Month: October 2017

“Lucky’s Cafe” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 30, 2017



“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:
 
 

“Kid’s Perspective” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

October 27, 2017
“Kid’s Perspective” ©2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • textured oil painting on canvas • 20″ x 30″
Just Sold!  In “Kid’s Perspective” I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and soft shades of tangerine contrasted against a blue sky with gentle clouds drifting by, I’ve arranged the aspens in a circular pattern to give you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest and to direct your eye to the focal point. Utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

To see more of my impressionist palette knife paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com. 
 
If you have any questions about my aspen and birch tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Fall Carnival” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 25, 2017
Fall Carnival ©2017 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40″ textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

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 landscape to be filled with movement and vivacity, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. Contrasting short staccato strokes against blended passages with my palette knives, also increase that sense of motion. One zig zag passage of crimson foliage creates a focal point in the tangle of leaves and turnks while adding energy to the scene. 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.

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

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

“Oak Alley” Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

October 23, 2017
“Oak Alley” ©2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting
 
Just Sold! I painted this colorful oak lined alleyway a couple of weeks ago on location at the Fort Worth Stock Yards. I was attracted to the contrast of light and shadows and the way the oaks lined up to lead you down this dappled path into the background Spanish archway, which was illuminated in glowing whites and yellows by the sun. The colors were duller than this and I wanted a warmer feeling to the scene since it was a chilly morning, so I enhanced the hues to create an uplifting backdrop full of color and energy. Utilizing thick paint and palette knife, I also created a lot of texture and movement with my strokes to add to the joyful feeling of painting on this beautiful morning.
 
For more information on my textured contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 
Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.

Tuscan Vineyard Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 20, 2017
SOLD • 48″ x 60″ textured oil painting
 
I was recently commissioned to paint this vineyard scene set against miles of rolling hills dotted with grapevines and olive trees. Working from some of my plein air sketches, photographs, and personal memories from our trips to the area, I created this large textured oil painting with palette knives and tons of paint. Full of color and movement, I arranged the planted grapevines to lead your eye back to the Tuscan villa and then to the beautiful countryside beyond.
 

If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to Tuscany, Italy in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como, Italy in September visit ArtTreks.org for more information. We’d love to have you join us!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.
 
To see more of my paintings from Tuscany, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

New “Floating Expressions” Series Aspen Tree Paintings by Niki Gulley

October 18, 2017
“Floating Expressions III” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

 In this painting series, 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 these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions 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 purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

 
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.

New “Enduring Spirit” Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

October 16, 2017
“Enduring Spirit” ©2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20″ x 16” textured oil on canvas

Just sold! Standing tall and proud, this old soul sinks its gnarly roots into the cliff below, persistent and hopeful. I wanted you to get the feeling of staring up in wonderment like when you were a kid discovering things for the first time – noticing the unusual beauty and complexity of its infrastructure. Both grounded and reaching for the heavens, this organic skyscraper connects us to the mysteries of nature while encouraging childhood dreams.

If you have any questions about my palette knife paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 
To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.
 
 

 

 
 

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

October 13, 2017
“Floating Expressions II” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas
 
In this painting series, 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 these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions 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 purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 
 
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.

New “Floating Expressions” Palette Knife Aspen Trees by Niki Gulley

October 11, 2017
“Floating Expressions” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

 In this painting series, 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 these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions 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 purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

 
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.

“Villa with a View,” Lake Como, Italy oil painting by Niki Gulley

October 9, 2017
“Villa with a View” ©2014 Niki Gulley • 12″ x 9″ oil painting • SOLD
 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 7, afternoon location: Villa Babianello
 
Just Sold! After a busy schedule the day before, several of us opted to take it easy and join a cooking class while others visited the castle in town and one of the villages across the lake. We were whisked away to a tiny nearby hamlet where the chef, Moreno, prepares all of the dishes himself that he serves for dinner at his restaurant. He started the morning out by feeding us cappuccino and homemade cake to enjoy while he began showing us how to roll out and form pasta for cheese tortellini and marinara from scratch. Next up, was a decadent potatoes gruyere with ham slices, all of which we got to sample. The finalé was the creamiest mushroom risotto, local red wine, and don’t forget the limoncello for dessert. Yum!
 
Late that afternoon, we visited the Botanic garden in Varenna, which is spectacular with its colorful tropical plantings, elaborate villa, sculptures and fountains, and fantastic views along the lake. What a great day! 
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If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 
Spaces are filling up quickly, so don’t wait!
 
 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 2018
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 2018 
New England Fall Foliage – Oct. 2018
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.
 
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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.