contemporary impressionist

Painting in the Texas Hill Country with Impressionist Niki Gulley

August 24, 2023

SOLD • 24″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

“For me, wildflowers are joy-giving. They have enriched my life and fed my soul and given beautiful memories to sustain me.”
– Lady Bird Johnson

Just Sold! Surrounded by a sea of blue – Scott captured me in my element here! Not only were the bluebonnets and wildflowers magnificent this year, but I just adore the live oaks, too. Their massive stature, their gnarly, twisting branches and the umbrella of shade they cast, just make me want to paint them over and over again. Leaving bluebonnets large and prominent in the foreground, rows and rows of cobalt lift your spirits and lead you back to the shelter of the grand old oak. I hope you, too, can enjoy the beauty of Texas in all of its spring glory.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured palette knife landscape paintings.

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

Painting Poppy Fields in Tuscany with Niki Gulley

August 22, 2023

12″ x 16″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

This beautiful poppy scene was inspired by the view out our window in Tuscany! The vibrant red carpet filled fields lifted our spirits every time we gazed outside, and I had to paint this one from our room. Cypress trees framed the scene and the constantly changing light cast dramatic shadows on the distant mountains and villa while billowing clouds drifted by. I hope this one transports you to this happy place and takes all of your worries with it!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my poppy and wildflower field paintings.

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

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If you’d like to join us on one of our Euorpean Art Treks and learn to paint or photograph, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley Paints the Tuscan Countryside

August 21, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Cypress trees, tile-roofed stone farmhouses and undulating hills filled with grapevines and olive trees, signal that you have landed in Tuscany! Filled with energetic, thick palette knife strokes and uplifting colors, “Afternoon Arrival,” welcomes you to your new home away from home.

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Next summer we will be leading a Foodie Trek to Spain and Tuscany, and an Art Trek to Iceland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! Details are available on ArtTreks.org.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New “Cypress Serenade II” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 16, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

My husband and I lead a Foodie Trek to Tuscany almost every year, and I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees. I love trying to capture it in different ways, and mother nature had her hand in me choosing this location today. You see, there was a strong possibility of rain and this is one of the few locations I’ve found in the entire Tuscan countryside with a covered area that could keep me and my painting dry in the case of that liquid sunshine arriving mid-stroke. Fortunately because of the weather, the clouds in the sky were voluminous, beautiful and full of drama. Poppies blooming in the foreground just added to the excitement and energy of the moment. And, luckily I was able to capture the majority of the scene before the storms hit!

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New “Cypress Serenade” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 8, 2023

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I painted “Cypress Serenade” recently on location in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Hugging so close to the ground, soft and voluminous, acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture their drama before they disappeared. Wildflowers blooming in the foreground set the stage and I decided to have fun by repeating those colors throughout the scene, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New Tuscany Poppy Field Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

August 8, 2023

10″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Before we started teaching in Provence, we first took a direct flight to Rome and explored more of Tuscany for a few days before we flew onto France. Remembering from the past that May is usually a perfect time to find poppy fields, we thought we’d find the ruby beauties everywhere. Wrong! Thus began our crazy quest in search of the elusive poppy. And, after a week of scouring the countryside, we finally found them! Of course, they were right next to our b and b, but in a direction we hadn’t explored all week.

But, once we did finally discover them, the vibrant pops of red just lifted my spirits. Combined with gorgeous skies and dramatic lighting, it was truly inspiring and so much fun to paint after 2 solid rainy days. Hope you can feel and experience all of that joy, too!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my poppy and wildflower field paintings.

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

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If you’d like to join us on one of our Euorpean Art Treks and learn to paint or photograph, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

New “Channeling Van Gogh” Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 24, 2023

Last fall I was deeply honored when the Dallas Museum of Art asked me to teach a plein air painting workshop in conjunction with their exhibit “Van Gogh and The Olive Groves.” I’ve always loved the impressionists so this was such a fun project! To be able to demonstrate and show the museum’s members how to channel their inner Van Gogh was a perfect match. Setting our easels up in the Arbor Hills Nature area in Plano, they each chose a tree and then experimented with color and mark making with the goal of conveying their feelings and impression of the scene. I chose this beauty for its grandeur and shape, causing my strokes to dance with energy and vibrancy, all in the spirit of Vincent!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on palette knife landscape paintings.

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

New “Radiating Aromas” Lavender Field Painting by Niki Gulley

July 20, 2023

16” x 20” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

The lavender fields in Provence are incredible – perfectly manicured rows and rows of an explosion of violet as far as the eye can see. Rippling purple rows draw your eye to the lone stone farmhouse in the distance while clouds drift by also in rhythmic waves, creating a flowing harmony. Perspective lines converge, leading you to this joyful spot and I hope you can smell the amazing aromas and feel your spirits lifted while gazing into this scene!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my lavender and wildflower fields paintings.

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

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If you’d like to join us on one of our Euorpean Art Treks and learn to paint or photograph, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org for more information.

New Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

July 7, 2023

16″ x 16″ textured mixed media painting on canvas • framed in espresso

I hope my new square textured paintings bring joy, color and energy to your day! Designed to lift your spirits and add a burst of brightness to your walls, these wildflower abstractions allow your imagination to wander and fill in your own story. These paintings look great hung alone or in a grouping.

For details on more of my poppy, bluebonnet and sunflower paintings in this series, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

New Happy Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

July 6, 2023

16″ x 16″ textured mixed media collage on panel • framed in espresso

Spending time around sunflowers is one way that helps keep my spirits up. Every time I look out the windows and see these happy flowers staring back me, I can’t help but feel like I have been lifted.

May these new square textured paintings bring joy, color and energy to your day! Designed to lift your spirits and add a burst of brightness to your walls, these wildflower ablstractions allow your imagination to wander and fill in your own story. These paintings look great hung alone or in a grouping.

For details on more of my poppy, bluebonnet and sunflower paintings in this series, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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