Inspired from a wonderful trip to Provence, we were a little too early for the lavender to be blooming, but we rounded a corner leaving the hill town of Roussillon and came across this gorgeous field of poppies and yellow wildflowers. It was so colorful and joyful, it took my breath away! Set beneath a vibrant blue sky on a beautiful day in springtime, I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of energy. Coming in close on the poppies in the foreground so that you could see their vibrant petals and buds about to pop, I left the field of gold softer in the background so as to not take away from the focal point. A typical stone farmhouse sets in the background, beckoning you to stay the night and let all of your cares drift away.
Tag: poppies art
New Tuscany Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley at the Good Art Company
This painting is inspired from a trip to Tuscany we took a few years ago when my husband, who is a professional photographer, and I spent about a week scouring every inch of the countryside for the best poppy fields and views. I was particularly drawn to this peaceful scene, even if the poppies weren’t as prolific as in other fields. I loved the calming, sweeping shapes of the hills and the vibrant reds contrasting against the softer grasses and white wildflowers. The road beckons you back to the stone farmhouse in the distance, while dramatic voluminous clouds dance across the sky, mimicking the foreground shapes and creating a sense of harmony. Repeating colors throughout, I love how the Impressionists used vibrant hues to add to the mood of a scene and create flow, so I brought my contemporary approach with broad strokes and thick texture to their traditions. I hope you, too, can feel a sense of peace and joy when you gaze into this Tuscan landscape.
“Ruby Smiles” Poppy Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley
“Spring’s Rewards” New Poppy Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley
Red headed poppies nod and wave, basking in summer sunshine, nestling amidst green pastures and soon to be harvested crops. It’s Provence: fertile, fruitful and filled with stunning vistas in every direction.
I hope you, too, feel an uplifting sense of peacefulness and the beauty of the countryside looking into Spring’s Rewards.
“Spring’s Rewards” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.
E-mail – Niki Gulley
Just Sold! “Purple Perspective” New Lavender Field painting by Niki Gulley
pictured in espresso floater frame
“Purple Perspective” New Lavender Field painting by Niki Gulley
pictured in espresso floater frame
To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Workshops and Art Treks, including a trip to Provence this summer and again in 2015, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.
Palette Knife Painting Demo by Texas Artist Niki Gulley for the Trinity Art Guild
24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014
New Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Niki Gulley
Poppy Painting at Dutch Art Gallery
I love it when we are driving leisurely through the countryside and we come across a gorgeous field of wildflowers. The sudden burst of color thrills your senses! Playing with color and texture, I feel like this poppy painting radiates with energy and captures the joy you feel on one of the first beautiful days of spring.
With this series, you can purchase either the left or the right painting to hang alone or display both side by side to form a panorama diptych.
“Tell Me Your Dreams” oil painting by Niki Gulley
Just sold! I absolutely love poppies and seeing them growing in mass! In this painting I wanted to show them in a different way than we’re used to seeing poppies so I chose a low angle to show off the beauty of their simplified forms and the strength of such a delicate flower, while capturing the azure blue sky behind them.