Painted on location in Acadia National Park, we discovered this beautiful spot alongside the road with plenty of room to park our RV, which isn’t always easy to find a spot large enough. The birches were starting to turn colors and I loved this peaceful lake view. I hope it transports you to serenity, too!
Painted on location, I?loved this old weathered barn. But, being a huge fan of the impressionists and their use of color, I was struggling with how to paint the scene with so much green grass surrounding the pastures. As I kept strolling around the farm, I came across these beautiful fuschia flowers and knew this is exactly what I?was looking for to bring joy and color to my painting. May this peaceful, nostalgic setting lift your spirtis, too!
I love being immersed in nature. After living in a city surrounded by concrete and noise, I find being surrounded by mother nature to be extremely cathartic, peaceful and rejuvenating. In Rhythm Reflections, I became fascinated with the mirror reflection on the aspen trees in the water below the horizon line. With the lake surface slightly blurring the individual leaves, patterns started emerging that created a sort of rhythm that I found mesmerizing. Working first with thin drippy paint, and then building up thick layers of oil paint with palette knives to achieve extreme dimension, this painting is loaded with movement, energy and color. Leaving the composition slightly abstracted gives you a chance to form your own contemplative narrative with nature.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.
Being a huge Van Gogh fan, I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of color and energy just like how I feel to be surrounded by a joyful field of sunflowers! Perky, circular faces smile at you as their golden petals dance across the canvas. Painting these blooms full-sized helps to bring them to life and hopefully transport you to this happy location. Including surprising pops of vivid reds, purples and blues keep your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the jubilant feeling.
Just Sold! I love everything about going to the beach. I love gazing into the endless horizon while listening to the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing against the shore. I love feeling the warmth of the sun against my skin while the cool sand squishes between my toes. And, I love how all of my cares disappear and I feel completely at peace engulfed in the moment.
So, getting to paint along the shoreline is almost as close as it gets to perfection! I hope you, too, can feel the joy and serenity of gazing at the ocean in this piece.
“Scenic Byway II” ©2023 Niki Gulley
16″ x 20″ textured oil painting on canvas
Painted just outside of Santa Fe, the fall colors were gorgeous this year. The contrast of complimentary oranges and blues and yellows and purples created an energetic symphony for the eyes! Bright sunshine warmed up the day and caused the light to glow and dance. I hope you can enjoy the escape of a leisurely drive through the beautiful autumn scenery of New Mexico.
To purchase “Scenic Byway II,” please visit the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX at goodartcompany.com/niki-gulley .
And, if you’d like to see this painting and meet me in person, please stop by the gallery’s 15 year anniversary celebration on Feb. 3rd!
Loaded with thick, textured paint over multiple layers of color, these cheerful sunflowers are bursting to life with dimension and energy. Whimsical blooms seem to dance in nature’s kaleidoscope of summer hues bringing joy and sunshine to everyone they greet.
Loaded with thick, textured paint over multiple layers of color, these cheerful sunflowers are bursting to life with dimension and energy. Whimsical blooms seem to dance in nature’s kaleidoscope of summer hues bringing joy and sunshine to everyone they greet.