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

Notre Dame, Rose Window • 10″ x 8″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Last year on our plein air painting and photography workshop that we taught in Paris, we staked out this quiet, picturesque view of Notre Dame along the Siene. Some painters chose to include the whole scene with river, church and boats, while myself and a couple of others selected this tighter view on just the intricate stained glass of the rose window. After painting the whites and grays of the cathedral in the morning light, I decided to have a little fun with the colors in the afternoon – after all we were in the home of French Impressionism! Working with complimentary purples and oranges created vibrant highlights, cool shadows and contrasting colors that cause your eye to dance across the canvas.
Photo of us painting at Notre Dame taken by one of our budding photographers.

If you would like join us on our next Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop to Paris June 19-27, 2014, please check out nikigulley.com/artreks for more information. Register by Sept. 28th for a $600 savings!
Other upcoming Art Treks include:
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Niki Gulley at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago, IL this weekend

“Sun Drenched IV” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 36″ x 48″ textured painting on wrap around canvas

Sun Drenched IV was inspired by our trip to Provence, France last summer. Our timing was perfect and the sunflowers and lavender were in full bloom. While we came across many fields of lavender, we had to search a little harder for sunflowers. Of course that meant sampling more of the local cuisine and wines for much needed fuel as we looked! (My husband likes to say we have to suffer four our art.)

When we eventually came across these sunflowers, I knew immediately they would make a perfect painting. Their bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, the sun dappled path leading you deep into the golden field to the quaint stone farmhouse in the distance, and a beautiful summer day with a few peaceful clouds drifting by made for the ideal subject. The resulting painting is so full of color and texture, and my hope is that when you gaze into it, this piece immediately lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair where I will be exhibiting more of my sunflower and contemporary landscape paintings, or if you’re in the Dallas area, American Fine Art will have about a dozen of my works on display.

57th Street Art Festival 

Sat. June 2 • 11am – 6pm
Sun. June 3 • 10am – 5pm
Chicago, IL • on 57th St., between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

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