New “Autumn in Tuscany” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

“Autumn in Tuscany” ©2020 Niki Gulley
 10″ x 20” textured oil painting

 

During our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we stay in the middle of the countryside at a villa surrounded by 360 degree views of the rolling hills and valleys and nearby hill towns. One of the best vantage points and probably my favorite town in Tuscany is Pienza. Perched on high, the city towers over everything around and seems to actually draw the passing clouds to its bell tower and church steeple. This was a particularly gorgeous morning with beautiful puffy white clouds drifting by that created dramatic shadows in the recesses and golden light as it hit the autumn fields. 
Close up texture detail:
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Iceland – Aug. 2020
Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020
Paris – June 2021
Portugal – Aug./Sept. 2021

 

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

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New “Guiding Us Home” Oil Painting by Niki Gulley at Seaside Gallery

“Guiding Us Home” ©2019 Niki Gulley
16″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Nestled in a valley with its long arbor-lined driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Undulating rows of wheatfields and vineyards draw your eye back through the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds drift overhead.  Late day sunlight casts dramatic shadows creating a rhythm beckoinging you to journey down the drive, guiding you home.

“Guiding Us Home” is hanging at Seaside Gallery in Pismo Beach, CA. If you are interested in purchasing or more details, please contact them at:

Seaside Gallery
580 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, California
(805) 773-8057
 
To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
Greece – May 2020
Iceland  – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek  – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Visiting the Alhambra Palace with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 3 – Granada, Spain: Andalusia Art Trek
“Morning Shadows in the Rose Garden” • 12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 

On the third day of our Spain Art Trek, we visited the Alhambra palace, one of the world’s true architectural marvels and the seat of power from Moorish to Christian rule, dating back to the 14th century. This stunning fortress is the culmination of Moorish design and has some of the best maintained late-Medieval gardens. The Generalife grounds were so gorgeous, bursting with cascading roses and dramatically lit pathways that we set up our easels there to paint while the photographers and tourists toured more of the grounds. Later that day, we met for lunch and continued our tour of the Alcazar.

 
Part of our Art Trek group in front of the Alhambra Palace.
 

New “Ready for Harvest III” Grapevine Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

“Ready for Harvest III” ©2019 Niki Gulley
16″ x 12″ textured oil painting

In “Ready for Harvest III,” I set up my easel at the agriturismo we were staying at in Tuscany to capture this gorgeous view of the rolling hills and the grapevines planted on their property. The grapes were so plump and juicy, it looked like they could be harvested any day. I liked how the plantings framed the view in the distance, creating a sort of window pane in the foreground, with just a sliver of the farmhouse in the mid-ground. With some clouds rolling in, the sun created that unusual glow that I’ve only seen in Italy with gorgeous purple shadows and gold and pinks hitting the hillsides, giving them form. I hope you, too, are transported to this peaceful place surrounded by beauty, warmth and delicious home-grown food and wine.

“Ready for Harvest III” is hanging at Seaside Gallery in Pismo Beach, CA. If you are interested in purchasing or more details, please contact them at:

Seaside Gallery
580 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, California
(805) 773-8057
 
To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
Scotland – Aug. 2019
Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019 – Only 1 Spot left!
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

New “Ready for Harvest II” Winery Painting by Texas Niki Gulley

“Ready for Harvest II” ©2019 Niki Gulley
16″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I love how in Tuscany you are surrounded by grapevines everywhere you go. My husband and I visited late in the summer to capture the area’s beauty on canvas and film. I was drawn to this vineyard outside of Montalcino, home of Brunello wines. I was attracted to the vibrant vines contrasted against the progressive miles of golden rolling hills dotted with more grapevines, olive trees, and plowed grain fields. The gorgeous, plump purple grapes were ready to harvest at any moment. Setting up my easel across from this vineyard, I began recreating the soft light that would break through the clouds and illuminate various hilltops and plantings. I arranged the vines to lead your eye back to the Tuscan villa and then to the beautiful countryside beyond. And when I finished, we treated ourselves to one of their delicious wines. A perfect afternoon!

