Scotland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12″ x 16” textured oil painting – work in progress

Scotland Art Trek – Days 6: Isle of Skye – Dunvegan Castle and Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

For the next day on our Scotland Art Trek, we spent the morning touring the 13th century built Dunvegan Castle and its gorgeous gardens. That afternoon, we attempted to paint some of the beautiful houses around Portree with their lush gardens. Unfortunately, mother nature had other ideas and we got some of that Scottish sunshine before we could finish. As luck would have it, though, this was the first day that rain actually kept us from painting or shooting during the whole trip! The rest of our group, enjoyed the afternoon of free time, experiencing some whisky tastings, shopping in town and relaxing before we began our drive back to Edinburgh. That evening, we gathered for our critique or show and tell, always fun getting to see what everyone painted and photographed over the course of the week. We ended the night with a delicious dinner, enjoying our new found friendships.

Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.
 
***
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Scotland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12″ x 16” textured oil painting – work in progress

Scotland Art Trek – Days 6: Isle of Skye – Dunvegan Castle and Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

For the next day on our Scotland Art Trek, we spent the morning touring the 13th century built Dunvegan Castle and its gorgeous gardens. That afternoon, we attempted to paint some of the beautiful houses around Portree with their lush gardens. Unfortunately, mother nature had other ideas and we got some of that Scottish sunshine before we could finish. As luck would have it, though, this was the first day that rain actually kept us from painting or shooting during the whole trip! The rest of our group, enjoyed the afternoon of free time, experiencing some whisky tastings, shopping in town and relaxing before we began our drive back to Edinburgh. That evening, we gathered for our critique or show and tell, always fun getting to see what everyone painted and photographed over the course of the week. We ended the night with a delicious dinner, enjoying our new found friendships.

Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.
 
***
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Peaks and Valleys” Palette Knife Painting from Edinburgh, Scotland by Niki Gulley

“Peaks and Valleys” ©2019 Niki Gulley
12″ x 16” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Days 5: Isle of Skye – Quiraing
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Next up on our Scotland Art Trek itinerary was a morning stop at the Quiraing, a unique area filled with high cliffs, hidden plateaus and unusual rock formations. Allowing a full morning for my painters to capture the land’s unique beauty, everyone did an amazing job! I chose this vantage point with some of the purple heather growing in the foreground, adding a nice color contrast to all of that lush greenery. The photographers hiked all around, capturing unique angles and then we all treated ourselves to lunch. Afterwards, we stopped at Mealt Falls to take in the waterfall’s power and beauty, and then we finished the day back in Portree.

 

Photographers searching for that perfect angle to capture the Quiraing’s beauty.
 
Our Scotland Art Treks group enjoying a delicious dinner together.
 
***
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Painted Harbor” Palette Knife Painting from Portree, Scotland by Niki Gulley

“Painted Harbor” ©2019 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Days 3 and 4: Isle of Skye – Portree
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Following our two days in Edinburgh, we drove to the Isle of Skye for our next stop on our Scotland Art Trek. Making home base in the picturesque town of Portree, we checked in that night, grabbed a delicious dinner and crashed so that we could get an early start the next day. We spent that morning exploring the unique, other-worldly, lush area known as Fairy Glen. Returning to Portree for lunch, the weather cleared just in time for us to start painting and photographing. We set up our easels at this postcard-perfect overlook of the colorful painted harbor below. Meanwhile the photographers visited Old Man of Storr to hike up to the amazing overlook and capture Isle of Skye’s unique beauty. That evening we reconnected for an amazing dinner and a perfect end to the day.

Part of our group at the Fairy Glen.
 
