Painting Cinque Terre on Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Painted Houses,” Riomaggiore ©2018 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ Textured oil painting
 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2, Morning Location: Riomaggiore
 
After a good night’s rest, we took the train that connects the five cities along the Italian coast to the southern most town of Riomaggiore. This morning the temperature was perfect, but we had more cloud cover with only occasional breaks of sunshine. Our painters set up our easels to capture this beautiful view of the colorful town and their ocean overlook while the photographers and tourists checked out the town and surroundings. 
 
 
When we had finished painting and exploring and eaten a delicious seafood lunch, we caught the scenic boat ride back to Vernazza, enjoying the ocean view of each town and its colorful architecture perched along the coast way. 
***
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 
Spaces are filling up quickly, so don’t wait!
 
 
Vermont Fall Foliage – Oct. 2018
Spain – May 2019
Ireland Foodie Trek – Aug. 2019
Scotland Art Trek – Aug. 2019
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.arttreks.org
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 

Day 7, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 7:  Ireland ART TREK
Morning location: Muckross House, Killarney
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the 7th day of Ireland Art Trek, we visited the magnificent Muckross House and Gardens, a mansion built in the 1800s. With acres of woodland, gardens and lakeside views, the photographers and tourists explored while us painters set up our easels in front of the manor house and colorful formal gardens. A challenging scene to capture with so much going on, we did our best to set the scene on our 9×12 canvases.

Our photographers and tourists going for a carriage ride on the Muckross estate.
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 

Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 6:  Ireland ART TREK
Afternoon location: Dingle Peninsula & Killarney Castle
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the 6th afternoon of Ireland Art Trek, we continued to paint on the castle grounds while the photographers and tourists finished exploring the Dingle Peninsula. I chose to paint the castle’s guest house because I love how it was nestled back in the woods, feeling so nostalgic of a visit to grandma’s in the country. The massive unusual pine trees were so awe-inspiring that I used them to frame the right half of the scene, leading your eye down the path to the yellow house safely tucked in amongst the lush foliage. A soft light would appear off and on, illuminating the scene and creating that unique Irish light. That evening we all reconnected and dined again on another delicious dinner in town.
 
Dining in the castle bar.
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

Day 6, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 6:  Ireland ART TREK
Morning location: Dingle Peninsula & Killarney Castle
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
The next day of our Ireland Art Trek, the photographers and tourists ventured out to tour the Dingle Peninsula with its craggy coves, cute fishing villages and spectacular ocean views, stopping at castles,  Dingle town, waterfalls and various landmarks along the way. My painters wanted to stay at our castle grounds and paint right where we were lodging because the scenery was so beautiful. For our morning location, we set up our easels in the castle’s garden. The brilliance of the various greens was so intense that I had to capture that along with this romantic gazebo beckoning you to sit down and enjoy the view.

Our photographers and tourists visiting the Dingle Peninsula.
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 

Day 5, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 5:  Ireland ART TREK
Killarney
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the next morning of our Ireland Art Trek, we left for Killarney, making a pit stop in the adorable thatch-roofed town of Adare. After exploring and grabbing lunch, we drove onto our lodging for the next few nights, a 16th century castle, fit for a king! Dinner was also delicious that evening in the castle’s dining room.

***
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
Ireland – Aug. 2019
Scotland – Aug. 2019
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 

Day 4, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 4:  Ireland ART TREK
Cliffs of Moher
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the fourth morning of our Ireland Art Trek, we explored the exotic Cliffs of Moher. Unfortunately, we received some of that Irish sunshine and only got in a quick glimpse before the sideways rain and wind got the best of us. Since the afternoon was washed out, too, we decided to paint our impressions back at the hotel. Several of the tourists went into town to shop and sightsee, and the photographers gathered around the fireplace to receive a lesson on Photoshop and Lightroom. It turned out to be a great day! That night we dined again on a delicious seafood dinner at a cozy garden restaurant nearby.
 
 
***
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
Ireland – Aug. 2019
Scotland – Aug. 2019
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

Day 3, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
 

Day 3:  Ireland ART TREK
Galway
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
After spending the first two days of our Ireland Art Trek in Dublin, we moved onto the happening city of Galway next. After a quick bite, us painters set up our easels along the “Long Walk” to capture the colorful houses along the cove while the photographers and tourists explored downtown and joined us later that afternoon. While we managed to stay dry, you can see from the painting that we had very dramatic skies and moody colors! A fun challenge to capture after coming from sunny Dallas, TX. That evening we checked into our hotel near the Cliffs of Moher and thoroughly enjoyed a delicious gourmet dinner that night.

 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

Day 1 and 2, Ireland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley • SOLD

Day 2:  Ireland ART TREK
Trinity College, Dublin
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the first day of our Ireland Art Trek, we arrived in Dublin and got acquainted with the bustling city. After a good night’s sleep, we spent the next morning painting and exploring the grounds of Trinity College. The photographers shot inside the library and around campus while we set up our easels in this quiet courtyard. The architecture was fascinating, and I loved this wooden bench beckoning passers by to sit down and take in the sights. That afternoon we gave everyone free time to explore, photograph, shop, etc. and that evening we all reconnected for a traditional delicious Irish dinner of Guiness stew, fish and chips and various pies.

Exploring the Temple Bar neighborhood in Dublin.
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
Fall in New England – Oct. 2018
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 

“Villa with a View,” Lake Como, Italy oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Villa with a View” ©2014 Niki Gulley • 12″ x 9″ oil painting • SOLD
 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 7, afternoon location: Villa Babianello
 
Just Sold! After a busy schedule the day before, several of us opted to take it easy and join a cooking class while others visited the castle in town and one of the villages across the lake. We were whisked away to a tiny nearby hamlet where the chef, Moreno, prepares all of the dishes himself that he serves for dinner at his restaurant. He started the morning out by feeding us cappuccino and homemade cake to enjoy while he began showing us how to roll out and form pasta for cheese tortellini and marinara from scratch. Next up, was a decadent potatoes gruyere with ham slices, all of which we got to sample. The finalé was the creamiest mushroom risotto, local red wine, and don’t forget the limoncello for dessert. Yum!
 
Late that afternoon, we visited the Botanic garden in Varenna, which is spectacular with its colorful tropical plantings, elaborate villa, sculptures and fountains, and fantastic views along the lake. What a great day! 
***
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 
Spaces are filling up quickly, so don’t wait!
 
 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 2018 
New England Fall Foliage – Oct. 2018
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 

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

©2017 Niki Gulley • 9″ x 12″ Textured oil painting
Day 7, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we painted the quintessential cypress tree clump set among the rolling hills, signifying you’re in Tuscany while the photographers shot the surrounding countryside. That afternoon we went into Pienza to explore, shop and photograph.
 
Scenic overlook in Pienza.
 
We capped the night off with an amazing dinner and drifted off to sleep, full, happy and at peace.
 
***
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The early registration deadline of Sept. 23rd for a $600 on most trips is quickly approaching, so don’t wait!
 
 
FULL – Fall in New England – Oct. 10-15, 2017
FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018
Venice, Italy (Carnival) – February 3 – 10 /2018
Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.