“Lucky’s Cafe” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley



“Lucky’s Cafe,” Dallas, Texas © 2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 11″ x 14″ oil painting

Just Sold! Friends sit and gaze at the mass of beauty and indecision that is the menu. The fear of missing out on any number of delectable dishes makes it nearly impossible to chose. Their eyes waver between the menu in their hands and the massive chalk board that dominates the far wall. Mom’s meatloaf? Good Luck Reuben? And who could pass up the Sleaziest, Cheesiest, Grilled Cheese in Town? But, then, it is found: Chicken Fried Steak, a delicious staple of home-style comfort food.
 
Every once and a while, it’s nice to share a little home-town spirit. Coming from Dallas, I thought it would be nice to capture a local favorite, Lucky’s Cafe, on Oaklawn Ave. Even outside, you can feel the energy that emanates from within and cuts through the heavy blanket of night. 
 
E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about my contemporary impressionistic oil paintings, or check out my website at:
 
 

“Shift Change” Dallas Landry’s Seafood, pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Shift Change, Dallas West End – Pastel 12″X18”
© Niki Gulley

Lights glitter from their hiding places, nestled among the branches, mimicking the gleam of the stars high overhead. The wait staff gather outside, savoring the cool air, their work for the day done. Having left the fast paced world inside of Landry’s, they take a moment, and a breath, unwinding with a chat.

The pastels in this piece help the light bleed into the dark, capturing well the inviting warmth of Landry’s Seafood. In this scene we get to a changing of the guard, one no less important than any other. The lines guide you in, much like the pedestrians wandering into the scene.

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Shift Change”.

***

Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary art.

Or plan to attend this upcoming tour:

White Rock Artists Studio Tour

Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm

Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm

WhiteRockArtists.com

 

 

“Lucky’s Cafe”, a long time Dallas diner, pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Lucky’s Cafe” Dallas, TX – pastel 12″X18″
© Niki Gulley
Friends sit and gaze at the mass of beauty and indecision that is the menu. The fear of missing out on any number of delectable dishes makes it nearly impossible to chose. Their eyes waver between the menu in their hands and the massive chalk board that dominates the far wall. Mom’s meatloaf? Good Luck Reuben? And who could pass up the Sleaziest, Cheesiest, Grilled Cheese in Town? But, then, it is found: Chicken Fried Steak, a delicious staple of home-style comfort food.

Every once and a while, it’s nice to share a little home-town spirit. Coming from Dallas, I thought it would be nice to capture a local favorite, Lucky’s Cafe, on Oaklawn Ave. Even outside, you can feel the energy that emanates from within and cuts through the heavy blanket of night.

The pastels in this piece help to bring out the warmth and light that fills every corner of this treasure of Dallas.  A very quaint piece.
E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Lucky’s Cafe”
***
Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary art.  Or plan to attend this upcoming tour:


White Rock Artists Studio Tour


Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm


Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm
Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm
Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm

“A Pause in Time,” Venice, Italy pastel


“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy ©2011 Niki Gulley
18” x 24” pastel
Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night.
Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco.
This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic
and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors–rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in,
paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time.
“Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.

– Truman Capote

To see more of my pastels, please stop by my booth at the Ann Arbor Art Fair this week.
State Street Area Art Fair
July 20 – July 22 • 10 am – 9 pm
Sat. July 23 • 10 am – 6pm
Ann Arbor, MI • Liberty & State St.
Booth #B212 on University between Thayer & State Streets
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information, or visit my website at