New “Passage of Our Ancestors” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

November 22, 2023

     

 
“Passage of Our Ancestors”  ©2023 Niki Gulley
28″ x 16″ textured mixed media painting on canvas
 
In “Passage of Our Ancestors,” I was remembering when we visited the catacombs in Paris. Miles of bones all stacked on top of one another had quite the profound overwhelming effect on me. What if there was a way to flip that underground darkness into a celebration of life and death? Hispanic culture embraces the Day of the Dead, so why couldn’t I?see these lives lost in a diffrent light? Sorting through my photos, I was drawn to this section where the heads were arrranged in the shape of the cross. Femurs, tibias, etc. are stacked all around them, which I just hinted at in my painting. Painting the skulls in colorful technicolor starts to flip the narrative to a celebration of these precious souls. But, what I’m really looking forward to is hearing your interpretation.
 
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on “Passage of Our Ancestors.”
Or, to see more of my textured palette knife paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

New “Full Circle” Seasons Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 21, 2023

    

 
“Full Circle”  ©2023 Niki Gulley
30″ x 30″ textured acrylic painting on circular board
 
In “Full Circle,” I started thinking about how everything has its life cycle. Trees evolve from season to season, sprouting buds, forming leaves, turning in the fall and eventually dying back in the winter. Time is a constant. In our lives, the idea of time is often in the back or our mind. How long will we be here and how are we going to spend it? So, here I used nature as a metaphor. I arranged the seasons in the pattern of a clock face, representing the cycle of life. Twelve main trunks act like the hours in a day, arranged in a circle as time ticks on. Gazing into the treetops like looking up to the heavens, light shines through as a reassuring beacon of hope and what’s beyond.
 
E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife fall foliage paintings.
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Autumn Hideaway” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 20, 2023

   

“Autumn Hideaway”  ©2022 Niki Gulley
16″ x 20″ textured oil painting 
 
After we finished teaching our Art Trek to Vermont, my husband and I stayed another few days to try to capture the gorgeous scenery on canvas and film. This morning, we ventured up to the majestic overlook by the Von Trapp property to capture the spectacular scenery. I loved how this cabin was perfectly tucked into the mountainside surrounded by vibrant fall foliage. The slightly overcast day made the colors pop even more! I hope you, too, can enjoy the crisp autumn air and a peaceful escape from the bustle of city life.
 
To purchase “Autumn Hideaway,” please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/autumn-hideaway/.
 
E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife fall foliage paintings.
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Autumn Waves” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

November 17, 2023

   

“Autumn Waves”
SOLD • 20″ x 30″ textured mixed media painting on 1.5″ stretched canvas
with painting continuing around the sides

I painted the sketch for this piece in the mountains and found it especially cathartic and peaceful. It was such a joy to be there surrounded by nature’s fall glory, that it would lift my spirits every day. I feel so fortunate to be able to do this and I hope that you can feel the joy that I felt when you gaze into autumn’s waves of color.

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife aspen tree paintings.

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

 

  https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

 

 

“Evolving Seasons” Large Scale Quad Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 16, 2023

  

“Evolving Seasons” ©2023 by Niki Gulley

Four 48″ x 36″ textured oil painting to form a 48″ x 144″ quadriptych

I wanted to create a large horizontal quadriptych, or four piece painting, that would flow from one season to the next to show the beauty of the forest throughout the year. Working on such a large scale invites you to step right into the scene and take a walk through the woods, enjoying all of the peace and joy that nature has to offer.

Here you can see all four paintings in a row, flowing from spring to summer and fall to winter. Rather than show the same exact scene at four different times of year, I decided I would rather show one long forest evolving from one season to the next to create a better harmony across the canvases. From the ground gently undulating underneath, to the pine trees flowing from canvas to canvas, to the rhythm created from aspens and oaks repeating, to the foliage and pops of color emerging and drifting into the distance, all elements are designed to add to the flowing symphony in “Evolving Seasons.

To see my “Evolving Seasons” series, please visit the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX at https://www.goodartcompany.com/niki-gulley.

 

 
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For more details on my other aspen and birch paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

 

“Walk About” Palette Knife Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

November 15, 2023

 
“Walk About” ©2023 Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting 
on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

Follow the deep wood’s path and wander under a canopy of sheltering leaves, light shifts through each branch and twig. Long, late rays of sunlight pierce the dreaming autumn forest, as you enter shadows dapple your journey. You are walking down a loamy path, filled with color-drenched leaves that invite you into the purple shadows where you may seek your dreams. This painting of a tranquil wood’s trail inspires your journey and your dreams with lush colors and rich images of beauty ahead.

 

 

 

If interested in more details or purchasing “Walk About,” check out https://www.nikigulley.com/walk-about/.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my birch and aspen tree oil paintings.

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

 

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

 

 

 

“Woodland Adventure” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

November 14, 2023

“Woodland Adventure” ©2023 Niki Gulley

 18″ x 24″” textured oil painting on board

 
I find being immersed in nature can have such an uplifting effect, and I wanted to share that feeling with you in Woodland Adventure. I chose pure, intense reds and yellows contrasted against autumn greens to create a fall forest that vibrates with color and energy.  I placed the vivid foliage in diagonal sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance on a beautiful fall day.
 
 
 

To purchase this highly textured oil painting, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/woodland-adventure/.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my aspen and birch paintings.

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

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Cacophony” Textured Autumn Aspen Painting Niki Gulley

November 13, 2023

         

“Cacophony” ©2023 Niki Gulley
30” x 30″ textured mixed media painting 
on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges
 

Enjoying the concert of aspen leaves rustling in the breeze and the beauty of fall ablaze with color, I felt invigorated as I began painting this aspen forest. The setting was so mesmerizing and rejuvenating that I wanted to communicate that joyful feeling of discovery. Filling the canvas with energetic staccato strokes and bold colors, in addition to gently arching the tree trunks reaching towards the sky, all add to that uplifting feeling of being immersed in nature’s symphony. 

 
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For more details and to purchase “Cacophony,” visit https://ao5gallery.com/collections/niki-gulley.
 
For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
 

 

Or, please visit my website at  NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Soaring Dreams II” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 10, 2023

   

 

“Soaring Dreams II” ©2022 Niki Gulley
SOLD • textured oil painting on canvas • 34″ x 34″
 

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and reds contrasted against a lavender-blue sky with gentle clouds drifting by, I’ve arranged the aspens in a circular pattern to give you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest. Using diagonal leading lines with the tree trunks and limbs, your eye gazes into the focal point where all of the elements come together. Meanwhile, utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

To see more of my impressionist palette knife paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.
 

 

If you have any questions about my aspen and birch tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 

Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains by Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

November 9, 2023

Sadly, our Fall Foliage Freedom Tour has reached its end. What an amazing 6 week adventure!!! Fortunately, we might have saved the best for last, visiting Asheville, NC in all of its peak autumn glory the last week of October. I had to squeeze in one last painting opportunity at our gorgeous campsite. 
 
Of course, one of the challenges of plein-air painting is you never know what is going to change in the scene you are capturing. For instance, our neighbors chose to park their black sedan right here in the middle of our picturesque view. Oh, well! The scenery beyond was still beautiful and I was able to take some photos on my camera to finish this one up at home. It also gave us a good excuse to take a scooter ride on that beautiful 70 degree day and check out the picturesque nature trails in the North Carolina Arboretum. Not a bad way to finish up our immersive autumn trip!
 
 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
 

 

Or, please visit my website at  NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.