24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas, Dallas Arboretum
©2016 Niki Gulley

I painted this scene from the Dallas Arboretum on location a few weeks ago when the weather was beautiful and the spring buds were in full bloom. I love tulips being one of the first flowers to announce that winter has officially ended, so I focused on these colorful red and white striped ones in the foreground, which contrast so well against the complimentary green leaves and grasses. I also liked how their height leads you back into the distant flower beds and onto the Degolyer house in the background, so I chose this vertical panorama format to accentuate that feeling. Loaded with thick oil paint, texture and movement, I hope you can feel the joy that spring is in the air!

If you’re in the DFW next weekend and you’d like to see more of my textured landscape oil paintings, please stop by my display at the Dallas Arboretum’s Artscape.