February 2015

Texas Hill Country Bluebonnet Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 27, 2015

SOLD • 36″ x 60″ textured oil painting

Inspired by a trip to the hill country, I wanted you feel the warmth and beauty on this perfect spring day while out for a leisurely drive among the bluebonnets and Texas wildflowers. Painted with thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture, the resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color, movement and energy.

Just sold through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.)

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my bluebonnet paintings and Texas landscapes, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Embrace” textured birch oil painting by Niki Gulley

February 25, 2015

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

I like to play with blurring the lines between realism and abstraction so that some things are left up to the viewer’s imagination. In the case of “Embrace,” I chose this unusual, asymmetrical heart-shaped composition and teased your eye with foreground and background emerging and disappearing to create a more abstract scene. Choosing fiery reds contrasted against turquoise blues cause the colors to dance and vibrate. While diagonal strokes and a circular composition combined with the vibrant hues, create a sense of energy, movement and harmony. Using all of these elements, I wanted to create an uplifting, whimsical, passionate painting filled with youthful hope and discovery.

“Embrace” is available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.)

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Natural Textures” Abstracted Aspen Tree palette knife painting by Niki Gulley

February 23, 2015

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

In this painting I wanted the focus to be on texture. Usually I paint with a lot of color, but I opted to use a limited palette on this piece to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Natural Textures is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension. Choosing to come in extremely close on the subject, I played around with various strokes and paint thicknesses to add depth and energy. At the end, I had to throw in a few of my signature strokes of color – a splash of gold, some touches of lavender, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists.

“Natural Textures” is available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.)

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Contemporary Birch Tree Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 20, 2015

SOLD • 24″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit, so I chose to use warm vivid colors and thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the fall foliage in diagonal sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance on a beautiful fall day.

Just sold through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.)

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Diagonal Shadows” – New White Rock Lake Painting by Niki Gulley

February 18, 2015

12” x 24” oil on canvas

Sunset draws lengthening shadows across the grassy waters edge at Sunset Bay, White Rock. The lake shimmers in the evening glow as sky high above fills with deep blues and before you the soft, moody colors stretch out, long lines beckoning you into the complex diagonal composition. Rich texture models the leaves, branches and tree trunk rimmed in the sunset and shadow. Vivid masses of color form the foliage on the opposite bank, fall at its peak. The long cast shadows draw you into the tranquil landscape and the peaceful, dreamy sunset at White Rock Lake.

If interested in purchasing “Cypress Shadows,” please contact the Good Art Company Gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

New Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 16, 2015

24″ x 24″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas set inside an espresso floater frame

Inspired by our travels to Italy, cypress trees rise out of the vast open landscape signaling that you have arrived in Tuscany! Perched on a hilltop with its long curving driveway, this villa is set against the perfect backdrop for a romantic escape. Rows of soft wheat sway in the breeze and draw your eye back to the rolling hills and beautiful billowing clouds. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with movement, color and dimension.

“Spring’s Escape” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Sunflower and Lavender Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 13, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted this colorful sunflower and lavender field oil during our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek my husband and I led in Provence this past July. The vivid hues and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter’s and photographer’s dream come true. The fields stretched for miles along the vast open landscape. Words can’t even describe how special that moment was, and I hope you experience the joy I felt when you look at this uplifting palette knife painting.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. We are taking reservations for next year’s trip to Provence, June 26th – July 4th, so please let us know if you would like to join us. This past year’s trip filled up in less than a week! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015

The French Riviera – June 16-26, 2015

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2015
Andalucia, Spain – May 2016

“Sunny Days” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.

“Bluebonnet Reflections” oil painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

February 11, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

In Bluebonnet Reflections, I wanted to capture the beautiful reflections on this pond in Ennis, Texas with bluebonnets filling the distant hills and leading your eye back towards the wooden bridge. Painted with a combination of brush and palette knife, the finished image is loaded with depth and color.

“Hill Country Retreat” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Hill Country Retreat” Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Niki Gulley

February 9, 2015

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted these Texas bluebonnets at a plein air painting workshop I was leading in Fredericksburg, TX. I loved the pop of red on the flag flying off this cabin’s back porch in contrast to the vibrant cobalt bluebonnets. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this Texas landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Sun Filled Memories” Contemporary Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

February 6, 2015

20″ x 30″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these cheerful sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture.

“Sun Filled Memories” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.