New Tuscany Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley at the Good Art Company

“Peaceful Pursuit,” Tuscany ©2015 Niki Gulley
 30″ x 48” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

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.

“Peaceful Pursuit” along with several of my new palette knife paintings will be featured in my One Woman Show, hosted by the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. If interested in more information on pricing or purchasing this palette knife Tuscany painting, please contact The Good Art Company.

The Good Art Company Gallery
Niki Gulley – One Woman Show
Opening Reception / Meet the Artist – April 3rd, 5pm – 9pm
Show continuing through April
218 West Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX

Day 3 Tuscany Art Trek, Siena

“Doorway to the Past,” Siena, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
10″ x 8″ pastel

Day 3, Siena – Tuscany Art Trek
On the third day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we visited the ancient walled hill town of Siena. With an incredible marbled cathedral, a massive town square where they run the Palio, a world famous horse race, and a fascinating labyrinth of cobblestone streets with a treasure around every corner, there was something for everyone to see. We made a leisurely day of sightseeing and people watching in true Italian style, and that evening treated ourselves to a delicious dinner in town.
If you’d like to see “Doorway to the Past” and more of my travel plein-air paintings, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Oct. 6th and 7th, from 10am – 6pm. Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com for details.
Enjoying a fabulous dinner in Pienza.

If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is less than a month away.
If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at [email protected].
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US Classes and Workshops – nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops – nikigulley.com/artreks/

Painting in Montepulciano with Niki Gulley

12×9 textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 2, Montepulciano – Tuscany Art Trek
With a little more time before our afternoon winery tour, we decided to work on another painting. I chose this view of the tile rooftops below spreading out in front of the valley. I loved the puzzle piece feel of the buildings, zigzagging in all different directions, clinging to the steep drop below with the fields of crops also adding their criss crossing patterns to the jigsaw puzzle.
If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is less than a month away.



If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at [email protected].

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US Classes and Workshops – nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops – nikigulley.com/artreks/
Available Paintings – NikiGulley.com

Plein Air Painting in Tuscany with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9×12 textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 1, afternoon location – Tuscany Art Trek

That afternoon it started to drizzle, so we picked a location that was covered where we could still paint and photograph. With the sky fairly overcast and the hues rather dull that afternoon, we used the cypress as our subject, but had fun playing with color. I think the results were even better than had it been a sunny day! Everyone’s paintings turned out beautiful, and that evening we treated ourselves to a fabulous tuscan dinner of pastas, pecorinos, meats and a little vino to treat ourselves. A great end to a fun filled day!

One of our photographers getting into the shot!

An amazing dinner with new friends.
If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is less than a month away.



If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at [email protected].

***




US Classes and Workshops – nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops – nikigulley.com/artreks/
Available Paintings – NikiGulley.com

Tuscany Painting Workshop

“Autumn Harvest,” Tuscany ©2011 Niki Gulley
pastel • 24″ x 36″
I was inspired to paint this pastel of the beautiful rolling Tuscan hills and vineyards after our last Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop that my husband and I taught in Tuscany. Not only were the views amazing, but the food and the wine were absolutely delicious, too!

From our Tuscany workshop: Part of group pictured while touring this 300 year old wine cellar, always run by the same family.


If you’d like to join us Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 for our next Tuscany Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. Sign up by Jan. 13th for a $500 discount.
To see more of my paintings from Italy, visit NikiGulley.com.

Painting Florence, Italy with Niki Gulley

“Evening Stroll” © 2010 Niki Gulley
Pastel 25” x 19”

Sadly our Tuscany workshop has come to an end. Everyone had a wonderful time, and I thank you guys for making this such a memorable trip! From the amazing Tuscan vistas dotted with cypress, wildflowers and grape-vines, to the cobbled medieval hill towns, to the world-class museums & history-filled architecture, to the mouth-watering pastas, cheeses, meats & of course, wines, we will treasure the memories forever.

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop
Tuscany, Italy – September 2010 & 2011
Athens & Santorini, Greece – May 2011
Led by Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
Our trip to Tuscany for this year is full, but please join us next September in Tuscany or May 2011 in Greece.
Visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13 for more details.
E-mail me at [email protected].