“Fire and Gold” ©2013 Niki Gulley
textured oil on canvas • 36″ x 48″
I love the first signs of fall – the crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful autumn colors, and being totally immersed in nature in the middle of a forest without a care in the world. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate that joyful feeling, choosing warm reds and yellows of autumn and using energetic strokes with my paint to heighten that mood. Building up first thin transparent layers and then thick textured layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.
Or, please visit
NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.
Niki's Blog
aspen art, birch tree oil painting, contemporary impasto landscape painting, fall foliage, Niki Gulley paintings, palette knife trees autumn, Texas artist
“Fire and Gold” ©2011 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 36″ x 48″
I used to love it as a kid, growing up in the midwest, when my family would go hiking in the woods – especially in fall. The crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot and the beautiful autumn colors, along with spending time with my mom and dad were special times. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate those warm memories, choosing reds and yellows of autumn to heighten those happy feelings and using energetic strokes with my paint reminiscent of a carefree, simpler time. Building up thin transparent layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.
Niki's Blog
aspen painting, birch tree oil painting, contemporary birches, forest art, Niki Gulley paintings, red landscape art, Texas artist Niki Gulley
“Colorful Transformation” ©2011 Niki Gulley
36″ x 48″ textured oil on canvas
Rather than create an exact replica of the forest, I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!
To see more of Niki Gulley’s landscape paintings, please stop by her booth at the Broad Ripple Art Fair in Indianapolis, IN this weekend – indplsartcenter.org/braf/.
Niki's Blog
aspen art, aspens art, birch tree oil painting, contemporary landscape painting, fall foliage paintings, Niki Gulley paintings, palette knife painting nature, textured oil painting
“Transformation” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 48″ x 60″ oil painting
Rather than create an exact replica of the forest, I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!
Or, e-mail me at
Niki Gulley if you would like more information.
Niki's Blog
aspen tree oil painting, aspens art, birch tree oil painting, birches painting, contemporary landscape painting autumn, fall aspen color, large scale contemporary oil painting, Niki Gulley paintings, palette knife art fall, Texas artist Niki Gulley
“Jeweled Forest” ©2011 Niki Gulley
30″ x 30″ oil on canvas • SOLD
Just sold to a new collector in Indianapolis. These aspen trees were painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to create heightened color, texture and energy.
Niki's Blog
aspen tree oil painting, aspens art, autumn forest, birch tree oil painting, birches painting, Colorado painting, contemporary landscape painting, fall trees, Niki Gulley paintings, palette knife art, textured oils
“Transitional Tones” Series – Fall Birches & Aspen Tree oil paintings
by Niki Gulley • 12″ x 12″
I painted these birch trees with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife. With the painting continuing around the edges of the canvas, they almost look 3-dimensional and are filled with color, texture and energy adding to their joyful feel. My birch and aspen paintings can be hung as is or they look great in a series, too. To see more of my “chunky” oil paintings, check out
nikigulley.com/?page_id=229.
Niki's Blog
aspen trees painting, autumn landscape art, birch tree oil painting, birches oil painting, contemporary landscape painting, Niki Gulley paintings, painting series red
Transitional Tones – Fall Birches oil painting
by Niki Gulley • 12″ x 12″
I painted these birch trees with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife. With the painting continuing around the edges of the canvas, they almost look 3-dimensional and are filled with color, texture and energy adding to their joyful feel. My birch and aspen paintings can be hung as is or they look great in a series, too. To see more of my “chunky” oil paintings, check out
nikigulley.com/?page_id=229.
Niki's Blog
aspen tree painting, birch tree oil painting, birches art, contemporary autumn landscape painting, fall art, Niki Gulley paintings
“Emergence” by Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 48″ x 60″
SOLD
I painted these birch trees with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife, resulting in a painting that is filled with texture and explodes with color!
Niki's Blog
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“Deep in the Woods” ©2010 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 36″ x 36″
I am absolutely crazy about aspen trees. I love their textured peeling bark, the sound of their tinkling leaves blowing in the breeze, the way the light illuminates their yellow leaves and makes them glow, and the repetition of the trunks packed so tightly together. The first time I saw them was on a trip with my family to Colorado and I fell in love with the beautiful scenery and peacefulness I found immersed in the forest and surrounded by mountains. I wanted to share my love of nature in “Deep in the Woods” so that you, too, could enjoy that calm and the beauty of the aspens.
“Deep in the Woods” and several of my other new paintings will be hanging at the Frisco Municipal Complex in Frisco, TX as part of a two man show featuring my paintings and Josh Trefehen’s photographs, in honor of us winning best in show and the top award at Frisco’s Art in the Square Festival in March. The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 1st at 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034. For more information, see the August article of Frisco Style Magazine, friscostyle.com/index.php/component/content/article/43/189-august-2010-issue.
Niki's Blog
aspen art, autumn art, birch tree oil painting, Colorado landscape painting, Dallas art shows, fall birches, Niki Gulley paintings, palette knife painting, Texas artist Niki Gulley
“Transitional Tones” ©2010 Niki Gulley
12” x 12” oil on canvas
I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.
If you’d like to learn how to create loose, vibrant paintings join us this fall in my adult art classes in Dallas. I am beginning registration and classes fill up quickly, so visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.
Niki's Blog
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