Portugal Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

   

“Atlantic Coastline” ©2021 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting
 
Portugal Art Trek: 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
Day 1 – Cascais

 

Once we finished researching our 2022 Art Trek to Alsace, France, we flew to Portugal to begin leading this summer’s Art Trek to our intrepid group. Our first afternoon was rather leisurely since most of our group was arriving from the United States and shaking off their jet lag. So once everyone checked into our oceanside hotel and took a short nap, we set out on a walking tour of our home base town, Cascais. The Atlantic Ocean hugs its coastline, and there is a great walking trail all along the city. Above, you can see how I wanted to capture the gorgeous rock formations and the beautiful colors in the ocean. 
 
After finishing taking in the beautiful scenery along the water, we wandered the maze of tiled streets throughout town, soaking in the architecture and energy, and finished the night with a delicious dinner of Portuguese tapas. A great way to start the trip!
 
View from our hotel
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Palette Knife Painting of Colmar, France by Niki Gulley

  

“Fairytale Setting II” ©2021 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

 

Can you really get sick of painting gorgeous fairytale views? Definitely not! We only had one more day in Colmar for me to once again try and capture its beauty. Fortunately, I did not have to get up before sunrise to capture this one and it was a shorter walk from our hotel, but I found the scene just as enchanting. I hope you, too, art transported to this picturesque, uplifting location.

 

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

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley Painting in France

 

“Fairytale Setting II” ©2021 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

 

I loved these views in Colmar so much that I just had to paint more of them. So once again, I was able to drag my body out of bed and carry my painting gear in the darkness to set up at this picturesque location in downtown Colmar. As the sun started rising, it illuminated the buildings and cast its colorful glow along the river and the sky. I’m so glad I made the effort and got up in time to capture it!
 

 

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

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Painting Sunflowers in France by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Sunny Refrain” ©2021 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

 

Painted on location while we were visiting Alsace, France, these perky sunflowers added so much joy to the lush valley. Grapevines planted in repetitious, rhythmic rows ebb and flow over the gentle curving hills as they lead your eye to the old stone church in the distance and you can almost hear their bells ring out. While I began this one outside, you can see the dramatic clouds that started to roll in and and my luck ran out as the rain hit. Fortunately there was still a view undercover and I was able to finish it in the front seat of our rental car. Good thing I didn’t spill any paint!
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

New “Fairytale Setting” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

“Fairytale Setting” ©2021 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

 

Next up on our journey was a visit to the fairytale villages of Alsace, France. Located along the French/German border, each town is a visual paradise consisting of brightly colored cross-timbered houses and flower boxes overflowing with vibrant, cheerful blooms. The hardest part is narrowing down what to paint! This morning I dragged my body and my painting gear in the darkness to set up at this picturesque view in downtown Colmar. As the sun started rising, it illuminated the buildings and cast its colorful glow along the river and the sky. I’m so glad I made the effort and got up in time to capture it!
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
 

New Eiffel Tower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Paris in August” ©2021 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

 

After completing the Art Trek we led in Iceland, we flew to Paris to soak in the sights and culture of the City of Light. This morning, I grabbed my paints and easel and headed to the park to capture the Eiffel Tower. With the flowers in full bloom and the landmark’s visitors buzzing with excitement, I wanted to capture the joy and energy in that moment. Setting up underneath this peaceful shade tree, I liked how it framed the architecture and created a window into this romantic world. 
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
 

“Paris in June” Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Paris in June” ©2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 12″ x 9″ oil painting

Just Sold! On the first day of our Paris Art Trek, the sun was shining and it was a lovely 80 degrees. A perfect way to start our trip! In the morning, we went up in the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed the amazing views of the city. That afternoon, we painted in a quiet park next to the tower while the photographers shot around the city, and we all convened that night for a delicious Parisian dinner.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to ArtTreks.org.

Please visit nikigulley.com to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.
 
 

“Afternoon Laundry” from Burano, Italy by Niki Gulley

 

“Afternoon Laundry,” Burano, Italy
SOLD • 7″ x 5″ • textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
 
Just sold! On the second day of our Venice Art Trek, we headed to the islands of Murano and Burano. First Murano, famous for its beautiful glass, to see a glass blowing demonstration and tour the museum. Then, onto Burano which is known as a fishing community (and for the homemade lace that they make there), and to help the fisherman find their houses while coming back from sea, they painted their homes every color of the rainbow. With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it’s hard to pick a single subject matter! We were drawn to this quiet location, however, and the vibrant blue stucco wall with that morning’s laundry being hung out to dry screamed to be painted. Today I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.
 
 
Painting and photographing in Burano.
 
If you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming Art Treks, please let me know. For more details, E-mail [email protected] or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Day 6, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Monet’s Garden

Monet’s Garden ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting
Day 6, Paris Art Trek: Monet’s Garden
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Paris Art Trek, we headed to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, which is incredible! The grounds are bursting with blooms, and they’ve kept it just like out of his paintings, especially in the water gardens. We set up our easels across from the bridge in his famous water lily paintings, and started on our own interpretations of the gorgeous location. What a treat!
That night we gathered for our last delicious meal with new friends and good memories. A perfect end to a perfect week!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015 
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014 
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015 
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015 
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Please visit NikiGulley.com (www.NikiGulley.com) to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.

Day 5, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Versailles

Versailles ©2014 Niki Gulley
5″ x 7″ pastel • SOLD
Day 5, Paris Art Trek: Versailles
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 

with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Today, we packed up and left our hotel for the opulent Palace of Versailles. After touring the chateau in all of its decadence, we dined al fresco and settled on the quiet painting location above in the formal gardens. It was another gorgeous day and the grounds were in full bloom. The garden staff even offered us fixative for our pastels when we were finished painting!

Next, we arrived at our B and B in Giverny – just a little slice of heaven! I felt like we entered the pages of a fairy tale!

That night we dined on another delicious dinner of Coquilles Saint Jacques, roast lamb, giant prawns, chocolate molten cake and some delicious Bordeaux to wash it down!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014