The Magic of Tuscany Painted by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

   

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 
by Niki Gulley
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5: Cooking Class
 
Today at our villa, we learned how to make authentic Tuscan meals from a local home chef. From hand rolled pasta, to roasted pork, to various pizzas and appetizers and finishing with a chocolate cherry ricotta torte, they shared their homemade creations with the rest of us, which were delicious!
 
While the rest of our group was learning how to recreate an Italian feast, I had been admiring this view from the back of our villa. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking with 360 degree views of rolling hills and valleys, dotted by olive groves and quintessential Tuscan farmhouses. Today the late afternoon light was so beautiful how it cast its golden glow on the landscape, and I had to capture it before it was gone. The serpentine roads lead you up over the hills and into the distance. I hope you enjoy the escape to beautiful Tuscany, too, when you gaze at my painting!
 

 

 

For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to France, Tuscany, or Venice, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 

 

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

 

New Vineyard Painting by Palette Knife Artis Niki Gulley

  

 

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

 

by Niki Gulley
 

We visited Tuscany this fall and were surrounded by grapevines everywhere we went, with the gorgeous, plump purple grapes ready to harvest at any moment. I loved these vibrant vines in the foreground framing the rolling hills in the distance. Setting up my easel across from this vineyard, I created this textured painting with palette knife and a lot of paint. I arranged the planted vines to lead your eye across the canvas, stopping at the Tuscan villa on your way. Morning light cast deep purple shadows on the ground and caused the leaves and soil to glow. As a treat when I finished, we enjoyed a picnic of salami, proscuitto, pecorino and of course, vino. Yum!

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

 

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If you’re interested in joining us in Tuscany or on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 

Greece Art Trek
May 17-24, 2025
Only 1 Spot Left!
Visit https://www.arttreks.org/greece-2025/ for details.

Switzerland Art Trek 
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full
More info. at https://www.arttreks.org/switzerland-2025/.

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
New Date – September 20-27, 2025
Just a couple of spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at [email protected] or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

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https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
 

“Interpreting Impressionism” by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

 

 

“Interpreting Impressionism” ©2024 Niki Gulley
20″ x 16″ textured oil painting on canvas

Painted at a park near my home, I loved all of the spring colors surrounding this peaceful pond. Having fun working with complimentary colors much like the impressionists and utilizing large textured strokes, cause this piece to dance with joy and energy. May you escape with me into nature’s beauty!

 

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on palette knife landscape paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

Colorful Winter Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Morning Flow” ©Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting  
 

My husband and I recently visited Iceland to gather new inspiration on film and canvas. Going in March so that we could see the northern lights, we were often greeted by snowfall and an occasional blizzard! Today was one of the days where it was too windy to paint or photograph outside so we aimed the car towards this gorgeous vista and I painted from protection of the passenger seat. I loved the play of colors with the blue of the river and sky contrasted against the golden grasses and mountains. The red branches on the winter shrubbery were particularly beautiful and I wanted to feature them in the foreground next to the focal point, meanwhile a light dusting of snow still frosts the ground and adds to the dreamlike landscape.

 

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

 
Or, for one click shopping to purchase, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/morning-flow/.

 

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If you’re interested in joining us in 2024 on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Iceland this coming August or on a future Art Trek or Foodie Trek, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
 

 

 

 

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
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 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

“Coming Home” New Palette Knife Painting from Tuscany by Niki Gulley

  

“Coming Home” ©2023 Niki Gulley
20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with the best views of the surrounding valleys, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. The long curving driveway and undulating wheatfields draw your eye back through the rolling hills. Beautiful, billowing clouds drift overhead.  Early morning light casts dramatic shadows creating a rhythm beckoning you to journey up the drive, guiding you to your new getaway you can call home. 

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
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For more information on Art / Foodie Treks, visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

 
If you’re interested in joining us, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly! 
 
 
 
***
 
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

 
 

New “Channeling Van Gogh” Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Channeling Van Gogh” ©2023 Niki Gulley

Last fall I was deeply honored when the Dallas Museum of Art asked me to teach a plein air painting workshop in conjunction with their exhibit “Van Gogh and The Olive Groves.” I’ve always loved the impressionists so this was such a fun project! To be able to demonstrate and show the museum’s members how to channel their inner Van Gogh was a perfect match. Setting our easels up in the Arbor Hills Nature area in Plano, they each chose a tree and then experimented with color and mark making with the goal of conveying their feelings and impression of the scene. I chose this beauty for its grandeur and shape, causing my strokes to dance with energy and vibrancy, all in the spirit of Vincent!

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on palette knife landscape paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

Colorful Rose Garden Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

“Ruby Blooms” ©2023 Niki Gulley
20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel
 
When we checked into our B and B in Tuscany this year, we were greeted by beautiful rose gardens surrounding the property. WOW! With such a plethora of gorgeous blooms, it was really hard to narrow down what to paint. Finally I landed on these crimson beauties with a peek at the Tuscan villa in the distance. I adore the cypress trees so indicative of Tuscany so I made sure to include them in the background. I also loved how this ancient twisted vine hugged the scene, creating an organic window of the view beyond. Filled with joy and color, I hope you are transported to this serene escape.
 

For details on more of my Tuscany or rose garden paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
***
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks next year to Spain, Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 

 

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

 

“Popping Magic” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

   

“Popping Magic III” ©2023 Niki Gulley
18″ x 24″ textured acrylic painting on canvas
 
 
I painted “Popping Magic III” this spring not too far from my home. This might have been one of the best years for the poppies and wildflowers. The explosion of color was incredible! This morning started out slightly overcast, and the sun kept peeking in and out of the clouds, creating a soft glow to everything it touched. I wanted to capture that radiant light and joyful energy illuminating your journey as you wander through this magical field of blooming glory. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of springtime with the wildflowers abloom!
For details on more of my Texas paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.


Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 

New Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Sunshine Serenade III” ©2023 Niki Gulley
24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
 
 
Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these uplifting sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture. Bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, fill your home with joy and beauty. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view. Full of warmth and vibrancy, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.
 
For more information on this painting, please contact,the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX at https://www.goodartcompany.com/niki-gulley.
 

And to see more of my palette knife contemporary floral and landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

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For details on our plein air painting and photography Art Treks workshops in Europe, please check out ArtTreks.org.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Highly Textured Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Climbing Sunshine” ©2023 Niki Gulley
20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 
 
I can’t believe there are sunflowers blooming in every garden in Switzerland. You know I had to paint them! Here are some beauties outside of our B and B with the gorgeous mountains behind them.
 
If you’d like this uplifting painting to bring joy and color to your home, visit nikigulley.com/climbing-sunshine/.
 

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/