Visiting Montepulciano and Tuscan Wineries with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Montepulciano ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting
Day 2, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

The next morning of our Tuscany Art Trek, we headed to the wine town of Montepulciano. Perched atop a giant hill with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards below, we set up our easels at this breathtaking overlook. We had to work quickly to capture the morning light and soft clouds before they disappeared, while the photographers and the others explored ancient wine cellars, quiet back alleys and even got in a little shopping.
After lunch, we visited two wineries nearby to sample their Rossos, Vino Nobiles and the delicious sweet dessert wine, Vin Santo. Full from the local meats and cheeses and tasty red wines, we headed back to the villa for a quiet night of relaxing and soaking in the evening scenery.
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The registration deadline of Nov. 15th for most trips is quickly approaching, so don’t wait!
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 8-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 18-26, 2015
Provence, France – June 25-July 3, 2015
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 4-12, 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 11-19, 2015
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.
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To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Day 1, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

View from our Villa, Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting • SOLD
Day 1, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first morning of our Tuscany Art Trek, my husband went over camera functions and tips with his photography students while my painters set up to capture this gorgeous view of the distant hills and farmhouse that we see from our breakfast table each morning. With a few clouds drifting by, there was a beautiful soft light and a symphony of autumn colors framed by the quintessential Tuscan cypress tree in the foreground. What a perfect morning!
That afternoon we continued painting at the villa while the photographers explored the scenic countryside, and we all gathered that evening for a delicious meal of melted pecorino and homemade rustic bread, pici (hand rolled pasta) with wild boar sauce or truffle ravioli for others, fresh organic vegetables and of course the local red wine to top it off!
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The registration deadline of Nov. 15th for most trips is quickly approaching, so don’t wait!
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 8-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 18-26, 2015
Provence, France – June 25-July 3, 2015
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 4-12, 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 11-19, 2015
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.
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To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Day 6, Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

8″ x 10″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
Day 6, Lake Como – Varenna and Menaggio
 CINQUE TERRE / LAKE COMO ART TREK
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the sixth day of our Lake Como Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop, our group went in all different directions. Some folks decided to take an all day cooking class where they learned to make 
pastas, soups and entrees from scratch. While the rest of us visited Varenna castle in the morning and afterwards rode the ferry to Menaggio. We explored the town and treated ourselves to a fantastic lunch, dining al Fresco again before heading back to Varenna. With some down time in the afternoon, I enjoyed our amazing view of the lake and town from our balcony while completing this small palette knife oil painting of the colorful buildings below.
For dinner that night, we navigated the switchback roads to the tiny town of Perledo and were treated to a huge traditional seven-course Italian meal. With every plate being created from scratch with local ingredients, the food and wines were amazing. We left fat, happy and slept like the dead that night!
If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre / Lake Como for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 12th-21st, please let me know.  For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
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



Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Workshops fill up fast, so don’t wait to register!

E-mail me at [email protected] for more information.
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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Tuscany Plein Air Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley

“Autumn Harvest,” Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley
pastel • 24″ x 36″
I was inspired to paint this pastel of the beautiful rolling Tuscan hills and vineyards after our last Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop that my husband and I taught in Tuscany. Not only were the views amazing, but the food and the wine were absolutely delicious, too!

From our last Tuscany workshop, our group during a wine tasting at this 300 year old family vineyard. A perfect afternoon!


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If you’d like to join us Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 for our next Tuscany Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

Registration Deadline – Feb. 17th.
To see more of my paintings from Italy, visit NikiGulley.com.

“Turtle Creek Morning” – New oil painting

“Turtle Creek Morning” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” oil on wrap around canvas

Early on a fall morning the sun breaks softly, dreamlike, through leafy branches and casts early autumn’s golden palette across the creek. Silent water is ruffled by a gentle breeze. Arching over, bending into the quiet waters, a tree is mirrored encompassing, embracing –this painting captures the dreamy reflections and tranquil landscape of one of my favorite spots to paint near my home. It is painted in the traditional plein air oil manner, incorporating some heavy texture.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.