impressionist landscape

New Bluebonnet and Indian Paintbrush Painting

May 4, 2012

48″ x 30″ textured painting on wrap around canvas

was inspired by a recent trip to the Texas Hill Country. This 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 and Indian Paintbrush 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, create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

If you’re in the Dallas this weekend and would like to see more of my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please stop by my booth at Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival where I will be exhibiting these along with more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Cottonwood Art Festival
May 5 • 10am – 8pm
May 6 • 10am – 6pm

Richardson, TX •

Cottonwood Park •

on Beltline Rd. just east of Coit

cottonwoodartfestival.com/

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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum taught by Niki Gulley

January 23, 2012

“Reflective Moment,” Dallas Arboretum ©2012 by Niki Gulley
18″ x 24″ oil on canvas

This painting was inspired by a gorgeous autumn day at the Dallas Arboretum. I was drawn to this magical little spot because it was so tranquil there that day, that you just wanted to sit and enjoy the scenery on this bench nestled across the water. The brilliant colors of the fall foliage, the crystal clear sky, and the soft light raking across the lily pond caught my eye. I liked how the late afternoon shadows were being cast and golden highlights were forming, adding to a peaceful, but happy feeling.

On Feb. 4th, I’ll be teaching a Landscape Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, go to dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/CreativeArts.htm.

If you’d have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Painting at the Dallas Arboretum with Niki Gulley

October 21, 2011

pastel on board • 10″ x 19″

The Dallas Arboretum is one of my favorite spots in the metroplex to paint, and last fall it was ablaze with color. I love being there late in the day when the crowds have thinned and the light is softer. In this pastel, I wanted to capture the intense fall foliage and the dramatic purple shadows cast by those trees along this path, which beckons you to wander down it.

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Join us Oct. 29th and 30th at the Arboretum and White Rock Lake if you’d like to experience nature first hand while improving your painting skills. Even though working in your home or studio might feel quite comfortable, there’s nothing like painting the subject that is in front of you. The sights, sounds, and smells of your surroundings actually go into your work!

Capturing the light quickly adds to the excitement and spontaneity of your final piece, while observing values from life will take your painting to a whole new level. Often times don’t you wonder when you look back through your photos, “What was I thinking when I took this one?” When you paint en plein air, you’ll be able to capture the scene accurately and the magic in that moment, versus being disappointed with your photos. Also, training your eye to see light and shadow accurately on location, will greatly help your studio work by learning to correct what you are seeing in your photos. With only a couple of spots left, I hope you can join us next weekend for this exciting workshop!

Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13, which tells you about my upcoming Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake, Oct. 29th and 30th. Space if filling up quickly, so e-mail [email protected] for more information and to register.

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If you would like to join us on future ART TREKS to Paris, France in May or Tuscany, Italy in September,visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming European Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops.

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E-mail me at [email protected] for more information.

White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour – Oct. 16 & 17

October 13, 2010

8″ x 10″ pastel

After a delicious lunch of prosciutto and pecorinos on day three of our painting / photography workshop in Tuscany, we decided to venture into the countryside and paint this lone clump of cypress trees. With the simpler subject (and maybe a little Chianti at lunch!), everyone could relax and play, having fun pushing their colors and experimenting with their strokes. I liked how the late afternoon sun was casting such long dramatic shadows on the ground and I decide to accentuate the cool blues and violets I saw in the darks to contrast with the gold rolling hills.

If you’ve dreamt about painting in Tuscany, join us for our next Plein Air Painting Workshop in Sept. 2011. Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information or e-mail me at [email protected].

To see my paintings, my husband’s (Scott Williams’) photographs, and our students’ creations from this year’s Venice & Tuscany painting and photography classes, stop by our “From Pasta to Schnitzel” art party Friday night at our studio in Dallas or the check out the White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the Studio Tour, see WhiteRockArtists.com.