Plein air painting workshops

New “Black Beach Sunrise” Palette Knife Painting of Iceland by Niki Gulley

October 3, 2019

5″ x 7” textured oil painting

My husband and I visited Iceland this August and fell in love with its beauty. On this morning, we got up early to capture sunrise in the south along the Black Beach. The rock formations and caves that formed next to the water are fascinating. Giant basalt columns stacked one right after the other dominate the shoreline. I wanted to capture their texture and the peaceful glow as the morning sun rose above the horizon in this little painting.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New Palette Knife Barn Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

October 1, 2019

5″ x 7” textured oil painting

Continuing our journey along the west coast of Iceland, I was taken by their simplistic architecture, often topped with bright red roofs to add a pop of color to the natural landscape. In the next several paintings, you’ll see I chose a different house or barn each day and set out to capture its shape, the colors and light hitting the structure, and the picturesque, idyllic, quiet scenery surrounding the building in all directions. Here is my first one, a small 5” x 7” study where the shape of the mountains largely resembles the design of the barn, set amidst glowing grasses without another home in sight.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Scotland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 30, 2019

12″ x 16” textured oil painting – work in progress

Scotland Art Trek – Days 6: Isle of Skye – Dunvegan Castle and Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

For the next day on our Scotland Art Trek, we spent the morning touring the 13th century built Dunvegan Castle and its gorgeous gardens. That afternoon, we attempted to paint some of the beautiful houses around Portree with their lush gardens. Unfortunately, mother nature had other ideas and we got some of that Scottish sunshine before we could finish. As luck would have it, though, this was the first day that rain actually kept us from painting or shooting during the whole trip! The rest of our group, enjoyed the afternoon of free time, experiencing some whisky tastings, shopping in town and relaxing before we began our drive back to Edinburgh. That evening, we gathered for our critique or show and tell, always fun getting to see what everyone painted and photographed over the course of the week. We ended the night with a delicious dinner, enjoying our new found friendships.

Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Scotland and other travel painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Scotland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 27, 2019

12″ x 16” textured oil painting – work in progress

Scotland Art Trek – Days 6: Isle of Skye – Dunvegan Castle and Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Scotland and other travel painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Painted Harbor” Palette Knife Painting from Portree, Scotland by Niki Gulley

September 25, 2019

9″ x 12” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Days 3 and 4: Isle of Skye – Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Following our two days in Edinburgh, we drove to the Isle of Skye for our next stop on our Scotland Art Trek. Making home base in the picturesque town of Portree, we checked in that night, grabbed a delicious dinner and crashed so that we could get an early start the next day. We spent that morning exploring the unique, other-worldly, lush area known as Fairy Glen. Returning to Portree for lunch, the weather cleared just in time for us to start painting and photographing. We set up our easels at this postcard-perfect overlook of the colorful painted harbor below. Meanwhile the photographers visited Old Man of Storr to hike up to the amazing overlook and capture Isle of Skye’s unique beauty. That evening we reconnected for an amazing dinner and a perfect end to the day.

Part of our group at the Fairy Glen.

Photographers on top of Old Man of Storr.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Scotland and other travel painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

“Liquid Rush II” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

September 24, 2019

SOLD • 9″ x 12” textured oil painting

Just Sold! For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! Today the breeze was picking up again, so we aimed the car towards the falls and I painted from the front seat while the wind rocked our car and Scott to sleep. Meanwhile, I set out to capture the gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Using diagonal strokes again to capture the energy and strength of the cascades, I also wanted to show the mountains they were tumbling over and a sliver of the river in the distance as the water flowed onward. Dramatic clouds drift by, adding to the rhythm and emotion of this special place.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Edinburgh Castle” Palette Knife Painting from Edinburgh, Scotland by Niki Gulley

September 23, 2019

12″ x 9” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Second Day: Edinburgh
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the next day of our plein air painting and photography trip to Scotland, we spent a second day in Edinburgh, exploring the scenery some more. I took the painters further down the Princess Gardens so that we could get a good view of Edinburgh Castle perched high above town. Each student captured the looming structure in a slightly different, unique, beautiful way. Meanwhile the photographers covered a lot of ground, capturing Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill and the Miracle Mile. That afternoon we gave everyone free time to explore on their own. Some visited the castle, some shopped and some photographed some more. After dinner, the Military Tattoo was going on at the castle so many of our group got the once in a lifetime chance to take in that experience, too!

Painting Edinburgh Castle.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Scotland and other travel painting series.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Relaxation Awaits” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 9, 2019

“Relaxation Awaits” • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

Just Sold! On the last day of our New England Fall Foliage Art Trek that my husband, Scott Williams, and I taught, we painters stayed right at our b and b to capture the beautiful views of fall foliage in all its splendor. I decided to paint this view out back, since I’d been admiring it every day of the trip. It was a gorgeous morning with vibrant fall colors frosting the foliage. This set of Adirondack chairs was so inviting, just welcoming you to sit, relax and enjoy the view. Long side lighting created dramatic shadows and a glow to the grasses. I hope you can escape and rejuvenate with me!

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Fall 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

New Palette Knife Painting of Iceland’s Waterfalls by Niki Gulley

September 5, 2019

9″ x 12” textured oil painting

For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! This one is so magical and unique since you can walk behind the falls and peer out the cave as the water rushes from above crashing into the reservoir below. I set out to capture the gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Trying to find a dry enough place to paint where the mist wouldn’t keep erasing my drawing was a challenge, but on my third try, I finally found a good spot! Trying to time it so that I could capture the sun as it was setting in the distance just added to the enchanting feel of this location. I hope you, too, can feel these cascades power and beauty.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. My husband, Scott Williams, and I will be leading a painting and photography workshop to Iceland next August, and this waterfall will be one of our amazing stops. Details will be on our website shortly, and we anticipate that this trip will sell out quickly, so let us know if you’re interested.

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

September 4, 2019

12″ x 16” textured oil painting

My husband and I both LOVE waterfalls, which turned out to be one of our favorite things about Iceland – there was a stunning waterfall everywhere we went. Today I set up my easel to capture the energy and flow of the cascades while showing the lush mountainous scenery surrounding the landscape. Creating strokes in diagonal sweeping shapes to enhance that feeling of movement and rhythm, I hope you, too, can hear the flowing water’s music and feel the gentle spray from its mist.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Iceland painting series.

***

Venice – Feb. 2020

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.