Upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Tuscany with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Standing Tall, Tuscany”©2014 Niki Gulley
10″ x 8″ textured oil painting 

On our last Tuscany Art Trek, we chose these perfectly planted cypress trees so characteristic of Tuscany for our subject that day. Set against a bright blue sky and peaceful sweeping clouds, the setting was so serene and uplifting. For dinner that night, we treated ourselves to the “truffle tasting menu,” melted pecorino and honey, Florentine steak and a little vino nobile and vin santo to wash them down. Delicious food and great company with new friends!

If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. The final registration deadline of Jan. 25th is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014



Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

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E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

Greece Art Trek with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley and European Photographer Scott Williams

Day 6 – Greece Art Trek:  Fira and Wineries
12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
On the sixth day of our Greece Art Trek, the sky darkened and the winds picked up so we decided to paint in a more sheltered spot. So setting up on our balcony, we chose to paint a vignette of the white-washed stucco and simple architectural lines and curves. At a couple of points, we even got some soft sunlight to give our subject subtle highlights and shadows, which we painted quickly as the light was quite fleeting.
That afternoon, we weren’t about to let the drizzle spoil our day so we made the most of the the situation and went wine tasting! One of the local wineries overlooked the caldera, so we not only sampled some delicious Greek wines and munchies but also with the rain letting up, took in another amazing view.
Wine tasting on Santorini.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Paris and Provence, France so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing during lavender and sunflower season in France, and following in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, please join us for this amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic paintings.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Day 3 & 4 – Paris Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop w/ Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“A Day in Paris V” ©2012 Niki Gulley • 7″ x 5″ oil painting
Day 3 and 4 – Art Trek Paris with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
On day 3 and 4 of our Paris Art Trek, we concentrated more on site seeing, museum hopping, and of course, eating, with just a little painting and shooting in between. We saw everything from the Mona Lisa at the Louvres to an amazing collection of Monet’s at the Marmottan Museum, from Rodin’s sculpture garden to the incredible impressionist exhibit at the Musee d’Orsay. Some of our group toured the Champ Elysees while others visited the catacombs and Napolean’s Tomb. Stopping for an espresso  at a corner café, we relaxed and people watched in Paris style. We topped off the day with an amazing dinner where every morsel was lovingly prepared and each course is a work of art on the plate, accompanied by delicious French wine, discussing our adventures from the day.

 

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If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to
Santa Fe, NM Aug. 12 – 18 (see nikigulley.com/art-classes) or
 Tuscany, Italy Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 (visit nikigulley.com/artreks),
please e-mail Niki Gulley for more information. Registration deadlines are quickly approaching. We’d love to have you join us!
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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please go to my website at NikiGulley.com.

3 Days Left for Tuscany Plein Air Painting & Photograhy Workshop

“View from Montepulciano” Tuscany, Italy

SOLD • 14″ x 11″ pastel by Niki Gulley

Join us for our next Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Tuscany, Sept. 2 -10. In addition to daily painting and/or photography excursions, there will also be day trips into the surrounding hill towns, along with winery tours, museum visits in Florence and plenty of gorgeous Italian countryside. The villa we stay at sits atop a hill with 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding area, it has all modern convinces, plus wifi and a swimming pool. This truly is La Dolce Vita, so don’t wait until the last minute to sign up.

The early deadline for a $400 discount is just a couple days away!

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information, or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

 

From our last Tuscany workshop, everyone enjoying a delicious Italian dinner al fresco after a fun-filled day of painting, photographing and sightseeing in the Tuscan countryside.

Painting in Tuscany with Niki Gulley

“Spiritual Climb,” Pienza, Italy ©2011 Niki Gulley
Pastel • 12″ x 9″

One of my students painting in Tuscany from one of the amazing hill town overlooks.
If you’d like to join us for our next Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop, Sept. 2 -10, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information, or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

For more details on Scott Williams’ photography, visit Blind-Squirrel.org.

Tuscany Painting / Photo Workshop with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

“Amapola” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 11″ x 14″
This pastel was inspired by the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
If you’d like to paint in Tuscany, too, join us for our next Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop, Sept. 2 -10. See more details at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 or e-mail Niki Gulley for more information. We’d love to have you along for this amazing adventure!
For more information on Scott Williams’ photography, visit Blind-Squirrel.org.

Art & Photo Workshop in Athens & Santorini, Greece

“Doorway to Possibilities,” Santorini, Greece • by Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20” x 10” pastel
The view from our hotel that we’ll be staying at in May for our Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop is amazing! In this pastel, I wanted to capture not only the gorgeous Aegean below and the white-washed architecture with brilliant blue accents, but also I wanted to show off their unique doorways that also frame the beautiful landscape below.
If you’d also like to paint in Greece, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, in our Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop this May.
E-mail me for more information or go to nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.
The Jan. 15th final registration deadline is quickly approaching and we have room for just a few more, so sign up today!

White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour – Oct. 16 & 17

“Long Shadows,” Tuscany ©2010 Niki Gulley
8″ x 10″ pastel

After a delicious lunch of prosciutto and pecorinos on day three of our painting / photography workshop in Tuscany, we decided to venture into the countryside and paint this lone clump of cypress trees. With the simpler subject (and maybe a little Chianti at lunch!), everyone could relax and play, having fun pushing their colors and experimenting with their strokes. I liked how the late afternoon sun was casting such long dramatic shadows on the ground and I decide to accentuate the cool blues and violets I saw in the darks to contrast with the gold rolling hills.

If you’ve dreamt about painting in Tuscany, join us for our next Plein Air Painting Workshop in Sept. 2011. Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

To see my paintings, my husband’s (Scott Williams’) photographs, and our students’ creations from this year’s Venice & Tuscany painting and photography classes, stop by our “From Pasta to Schnitzel” art party Friday night at our studio in Dallas or the check out the White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the Studio Tour, see WhiteRockArtists.com.

Table for Two pastel at Bayou City Art Festival


“Table for Two” by Niki Gulley
Pastel • 24” x 36”

My husband and I honeymooned in Greece and fell in love with the island of Santorini. It has to be one of the most romantic spots we’ve ever seen. The views from the top of the caldera were absolutely stunning with the blue Aegean below, and the white-washed stacked architecture is truly unique. We easily segued into the the relaxed laissez faire Greek pace after a day or two and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the moment, dining seaside on delicious Mediterranean food and watching the sun set on the distant horizon.

If you’d like to join us next May on our Painting / Photography workshop in Greece, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information. Or, closer to home I also teach in Dallas, with the next set of classes starting in January 2011. If you’d like more details, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

If you’re in Houston, TX this weekend, please stop by the Bayou City Art Festival to and my pastels in person. I’ll be displaying my work at booth #480 – on Walker St. between Bagby & Smith Streets facing City Hall. See BayouCityArtFestival.com for more information.