January 2013

Just Sold Autumn Birches oil painting

January 30, 2013

36” x 48” textured oil on wrap around canvas • Sold

Just sold! Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, silver and gold with each light breeze.

There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, clean bright skies overhead, a band of slender straight trucks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling tumble of green, crimson and gold.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured oil aspen and birch tree paintings.

See NikiGulley.com for more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Symphony of Colors” New Textured Aspen Tree oil painting

January 28, 2013

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen and Oak trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, scarlet and tangerine, with each light breeze. There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, a band of slender straight trunks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling tumble of amber and crimson. Staccato strokes and shimmering hues add to the feeling of change in the air and suggest the wind whistling through the foliage.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings, please check out American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas, americanfineart.com, or the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings of aspen and birch trees.

NikiGulley.com

“Luminescent Radiance” New Textured Lily Pond painting

January 25, 2013

Two 48″ x 24″ canvases with one 48″ x 30″ canvas in the middle to form a 48″ x 78″ triptych

Textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I decided it would be a fun challenge to create an extremely large painting, and I wanted the final piece to be very uplifting, colorful and full of energy. Opting for warm colors and working with extremely thick paint and palette knives, I chose this lily pond reference from our visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France. The grounds were breathtaking and I could actually see his paintings come to life. I was drawn to the energetic flow and yet calming serenity in this view, and I positioned the water lilies and my paint strokes in a curving pattern to add to that mood. The morning light peeking through the distant foliage added to a sense of mystery and promise that I wanted to capture in paint, and share with you that feeling of hope.

This painting and more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings are on exhibit at American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas. See americanfineart.com for details.

Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Falling Rocks” Textured Colorado oil painting

January 23, 2013

20″ x 24” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

This painting is inspired from my first trip to Colorado. I loved the majestic mountains, the meandering creeks and rushing rivers, the lush terrain and the quaking aspen trees. The ride through the mountains was thrilling, as we straddled cliff sides, our tires gripped the road through spine-tingling hairpin turns, we raced through cavernous tunnels carved through the dense rock, and jagged mountains hugged us like there was no tomorrow. And, as if the journey wasn’t exciting enough, we were reminded of the adventure that lay ahead with a new falling rocks sign every few bends!

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Road Trip II” New Palette Knife oil painting

January 21, 2013

16″ x 20” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

The first time we went to Santa Fe and headed north to Ghost Ranch, I was awestruck by the incredible scenery. The terrain starts to change as you near Abiquiu with the rock formations becoming more colorful, jagged and varied, and the light seemed to become purer, too. So in Road Trip II, I not only wanted to capture the rugged beauty of this place, but also the excitement of discovery and the anticipation of what’s to come.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Curves Ahead

January 18, 2013

30″ x 40” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

On this trip, it felt like we were flying up and down these curvy mountain roads almost like we were on an adult roller coaster. So I wanted to have a little fun in my painting and capture that sense of movement and playful excitement. Choosing bright vivid colors an curving my strokes almost in a fish-eye composition, add to the youthful energy and thrill of adventure that I wanted to communicate.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Stop!” New Palette Knife Landscape Painting

January 16, 2013

16″ x 20” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

While driving from Santa Fe to Taos, this scene literally stopped me in my tracks. Something about that giant rocky mound rising up from the surrounding flat expanse contrasted against the complimentary colored sky was so graphic and surreal. Add to that the bizarre juxtaposition of the stop sign encroaching on what once was uninhabited desert landscape, and I felt like this painting had something to say.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“45 mph” Winter Palette Knife Painting

January 14, 2013

18” x 24” textured oil painting

On one of our first trips together, my husband and I drove to Colorado to capture the fall foliage, and were greeted by one of the earliest snowfalls on record. While not the golden aspen glory we expected, the pristine white of that first dusting was beautiful. I loved this scenic overlook as we rounded the corner, and as you can see there was no shoulder to pull over on to capture the scene. So quickly grabbing my camera, I snapped away as we whizzed past. In this shot, I particularly liked a sliver of the school-bus-yellow 45mph sign contrasting against the vivid azure sky and framing the right side of the composition to lead your eye back into the breathtaking drive.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Road Trip” New textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

January 11, 2013

20” x 24” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

We spend a lot of time in the car, between driving across country for art shows, exploring new places for inspiration, and traveling while teaching painting and photography workshops, so in this new series I’ve felt compelled to capture my views from the passenger seat. This particular painting was inspired by one of our plein air painting workshops we taught in Santa Fe. Not only do I love the various rock formations and dramatic New Mexico skies, but I relish the sense of open space after living in a city. Looking out on the expansive horizon, I get the feeling that anything is possible and a new discovery is just around the next bend. In “Road Trip” I combine this low angle of the road along with energetic diagonal strokes to give you the feeling of driving over the next hill in search for whatever your journey holds next.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

Or, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Cinque Terre / Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

January 9, 2013

SOLD • oil on canvas • 24″ x 36″

Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly colored unique buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I love this little laid back town of Varenna, which is so peaceful that all of your cares just melt away.

Now we can’t wait to share the Italian experience with other painters, photographers and anyone interested in traveling, so we are leading an Art Trek to Lake Como and Cinque Terre this September. If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Italy, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop to Cinque Terre and Lake Como from Sept. 6th – Sept. 14th.

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.

ArtTreks – Cinque Teere and Lake Como, Italy

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop

Sept. 13-22, 2013

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Early Registration Deadline for a $500 Savings: Jan. 11

Final Registration Deadline: March 1

Add on a second Art Trek back to back with the Cinque Terre / Lake Como trip, and join us in Tuscany Sept. 6-14 for a 2 week Italian adventure!

For more details, E-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

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

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NikiGulley.com