“Ready for Harvest II” is hanging at Seaside Gallery in Pismo Beach, CA. If you are interested in purchasing or more details, please contact them at:

Seaside Gallery
580 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, California
(805) 773-8057
 
To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Scotland – Aug. 2019
Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019 – Only 1 Spot left!
Greece – May 2020
Iceland  – Sept. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

New “Guiding Us Home” Oil Painting by Niki Gulley at Seaside Gallery

“Guiding Us Home” ©2019 Niki Gulley
16″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Nestled in a valley with its long arbor-lined driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Undulating rows of wheatfields and vineyards draw your eye back through the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds drift overhead.  Late day sunlight casts dramatic shadows creating a rhythm beckoinging you to journey down the drive, guiding you home.

“Guiding Us Home” is hanging at Seaside Gallery in Pismo Beach, CA. If you are interested in purchasing or more details, please contact them at:

Seaside Gallery
580 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, California
(805) 773-8057
 
To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
Scotland – Aug. 2019
Tuscany Foodie Trek  – Oct. 2019
Greece – May 2020
Iceland  – Sept. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Painting and Photographing Don Quixote’s Windmills with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 2 – La Mancha, Spain: Andalusia Art Trek
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
Just Sold! After a day and half in Toledo, we headed to La Mancha, following in Don Quixote’s footsteps. Larger than life and perched on this steep cliff overlooking the surrounding farmland, everyone had a great time trying to capture the giants on canvas or film. After finishing, we drove onto our next destination, Granada, and checked into our hotel. That evening we dined on an 18 course authentic Andalusian dinner while our host taught us all about Spanish foods, customs, wines and sherries. Another fun-filled day and a great way to end the evening!
 
Painting windmills in La Mancha
 
Next summer we will be leading three different Art Treks to Spain, England and Ireland. So if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! See details at ArtTreks.org.
 
Please check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist landscape oil paintings.

Andalusia Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams: Toledo

Day 1, Afternoon – Toledo, Spain: Andalusia Art Trek
“Dappled Light” • Sold
12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
After lunch on the first day of our Spain Art Trek, we gave everyone free time to explore the city. Some visited the Cathedral, some toured the el Greco art museum, others shopped and some painted. 
I set up my easel in this peaceful garden shaded by these massive trees and painted the colorful architecture in the distance and the beautiful dappled light raking across the scene. That evening we dined on a gourmet tapas meal of scallops wrapped in bacon with lobster sauce, duck and strawberry salad, beef tenderloin with grilled asparagus, smoked octopus and assorted desserts. Delicious and a perfect ending to a fun-filled day!
 
Dinner in Toledo
 
Next summer we will be leading Art Treks to Italy and Croatia / Slovenia. So if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! See details at ArtTreks.org.
 
Please check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist landscape oil paintings.

Andalusia, Spain Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 7 • Sevilla, Spain: Andalusia Art Trek
9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki aGulley and Scott Williams
On the last day of our Spain Art Trek, we visited Plaza de España, a Moorish paradisiacal gathering place with a half mile of tiled fountains, pavilions, ponds and lush plantings. Some of my painters captured the river and bridges flowing through the center of the park, while others focused more on the unusual architectural elements. After shooting the area, the photographers and tourists continued on to visit more of the city, and we met up that evening to catch a Flamenco concert. Filled with haunting refrains from the Spanish guitar while dancers entertained with rapid, energetic footwork, sweeping movements and mesmerizing gestures, we were so wrapped up in the performance, an hour felt like minutes. For our final night, we treated ourselves to dining outside on a delicious meal with new friends and wonderful memories.
Breakfast from our hotel rooftop in Sevilla
 
Next summer we will be leading three different Art Treks to Tuscany, England and Ireland. So if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! See details at ArtTreks.org.
Please check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist landscape oil paintings.

Andalusia, Spain Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 6 • Sevilla, Spain: Andalusia Art Trek
Mini orange tree, Sevilla • 12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
On our first full day in Sevilla, we visited the exotic Alcazar Palace and Gardens in the morning, stopping for lunch on the way back to the hotel, and then we split up in the afternoon. The rooftop deck from our hotel had such incredible 360 degree views of the city with its interesting mix of modern and medieval architecture, from Moorish minarets and gothic cathedrals to newer residences, that we decided to paint right there. The photographers continued to explore the city while some tourists shopped and others visited the Cathedral, which is the third largest Gothic church in the world. That night we dined on an incredible authentic Andalusian dinner washed down with some tasty local wines – delicious!
Part of our Art Trek group in front of Sevilla’s town square • Photo by budding photographer and Art Trek participant Ken Strange
 
Next summer we will be leading three different Art Treks to Tuscany, England and Ireland. So if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! See details at ArtTreks.org.
Please check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist landscape oil paintings.