I wanted this painting to be filled with uplifting colors and energetic strokes all leading you skyward, to soar amongst the clouds. Aspen trees reach towards the heavens while gentle breezes cause the sky to dance while you lay on the ground gazing in wonderment. Happy hues, whimsical shapes and a feeling of movement, hopefully transport you to a carefree childhood moment where all of your worries drift away and dreams are created.
Early on a fall morning the sun breaks softly through leafy branches and casts early autumn’s palette across the creek. Silent water is ruffled by a gentle breeze. Arching over, bending into the quiet waters, a tree arches into the scene – encompassing, embracing. This painting captures the dreamy reflections and tranquil landscape of one of my favorite spots to paint on location near my home. It is painted in the traditional plein air oil manner, incorporating some heavy texture with palette knife.
This Arboreal Labyrinth series was such a joy to paint! My goal was to capture the excitement and energy I feel while being immersed in the forest. Relishing in the gorgeous fall colors, enjoying the cool breeze as it kisses my cheek and creates a beautiful symphony blowing through the autumn leaves, and admiring the texture of peeling, knotted aspen trees, I stroll through the woods and forget about anything else but being surrounded by mother nature’s beauty.
For more information on this series, please contact AO5 Gallery at https://ao5gallery.com/collections/niki-gulley.
Four 48″ x 36″ textured oil painting to form a 48″ x 144″ quadriptych
I wanted to create a large horizontal quadriptych, or four piece painting, that would flow from one season to the next to show the beauty of the forest throughout the year. Working on such a large scale invites you to step right into the scene and take a walk through the woods, enjoying all of the peace and joy that nature has to offer.
Here you can see all four paintings in a row, flowing from spring to summer and fall to winter. Rather than show the same exact scene at four different times of year, I decided I would rather show one long forest evolving from one season to the next to create a better harmony across the canvases. From the ground gently undulating underneath, to the pine trees flowing from canvas to canvas, to the rhythm created from aspens and oaks repeating, to the foliage and pops of color emerging and drifting into the distance, all elements are designed to add to the flowing symphony in “Evolving Seasons.
To see my “Evolving Seasons” series, please visit the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX at https://www.goodartcompany.com/niki-gulley.
For more details on my other aspen and birch paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.
Hoping to capture the excitement and energy I feel while being immersed in the forest, this Arboreal Labyrinth series was so much fun to paint. I love the texture of peeling, knotted aspen trees and strolling through the woods without a care in the world. Loaded with gorgeous autumn colors, thick textured paint, movement and spontaneity, this painting is designed to lift your spirits, too!
For details on this series, please contact AO5 Gallery at https://ao5gallery.com/collections/niki-gulley.