Last Day Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

“Juliet’s Perch”
12″ x 9″ textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley
To purchase this painting, visit nikigulley.com/juliets-perch/.
 
 
Venice Art Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams:  Last Day

 

 

On the last day of our Venice Art Trek, St. Mark’s Square was packed with tourists and people dressed up in costumes for Carnivalé which we loved seeing, but we were hoping to find a quieter spot to paint. So we left the photographers and headed back near our hotel.
 

 

 
One of my students this time was in her 80’s. And, normally you think as the teacher you should be inspiring your students, but in this case, I believe she inspired me! Plein air painting isn’t easy between not only capturing the scene on location but also toting all of your gear, and she kept at it. 
 

So, for this last scene, I treated us to a spot right outside the door of our hotel, and let her pick our subject. You’ve got to love the quintessential Venetian balcony with the green shutters and ironwork! I also was attracted to the morning light creating deep shadows on all of the textured bark and stucco, which is so much fun to capture with palette knife. 

 
 
That afternoon, everyone had free time to do whatever they chose and that evening we all gathered again for one last delicious meal together. What an incredible trip!
 

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To see more of my contemporary textured landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.
 
For more information on my Venice and other travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 

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If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 

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

“Dining al Fresco” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

Dining al Fresco, Venice – 12″X18″ Pastel by Niki Gulley
 

A warm evening breeze stirs, caressing your face as you dine. The sights and sounds of Venice mingle before your eyes, an unfolding opera of color and light. A couple strolls, enamored with the beauty that envelopes them, drawn into the Italian night, hand in hand. The love between them is nearly palpable, and as they pass you by, you feel it radiate off of them, just as the light spreads itself against the encroaching night.

The soft touch of the pastels help to capture the calm evening. Venice is filled with the romance and this scene really resonated with me. The warm palette gives one a feeling of calm, a comforting touch, as if by a summer breeze. 
 
***
 
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Europe, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you along! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to arttreks.org for more details.
 
For more information on “Dining al Fresco,” please e-mail Niki Gulley nikigulley@sbcglobal.net.
 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings.

“Bon Appetito” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Bon Appetito” by Niki Gulley
Pastel on board • 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you with us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.
 

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings.

“A Pause in Time” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

 

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy by 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.
 
 
This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society’s National Juried Show Exhibit.
 
 
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.

 

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“Dining al Fresco” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

Dining al Fresco, Venice – 12″X18″ Pastel ©2014 Niki Gulley
A warm evening breeze stirs, caressing your face as you dine. The sights and sounds of Venice mingle before your eyes, an unfolding opera of color and light. A couple strolls, enamored with the beauty that envelopes them, drawn into the Italian night, hand in hand. The love between them is nearly palpable, and as they pass you by, you feel it radiate off of them, just as the light spreads itself against the encroaching night.


The soft touch of the pastels help to capture the calm evening. Venice is filled with the romance and this scene really resonated with me. The warm palette gives one a feeling of calm, a comforting touch, as if by a summer breeze. 
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.
For more information on “Dining al Fresco,” please e-mail Niki Gulley nikigulley@sbcglobal.net.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“A Pause in Time” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy ©2012 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.

This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society’s 31st National Juried Show Exhibit.
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“Bon Appetito” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Bon Appetito” ©2014 Niki Gulley
Pastel 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

Last Day Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Venice ©2013 Niki Gulley
8″ x 10″ oil painting

On the last day of our Venice Art Trek, St. Mark’s Square was packed with tourists and people dressed up in costumes for Carnivalé which we loved seeing, but we were hoping to find a quieter spot to paint. So we left the photographers and headed back into the local neighborhoods where it was very peaceful and picturesque. I liked the ornamentation on this bridge and the way the light danced across the water and the under side of the structure.

If you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming European Art Treks, please let me know. Closer to home I’ll be leading a Plein Air Painting Workshop sponsored through the Good Art Company gallery in Fredericksburg, TX, April 5-7.

ArtTreks
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 6-14, 2013
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 13-22, 2013
Provence, France – June 2014
Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
For more details, E-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Plein Air Painting in the Texas Hill Country
During bluebonnet and wildflower season!
April 5-7, 2013

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!


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Day 3 Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Wash and Dry,” Burano ©2013 Niki Gulley
10″ x 8″ • textured oil painting
On the third day of our Venice Art Trek, the weather turned fairly cold and misty so we were only able to get started on our paintings. (My sketch below shows you how much we could paint before the rain came in.) So not letting a few drops dampen our spirits, we stopped for a Venetian coffee and pastry on the way back to the hotel, and fueled by caffeine and sugar we finished up working back at home. Some chose to complete paintings they had been working on the day before, and I thought the decor was so elegant, I decided to paint our hotel room. Capping off the day, we went out for a delicious meal that night!

If you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming European Art Treks, please let me know. Closer to home I’ll be leading a Plein Air Painting Workshop sponsored through the Good Art Company gallery in Fredericksburg, TX, April 5-7.

ArtTreks
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 6-14, 2013
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 13-22, 2013
Provence, France – June 2014
Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
For more details, E-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Plein Air Painting in the Texas Hill Country
During bluebonnet and wildflower season!
April 5-7, 2013

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!


***

Painting in Venice with Niki Gulley

“Bon Appetito” ©2012 Niki Gulley
Pastel 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 2-9. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.


Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Carnivalé – Venice, Italy
Feb. 2-9, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Final Registration deadline: Nov. 18

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.