contemporary impressionist

New “Golden Textures” from Tuscany by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

February 10, 2020

12″ x 9″ textured oil painting

On the last day of our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we explored nearby Pienza to enjoy its picturesque alleyways and amazing views of the valleys below. Having been home to Pope Pius II, the town is filled with interesting historical sites, great shopping, delicious lunch spots and plenty of interesting corners to paint. I chose this doorway since I loved the texture and color of the walls, the prolific potted ivy turning red in the fall sun, and the soft light raking across the scene. Welcome home!

Close up texture detail:

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

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – June 2021

Portugal – Aug./Sept. 2021

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

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

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

New “Serpentine Drive” in Tuscany by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

February 7, 2020

12″ x 16″ textured oil painting

Before we taught our Tuscany Foodie Trek, my husband and I spent a few days exploring the Tuscan countryside, painting and photographing the iconic scenery. “Serpentine Drive” illustrates one of the fascinating places we stopped with its mile long cypress lined drive. It felt like the trees snaked back and forth to infinity! Setting up my easel in late afternoon, I was able to capture the dramatic light as the setting sun illuminated the tops of the rolling hills and created long, dramatic shadows. Between the repetition of the vertical arbors and the horizontally flowing hills, the scene created a rhythmic harmony that added to the joy and serenity of the moment.

Close up texture detail:

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

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – June 2021

Portugal – Aug./Sept. 2021

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

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

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

New “Golden Glow” Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 31, 2020

24″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Last spring we loaded up the car and headed south to visit the Texas Hill Country
to see the wildflowers in bloom. It’s so exciting to see a
massive carpet of blue across our usually green hills, and I love how
the bluebonnets signal that spring has arrived!

On our drive through the Willow City Loop, I was drawn to this one lone tree on the horizon glowing from the sun as it was setting. Waves of bluebonnets lead your eye into the distance towards that late light illuminating the wildflower filled hill and oak tree.
Adding pops of color where the rainbow of wildflowers danced in between
the blue also keeps your focus moving from foreground to background. I hope you can feel the joy and energy of springtime in
Texas!I painted these Texas Bluebonnets and
wildflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve
depth and texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with
color and movement.

For information on my Texas hill country landscape paintings, please check out NikiGulley.com,

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

“Waves of Wildflowers IV” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

January 30, 2020

12″ x 24″ textured oil painting

Painted on location, I was drawn to this expansive mass of yellow wildflowers, stretching all the way from foreground to background. The explosion of sunny color made me feel so happy that I wanted to capture that joy and excitement in my painting. To create that mood, I decided to leave a lot of crimson and gold in the sky to enhance that feeling while using diagonal staccato strokes to suggest energy and drama. Long sweeping shapes that flow across the horizontal panorama canvas add to the peace and happiness of being surrounded by Texas Wildflowers on a beautiful spring day.

Waves of Wildflowers close up texture detail:

For information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower series and to see more of my Texas hill country landscape paintings, please check out NikiGulley.com or http://goodartcompany.com/gacart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25&sort=20a&page=1&zenid=417ih04llasuk7pl1h0qhj32k1.

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

“Morning in Paradise” Palette Knife Seashore painting by Niki Gulley

January 22, 2020

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your
spirits. Painting this piece on location, I strove to capture the sparkle the sun cast across the turquoise waters as it slowly rose above the horizon.
Creating bobbing diamonds that were mesmerizing to watch,

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Or e-mail me for more information at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

“Hazy Sunset” Palette Knife Seashore painting by Niki Gulley

January 21, 2020

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Painting this piece on location, I wanted to capture the movement in the ocean as the tides lapped along the shoreline. With the waves creating their cathartic rhythmic sounds, I left my strokes loose to convey that energy and motion. There was a lot of haze this evening and it caused the sky to dance in these ethereal shades of pink and gold. I hope you, too, can feel the peaceful magic in the moment.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Or e-mail me for more information at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

“Sun Up in Paradise” Palette Knife Seashore painting by Niki Gulley

January 20, 2020

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your
spirits. Painting this piece on location, I was hoping you could hear
the gentle ocean tides lapping on the shore and the sun just beginning to rise, signaling a brand new day in paradise.

This morning the sky was the most intense beautiful red that caused the atmosphere to glow and I just had to capture that magic.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Or e-mail me for more information at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Painting Portugal’s Wine and Port Country by Niki Gulley

January 17, 2020

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted this colorful vineyard while we were touring Portugal this past October along the Douro river, deep in the heart of Port territory. The grapevines had turned gorgeous reds, golds and oranges and the wineries were perched on such high hills overlooking the river that I wanted to capture that commanding view. Hugging the various elevations, grape leaves rise from neatly planted rows, inviting you to stop in and try one of their delicious ports.

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

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – May 2021

Portugal – Sept. 2021

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

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

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

Visiting Siena Italy with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams on their Tuscany Art Trek

January 16, 2020

5″ x 7″ oil painting

During the Foodie Trek that my husband and I led in Tuscany, we headed to the Medieval hill
town of Siena, with its incredible church, great people-watching
plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the Campo with
something new to discover around every turn. While most of our group toured inside the Duomo, I chose to set up my easel and capture it’s impressive facade. Beautiful pink, green, white and black marble are stacked in such intricate patterns, it’s impossible to capture on a 5″ x 7″ canvas but I was able to at least suggest some of those colors and its scale, while showing the energy around it with people bustling in every direction.

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

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – May 2021

Portugal – Sept. 2021

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

****

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

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

New “Rolling Shadows,” Tuscany Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

January 15, 2020

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Before my husband and I led our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we spent a couple of days capturing the gorgeous scenery on film and on canvas. I’ve always been attracted to this lone clump of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Soft and voluminous and acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture it before they disappeared. I
decided to have fun with the colors and strokes to add to the excitement and drama of the moment.

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

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – May 2021

Portugal – Sept. 2021

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

****

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

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