I hope you, too, can feel the energy and joy of being surrounded by nature as autumn approaches.

If interested in more information on pricing and purchasing this palette knife fall scene, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of my textured contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

“Natural Textures” Abstracted Aspen Tree palette knife painting by Niki Gulley

“Natural Textures III” ©2015 Niki Gulley
24″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting I wanted the focus to be on texture. Usually I paint with a lot of color, but I opted to use a limited palette on this piece to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Natural Textures is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension. Choosing to come in extremely close on the subject, I played around with various strokes and paint thicknesses to add depth and energy. At the end, I had to throw in a few of my signature strokes of color – a splash of gold, some touches of lavender, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

“Natural Textures” is available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.)

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.
For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“Intertwining Beauty” ©2015 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.

“Natural Textures” Abstracted Aspen Tree palette knife painting by Niki Gulley

“Natural Textures III” ©2014 Niki Gulley
24″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Natural Textures III is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension and depth. Hang it alone, or combine it with Natural Textures I and II to form a triptych, as pictured below.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings or
visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary aspen and birch tree paintings.

Palette Knife Red Roses oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

12″ x 12″ Red Roses by Niki Gulley
 textured oil painting on canvas 

I painted these roses from the still life 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. 

This floral looks great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of my other contemporary flower paintings. Hang them horizontally, vertically, on a diagonal or stacked.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on this piece or to find out about complimentary companion paintings.

To see more of my textured oil paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

New Palette Knife Roses by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

12″ x 12″ Red Roses by Niki Gulley
 textured oil painting on canvas 



I painted these roses from the still life 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. 
This floral looks great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of my other contemporary flower paintings. Hang them horizontally, vertically, on a diagonal or stacked.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on this piece or to find out about complimentary companion paintings.

To see more of my textured oil paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.