palette knife painting

New Bluebonnet Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 23, 2015

36″ x 35″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted to capture the rhythm, color, and density of our bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and vibrant wildflowers flowing along the grassy rises and falls of our berms in the Texas Hill Country. Making sure not to over blend my thick strokes so that you could see the marks and feel the energy found in nature, April Rhythms is loaded with texture, color and movement. Repeating patterns, shapes and hues in the blooms, sky and distant mesquite trees unite foreground and background and add to the harmony of spring’s symphony.

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“October Blaze” Textured Birch Trees Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 23, 2014

SOLD • 36″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Just Sold! With “October Blaze,” I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

May 5, 2014

24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Pictured in espresso floater frame

These Texas bluebonnets were inspired from a trip to the Willow City Loop outside of Fredericksburg one spring when the fields were particularly colorful and beautiful. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, the finished painting is loaded with color, texture and energy!

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Allen Arts Festival.

Allen Arts Festival
May 9 – 4pm – 8pm
May 10 – 10am – 8pm
May 11 – Noon – 7pm
Watters Creek • 970 Garden Park Dr., Allen, TX
allenartsalliance.org

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Road to Abiquiu” New Palette Knife Painting

February 11, 2013

12″ x 24” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

The first time we went to Santa Fe and headed north to Ghost Ranch, I was awestruck by the incredible scenery. The terrain starts to change as you near Abiquiu with the rock formations becoming more colorful, jagged and varied, and the light seemed to become purer, too. In order to capture the sense of the vast open landscape and magnificent skies found here, I chose a panorama format for this painting. I not only wanted to capture the rugged beauty of New Mexico, but also the excitement of discovery and the anticipation of what’s to come.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

LAST DAY to Register for Santa Fe Painting / Photo Workshop

June 3, 2011

SOLD • 8” x 16” oil on board

Painted with thick oil paint and palette knives, I wanted to capture the craggy mountains and dense sage brush indicative of the unique New Mexico landscape.

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop

Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley

Santa Fe, New Mexico

August 7 -13 / 2011

Reservation deadline: June 4th

See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at

NikiGulley.com.

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New Texas Hill Country oil painting at Art in the Square

April 13, 2011

Textured Oil on Wrap Around Canvas, 30” by 48”

Vivid indigo: when thick clusters of bright blue cover the rolling bluffs of our Texas Hill Country – you know spring is here! Texas Bluebonnets splash across the fields interspersed with fiery Indian Paintbrush and bright yellow Coreopsis. Wildflowers, winding paths and wind-tested live oaks fill this canvas with the joy of a clear spring day in the hill country.

This bluebonnet painting and many others will be available for you to see this weekend at Art in the Square in Southlake, TX, Booth #J5. Visit artinthesquare.com/default.aspx for details.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on Texas-inspired paintings.

Aqua Dreams – New Textured Oil Painting

March 24, 2011

36″ x 60″ textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

For more information on this painting, e-mail Niki Gulley

or to see more of my textured palette knife paintings,

visit NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229.

“Vertical Prism” aspen tree oil painting

January 28, 2011

SOLD • 30″ x 40″ oil on canvas

Sold to a collector in Madison, WI. These playful aspen trees were created with palette knife and gallons of oil paint to achieve texture, movement and colors that explode off the canvas, all while capturing the childlike wonder of staring into the treetops.

Rocky Mountain Aspens oil painting by Niki Gulley

January 26, 2011

oil on board • 11″ x 14″

I painted these brilliant golden aspen trees from Colorado with brush, palette knife and plenty of oil paint. I love the contrast and intensity of the colors created between the foreground forest and background blues.

Recently Sold “Skyward Bound” oil painting

December 20, 2010

SOLD • oil on canvas • 30″ x 40″

Recently sold to new collectors in Dallas! In “Skyward Bound,” I wanted you to feel like a little kid again looking up into the treetops, enjoying the beautiful sky and colors above. We forget to do that as adults – we’re so focused on straight ahead! Choosing vivid reds, yellows, blues and greens in addition to the perspective of the aspen trees and autumn forest from below adds to that playful mood.