March 2019

Painting Iceland by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 29, 2019

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
Iceland

My husband and I both LOVE waterfalls, which turned out to be one of our favorite things about Iceland – there was a stunning waterfall everywhere we went. Today I set up my easel to capture the energy and flow of the cascades while showing a hint of the mountainous scenery surrounding the landscape. Creating strokes in diagonal sweeping shapes to enhance that feeling of movement and rhythm, I hope you, too, can hear the flowing water’s music and feel the gentle spray from its mist.

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

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If you’re interested in joining us in 2020 on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Iceland or on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Scotland, Tuscany or Greece, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Scotland – Aug. 2019

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New Iceland Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 28, 2019

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
Iceland

My husband and I recently visited Iceland and were awestruck by the exotic beauty of the country. On this morning, we returned to one of the striking areas we had hiked through the day before. Scott wanted to return to photograph the light at the perfect time of day, and I opted to paint in lieu of the couple of hour hike. Bundled up with 7 pairs of pants (neat trick!) I set up my easel to capture this winding river and the majestic mountains in the distance. Again, I was taken by the contrast in the vivid blues of the creek and sky against the golds of the foreground. I liked how the meandering river leads you into the reds and rusts of the distant shrubbery, adding a perfect contrast to the rest of the hues. Having snowed the day before, the peaks were covered with a lovely dusting that shows off their impressive size and shapes. And, luckily I kept warm enough to finish the painting and even lose one of the layers of pants at the end of the session!

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

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Scotland – Aug. 2019

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New Iceland Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 27, 2019

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
Iceland

My husband and I recently visited Iceland to gather new inspiration on film and canvas. Going in March so that we could see the northern lights, we were often greeted by snowfall and an occasional blizzard! Today was one of the days where it was too windy to paint or photograph outside so we aimed the car towards this gorgeous vista and I painted from protection of the passenger seat. I loved the play of colors with the blue of the river and sky contrasted against the golden grasses and mountains. The red branches on the winter shrubbery were particularly beautiful and I wanted to feature them in the foreground next to the focal point, meanwhile a light dusting of snow still frosts the ground and adds to the dreamlike landscape.

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

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Scotland – Aug. 2019

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

“Sun Shines on Tuscany” – New Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

March 26, 2019

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

Just Sold through The Good Art Company Gallery! “Sun Shines on Tuscany” was inspired by our trip to Tuscany this summer. Our timing was perfect and the sunflowers were in full bloom. Their bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, the sun dappled path leading you deep into the golden field to the quintessential town perched on a hilltop in the distance , and a beautiful summer day with a few dramatic clouds drifting by made for the ideal subject. The resulting painting is full of warmth, color and texture, and my hope is that when you gaze into it, this piece lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Scotland – Aug. 2019

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2019

Greece – May 2020

Iceland – Sept. 2020

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Field of Dreams” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 25, 2019

Three 48″ x 36″ canvases to form a 48″ x 90″ triptych
textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Field of Dreams is inspired from the beautiful sunflower fields we visited in Provence, France. The flowers seemed to stretch forever and the color explosion was out of this world! Back in my studio, I worked from a combination of photos, on-site sketches and memories. Painting the sunflowers full-sized in the foreground helps to bring them to life and hopefully transport you to this happy location. Including surprising pops of vivid reds and purples keeps your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the joyful feeling.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

“Autumn Serenade II” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

March 23, 2019

SOLD • 30″ x 40″ original textured oil painting

Just sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! 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. Contrasting short staccato strokes against blended passages 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.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings online, visit NikiGulley.com.

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

“Wait for Me II” Koi Fish Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

March 22, 2019

24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas

Gold, white, tangerine – quicksilver Koi slice through silent waters. Playful, darting fish follow each other down through the composition, while cool colors float and ripple across the painting forming tranquil patterns. A happy foursome glides by while one little one tries to catch up. Designed to lift your spirits as you gaze into this vertical panorama while thick strokes of paint created with palette knife add dimension and movement.

For more information on my textured contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my palette knife oil paintings.

New “Wait for Me” Palette Knife Koi Fish Painting by Niki Gulley

March 21, 2019

24″ x 36″ textured oil painting on canvas

Golden Koi slice through tranquil waters. Playful, darting fish follow each other around the composition creating circular patterns and a harmonic resonance.Thick strokes of paint created with palette knife add dimension and movement.

For more information on my textured contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my palette knife oil paintings.

New “Sun’s Bounty II” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 20, 2019

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

Just Sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! Festive golden blossoms dance in the gentle breeze while voluminous clouds drift by overhead as streaks of red and orange peek through, creating an uplifting feeling. Perky poppies bounce along the foreground grasses while gentle sweeping lavender fields offset wheat-lined rolling hills. This textured oil painting captures a carefree summer day with sunflowers overflowing the foreground, filling up the landscape with color, texture and joy.

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

Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.niki@nikigulley.com

New “Sun’s Bounty II” Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 19, 2019

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

I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of color and energy. Set beneath a glowing sky on a beautiful summer evening with the sunflowers in full bloom, you can just make out the stone farmhouse in the distance against a backdrop of purple mountains surrounding the plain. Creating almost a patchwork with the sunflowers and their leaves, unexpected pops of red and purple peek out creating a rhythm and energy to the foreground. Perky, circular faces smile back at you and I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com,

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her poppy, sunflower, lavender and wildflower paintings.

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For more information on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshops in France and Italy, please visit www.ArtTreks.org or e-mail Niki Gulley.