european plein air painting photography workshops

Last Day, Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 9, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Provence Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Provence Art Trek, we decided to stay right at our b and b to paint since it was so beautiful. Meanwhile the photographers explored the nearby area and others just relaxed by the pool. Choosing what to paint was a challenge since the grounds are so picturesque. Myself and another painter set up our easels by this lovely courtyard, with this stately tree surrounded by cascading roses, while another chose to paint lavender lined walkway and another set up by the ancient Roman bridge on the back of the property. It was a gorgeous morning and everyone’s paintings turned out great!

That evening we gathered for a final critique and “show and tell” from the trip. The photographers presented their best images in a slide show and provided us with happy memories from the trip, while opening our eyes to creative possibilities we never considered. The painters showed off their talented creations from each day of the trip and swapped ideas of which aspects they liked best.

For dinner that night, we gathered for one more delicious meal of escargot, filet crusted in mushrooms and chocolate volcano cake washed down with some amazing red wine. Having formed new friendships and enjoyed wonderful memories from the trip, our Provence Art Trek had come to a bittersweet end.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Day 5, Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 7, 2015

5″ x 7″ oil painting

Day 5, Provence Art Trek: the Luberon

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

After a peaceful day in the countryside, we headed to the Luberon hill towns today. Starting our journey at the Abbey de Senanque, some of our group toured the twelfth century sanctuary’s interior, while others painted and photographed the lavender fields and grounds surrounding the abbey. Next we traveled to the red and gold colored town of Roussillon, known for its ochre cliffs. Filled with picturesque views, art galleries, restaurants and interesting shops, everyone enjoyed having some free time to wander before we took off for the Pont Julien bridge.

The Roman bridge, dating from 3 BC and constructed without mortar, is an architectural marvel that was still driven on until 2005! After surveying the bridge, we headed back to our b and b. Dinner that night was traditional Provencal fare, including fresh vegetables, fish, meats, and goat cheeses loaded with delicious sauces, garlic and butter. Yum!

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Lavender Fields

September 4, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Day 4, Provence Art Trek: Lavender Fields and Greoux les Bains

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Not being able to get enough of the lavender and sunflower fields, we had to paint a second composition. Wanting to focus on something different in this painting, I chose to include more of the landscape so that I could include these amazing clouds drifting by in diagonal patterns that mimicked the lavender rows. The final image is loaded with color, texture and movement!

We finished our day in the spa town of Greoux les Bains with another amazing Michelin star restaurant.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visiting Aix-en-Provence with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 31, 2015

9″ x 12″ oil painting

Day 3, Provence Art Trek: Aix-en-Provence

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Today we checked out of our hotel and headed to Provence’s cultural hub and Cezanne’s home, Aix-en-Provence. After visiting its famous Cours Mirabeau boulevard, lined with cafés and plane trees and its morning produce and flower market, we parted from the photographers and set up our easels at this picturesque fountain courtyard. Having several hours to paint, we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful day and each painter’s unique view of the scene. Some focused on the fountain, others on the architecture and some on the nearby cafés. Everyone’s painting turned out great!

Painting in Aix-en-Provence

Next, we headed deep into the lavender country to our picturesque b and b, where we spent the rest of the trip. And, of course we completed the day with another delicious meal!

Our b and b.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

New “Sunny Skies” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

August 19, 2015

30″ x 48″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

Festive, sun-filled blossoms dance in the gentle breeze, filling the field with sweet fragrance. This textured painting captures a carefree summer morning with sunflowers overflowing the foreground, filling up the field with joy under sunny skies as voluminous clouds drift by overhead.

For more information on textured sunflower and poppy paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold – Sunflower and Lavender Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

August 9, 2015

SOLD • 30″ x 48″ textured oil painting

Just Sold! Sunny Life is inspired from one of the amazing locations we take our students to on our Provence Art Trek. We actually set up our easels in this gorgeous lavender and sunflower field, where the flowers seem to stretch forever. The color and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter’s and photographer’s dream come true. Words can’t even describe how special that moment was to paint there surrounded by all that beauty!

Taking my plein air sketch that I painted on location above, I set to capture that joyous feeling back in my studio. Pulling in closer to the sunflowers so you could see their beaming faces and get a sense of their scale, I added a few more color surprises to add to the happy mood (and I didn’t have to worry about getting too close in fear of bee stings in the studio!) I hope you, too, experience the beauty and contentment of being in Provence through my painting.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. We are taking reservations for next year’s trip to Andulucia, Spain, so please let us know if you would like to join us. For more details, e-mail [email protected] or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

New Textured Lavender Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

June 8, 2015

24″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

The lavender fields in Provence are incredible – perfectly manicured rows and rows of an explosion of violet as far as the eye can see. I wanted to try something different in this painting, arranging the purple waves vertically to draw your eye up to the stone farmhouse perched on top of one of the distant hills. Wispy clouds mirror similar patterns as the lavender columns and create a harmony between foreground and background, while perspective lines all converge at the summit, leading you to this joyful, peaceful spot. I hope you can smell the amazing aromas and feel your spirits lifted while gazing into this scene!

If you’re in the Columbus area this weekend and you’d like to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, please stop by my booth at the Columbus Art Festival.

Columbus Art Festival
June 12th and 13th • 11am – 10:30pm
Sun. June 14th • 11am – 5pm
Downtown Riverfront, Columbus, OH
ColumbusArtsFestival.org

“Uplifting Fragrance” is available through the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX.
goodartcompany.com/gac/

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.

New Sunflower and Lavender Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

May 29, 2015

30″ x 48″ textured oil painting

Sunny Life is inspired from one of the amazing locations we take our students to on our Provence Art Trek. We actually set up our easels in this gorgeous lavender and sunflower field, where the flowers seem to stretch forever. The color and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter’s and photographer’s dream come true. Words can’t even describe how special that moment was to paint there surrounded by all that beauty!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. We are taking reservations for this years trip to Tuscany, Italy, so please let us know if you would like to join us. For more details, e-mail [email protected] or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please visit NikiGulley.com (www.NikiGulley.com) to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.

New Lavender Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 24, 2015

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

Just Sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! The lavender fields in Provence are incredible – perfectly manicured rows and rows of an explosion of violet as far as the eye can see. I wanted to try something different in this painting, arranging the purple waves vertically to draw your eye up to the cypress atop one of the distant hill towns and adding an uplifting feeling to the scene. Wispy clouds mirror similar shapes to the lavender columns and create a harmony between foreground and background, while perspective lines all converge at the summit, leading you to this joyful, peaceful spot.

If you’re in the DFW area this weekend and you’d like to see more of my textured landscape oil paintings, please stop by my display at the Dallas Arboretum’s Artscape.

Artscape

Fri. April 24 – Members-only Preview Event 6pm – 8pm

April 25 and April 26 • 9am – 5pm
Booth #21

Open to the public with paid garden admission and parking.

Dallas Arboretum • 8525 Garland Rd.

DallasArboretum.org

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my bluebonnets and Texas Wildflower paintings.

New Sunflower and Lavender Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 13, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted this colorful sunflower and lavender field oil during our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek my husband and I led in Provence this past July. The vivid hues and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter’s and photographer’s dream come true. The fields stretched for miles along the vast open landscape. Words can’t even describe how special that moment was, and I hope you experience the joy I felt when you look at this uplifting palette knife painting.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. We are taking reservations for next year’s trip to Provence, June 26th – July 4th, so please let us know if you would like to join us. This past year’s trip filled up in less than a week! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015

The French Riviera – June 16-26, 2015

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2015
Andalucia, Spain – May 2016

“Sunny Days” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.