August 2015

Visiting Aix-en-Provence with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 31, 2015

9″ x 12″ oil painting

Day 3, Provence Art Trek: Aix-en-Provence

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Today we checked out of our hotel and headed to Provence’s cultural hub and Cezanne’s home, Aix-en-Provence. After visiting its famous Cours Mirabeau boulevard, lined with cafés and plane trees and its morning produce and flower market, we parted from the photographers and set up our easels at this picturesque fountain courtyard. Having several hours to paint, we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful day and each painter’s unique view of the scene. Some focused on the fountain, others on the architecture and some on the nearby cafés. Everyone’s painting turned out great!

Painting in Aix-en-Provence

Next, we headed deep into the lavender country to our picturesque b and b, where we spent the rest of the trip. And, of course we completed the day with another delicious meal!

Our b and b.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Day 2

August 28, 2015

Day 3, Provence Art Trek: Les Baux / Chateauneuf

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
7″ x 5″ textured oil painting

On the second day of our Provence Art Trek, we visited the picturesque town of Les Baux, perched atop its rocky outcropping with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside below. Some folks visited the castle, galleries and shops while the painters set up in this quiet plaza capturing the unique stone residences, medieval cathedral or picturesque courtyard.

In the afternoon we went to one of the most renowned wine towns in the world and sampled some amazing Chateaunef du Pape wines.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visiting Arles with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Provence Art Trek 2015

August 26, 2015

Day 1, Afternoon Location: Arles

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

In the afternoon, we visited the ancient Roman city of Arles, marveling at its in tact amphitheater from 90 AD, triumphal arch, and ancient theater, while retracing the footsteps of Van Gogh and seeing his colorful vision of rather ordinary painting locations. Last stop on our Van Gogh tour, we chose to paint at the asylum where he stayed, creating our own versions of the lovely courtyard garden.

That night, we feasted on mussels, sea bream, various meat dishes and mouth-watering pastries at an award-winning restaurant. Bon Appetit!

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Provence Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 24, 2015

Day 1, Provence Art Trek

12″ x 9″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the first night of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in southern France, we arrived at our B and B and went into town that evening for a wine tasting and amazing dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant. The food was out of this world, the weather was perfect for dining outside, and our new group was great company!

The next morning, our painters stayed at our b and b and painted right there since the grounds were so beautiful.The light raking across the balcony and shutters was so dramatic, and I loved how the gnarly trees framed the composition to make a window within a window. Meanwhile, the photographers visited a nearby 11th century Abbey and took some incredible photographs. We met up later that day and headed to the nearby town of Arles for lunch.

Wine tasting in Provence.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Just Sold – “Golden Aura II” Palette Knife Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

August 21, 2015

SOLD • 36″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Just Sold! Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. While combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this birch painting.Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

New “Sunny Skies” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Niki Gulley

August 19, 2015

30″ x 48″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

Festive, sun-filled blossoms dance in the gentle breeze, filling the field with sweet fragrance. This textured painting captures a carefree summer morning with sunflowers overflowing the foreground, filling up the field with joy under sunny skies as voluminous clouds drift by overhead.

For more information on textured sunflower and poppy paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Last Day – French Riviera Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 14, 2015

Day 6, Villefranche – French Riviera Art Trek

SOLD • 12″ x 9″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the last day of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera, we all enjoyed a leisurely morning. The painters went down to the harbor and set out to capture the turquoise Mediterranean one last time, while the photographers shot around town and others visited the sights in Villefranche. Dining for lunch one last time along the waterfront, we gave everyone the afternoon to swim, shop or relax.

We gathered later that day to view a slide show of the photography students’ work and to show the paintings we created for the week. It’s always so much fun to see what everyone captured during the trip, with each student’s perspective so unique! That night we dined on a delicious dinner, sad that the trip was ending but glad that we got to enjoy it with new friends.

Dining near the waterfront in Villefranche.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visiting Nice with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, French Riviera Art Trek

August 12, 2015

Day 5, Nice – French Riviera Art Trek

stained glass windows by Marc Chagall

On the next day of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we packed in a busy day. Starting out the morning on the far edge of Nice, we visited the archaeological and Matisse museum for anyone who was interested. Next, we dropped everyone off at the Marc Chagall museum, which had an incredible collection of his paintings and a few of his stained glass windows along with a fascinating video.

That afternoon, we went into the old city to tour, shop, walk along the boardwalk and dip our toes in the ocean. Dining on a delicious dinner in town, we headed back to Villefranche at the end of the day.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Day 4, French Riviera Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 10, 2015

Day 4, Renoir’s House and St. Paul de Vence – French Riviera Art Trek

7″ x 5″ textured oil by Niki Gulley

On the fourth morning of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we visited Renoir’s house along the coast. Seeing his studio and garden, along with some of his lesser known impressionist paintings was truly a thrill!

Next, we headed north to the Medieval town of St. Paul de Vence, where some of us took a fascinating wine tasting class while others explored and shopped. That afternoon the painters met up and we each chose a different subject. Some chose to paint the rolling hills and valley below, while I was intrigued by this balcony being overrun by Bougainvillea. The magenta color explosion was out of this world, and I just had to capture it!

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Just Sold – Sunflower and Lavender Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

August 9, 2015

SOLD • 30″ x 48″ textured oil painting

Just Sold! Sunny Life is inspired from one of the amazing locations we take our students to on our Provence Art Trek. We actually set up our easels in this gorgeous lavender and sunflower field, where the flowers seem to stretch forever. The color and aroma explosion were out of this world – a painter’s and photographer’s dream come true. Words can’t even describe how special that moment was to paint there surrounded by all that beauty!

Taking my plein air sketch that I painted on location above, I set to capture that joyous feeling back in my studio. Pulling in closer to the sunflowers so you could see their beaming faces and get a sense of their scale, I added a few more color surprises to add to the happy mood (and I didn’t have to worry about getting too close in fear of bee stings in the studio!) I hope you, too, experience the beauty and contentment of being in Provence through my painting.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. We are taking reservations for next year’s trip to Andulucia, Spain, so please let us know if you would like to join us. For more details, e-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.