Photographers on top of Old Man of Storr.
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

“Liquid Rush II” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

“Liquid Rush II” ©2019 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12” textured oil painting

Just Sold! For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! Today the breeze was picking up again, so we aimed the car towards the falls and I painted from the front seat while the wind rocked our car and Scott to sleep. Meanwhile, I set out to capture the gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Using diagonal strokes again to capture the energy and strength of the cascades, I also wanted to show the mountains they were tumbling over and a sliver of the river in the distance as the water flowed onward. Dramatic clouds drift by, adding to the rhythm and emotion of this special place.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Edinburgh Castle” Palette Knife Painting from Edinburgh, Scotland by Niki Gulley

“Edinburgh Castle” ©2019 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – Second Day: Edinburgh
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the next day of our plein air painting and photography trip to Scotland, we spent a second day in Edinburgh, exploring the scenery some more. I took the painters further down the Princess Gardens so that we could get a good view of Edinburgh Castle perched high above town. Each student captured the looming structure in a slightly different, unique, beautiful way. Meanwhile the photographers covered a lot of ground, capturing Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill and the Miracle Mile. That afternoon we gave everyone free time to explore on their own. Some visited the castle, some shopped and some photographed some more. After dinner, the Military Tattoo was going on at the castle so many of our group got the once in a lifetime chance to take in that experience, too!

Painting Edinburgh Castle.
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Princess Gardens” Palette Knife Painting from Edinburgh, Scotland by Niki Gulley

“Princess Gardens” ©2019 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9” textured oil painting

Scotland Art Trek – First Day: Edinburgh
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first day of our plein air painting and photography trip to Scotland, we began our adventure in the Medieval capitol city of Edinburgh. Filled with energy, fascinating architecture and history, we were all struck by its uniqueness and beauty. While the photographers shot and explored the city, we set up our easels close to our hotel to paint the lovely Princess Gardens that run through the center of the city. I set out to capture the lush hydrangeas lining this intricate stairway with just a glimpse of the ferris wheel in the background while some of my students did the same and others set out to recreate the interesting architectural details of the buildings. That evening we all gathered for a delicious Michelin restaurant dinner and compared our stories from the day. With sunny skies and great company, our first day in Scotland turned out to be a great start to the trip!

Part of our Art Trek group painting in Edinburgh.
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

“Varenna View” Lake Como Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Varenna View” ©2019 Niki Gulley 
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ Textured oil painting
 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5: Arriving in Varenna on Lake Como
 
Just Sold! Next up on our Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek, we drove to the peaceful town of Varenna at the northern end of Lake Como. Our hotel has the most amazing views of the lake and the colorful town below. It’s my idea of paradise!

 
***
 
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Venice – Feb. 2020
Greece – May 2020
Iceland – Sept. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
 
 

New “Blanket of Crimson” Tuscany Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Blanket of Crimson” ©2019 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40” textured oil painting

I absolutely love it when I come across a whole field of wildflowers – there is something about the transformation of a single dainty flower into a dense explosion of color that inspires awe and delights your senses. So when my husband and I came across this gorgeous ruby blanket in Tuscany we had to stop and capture the moment. I liked how the rows of poppies and rolling hills created a gentle harmony leading you to the quintessential stone farmhouse in the distance. I hope you, too, can feel the joy of a perfect spring day in Tuscany!

For more information on this painting, please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company, in Fredericksburg, TX at goodartcompany.com/gacart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25&sort=20a&page=1&z.

 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
***
 
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!
 
 
Greece – May 2020
Iceland  – Aug. 2020
Tuscany Foodie Trek  – Oct. 2020
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Lone Star Blooms” Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Lone Star Blooms” ©2019 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
 
In this painting, I wanted to capture the rhythm, color, and density of our bluebonnets and vibrant wildflowers flowing along the grassy rises and falls of our berms in the Texas Hill Country. Making sure not to over blend my thick strokes so that you could see the marks and feel the energy found in nature. Repeating patterns and waves of color create a harmony within the painting, while rendering the blooms slightly abstract plays with taking a traditional subject matter and showing it in a contemporary way.

For more information on Lone Star Blooms, please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company, in Fredericksburg, TX at goodartcompany.com/gacart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25&sort=20a&page=1&z.

***
For more details on my other Texas paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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