Day 4, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Montmartre

Day 4, Paris Art Trek: Montmartre

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On day four of our Paris Art Trek, we ditched the painting gear and headed to Montmartre, home of so many famous French Impressionists and artists. Taking in the impressive Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, exploring the back alleys, making time for a little shopping, and swinging by the Moulin Rouge on our way home, everyone enjoyed a fun-filled day of sightseeing.

Tonight’s dinner consisted of grilled steak with a red wine reduction, sautéed veggies, broiled bone marrow and scalloped potatoes. We had to wash this down with a couple of bottles of Bordeaux, which were more than up to the task. Lastly we had a chocolate chocolate something or other. It was a chocolate ganache on top of a layer of cream mixed with passion fruit, all inside a chocolate shell, covered with fruit and drizzled with raspberry sauce. All and all, not too shabby! Stay tuned for further gastronomic adventures, because you ain’t seen nothing yet!!!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Day 3, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Notre Dame

Notre Dame ©2014 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil painting • SOLD
Day 3, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the third day of our Paris Art Trek, we visited Notre-Dame Cathedral it all of its Gothic Splendor. Fortified by a delicious lunch of crepes, salads and quiches, the painters went back to replicate this view of the church’s rose window across the Seine while the rest of our photographers and tourists visited Saninte-Chapelle, the Latin Quarter and St. Germaine.

That night we gathered for you guessed it…more epicurean experiences! Beef Bourguignon, Strawberry cheesecake gelato, Kir Royals and profiteroles with chocolate sauce were just a few of the highlights.
 

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

 

“Peaceful Morning,” Tuileries ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting
Day 2, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the second day of our Paris Art Trek, half of our group visited the Louvres in the morning, and for any of my painters who had been to the museum before, we set up our easels across from this peaceful fountain in the Tuileries. It was a gorgeous day, and the light was soft and beautiful hitting the garden. We did a quick black and white value sketch to simplify the complexity of the scene, and then moved onto color. A perfect morning!

After we finished, we met up with the rest of the group for a picnic in the park, and in the afternoon some of us visited the Musee d’Orsay and their amazing impressionist art collection. That night we gathered for another amazing French dinner!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Day 1, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Paris in June” ©2014 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil painting
Day 1, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 

with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first day of our Paris Art Trek, the sun was shining and it was a lovely 80 degrees. A perfect way to start our trip! In the morning, we went up in the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed the amazing views of the city. That afternoon, we painted in a quiet park next to the tower while the photographers shot around the city, and we all convened that night for a delicious Parisian dinner.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Just Sold! “Spring’s Majesty,” Texas Hill Country – Bluebonnet painting by Niki Gulley

“Spring’s Majesty, Texas Hill Country” ©2014 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 18″ x 36″ textured painting
“Spring’s Majesty” was inspired by a trip to the Texas Hill Country when the bluebonnets were in full splendor. While we were near Fredericksburg, we took a scenic drive along the Willow City Look and as we approached the top of a hill about half way around, we were greeted by this gorgeous view of the rolling hills colored with bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush in full bloom. Then, to top it off the sun was setting in the distance casting its golden glow and backlighting the wildflowers. I had to capture the magical moment, enhancing the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky and along the ground. Arranging clouds, the road and rows of bluebonnets in rhythmic sweeping shapes, create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

“Spring’s Majesty” was available through the Good Art Company gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her Texas bluebonnet paintings.
To see more of Gulley’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

White Rock Lake Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Golden Moment, White Rock Lake” ©2014 Niki Gulley
Textured oil on canvas • 12″ x 24″

On a peaceful autumn day last fall, I went out with my camera to White Rock Lake and captured this beautiful sunset behind the Dallas skyline. I liked how the pampas grass and various plants in the foreground were back lit by the setting sun and how the water’s surface was shimmering from the low light, adding to a sense of mystery and tranquility in that golden moment.

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Allen Arts Festival.

Allen Arts Festival
May 9 – 4pm – 8pm
May 10 – 10am – 8pm
May 11 – Noon – 7pm
Watters Creek • 970 Garden Park Dr., Allen, TX
allenartsalliance.org


E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Bluebonnet Reflections” Oil Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Bluebonnet Reflections” ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

In Bluebonnet Reflections, I wanted to capture the beautiful reflections on this pond in Ennis, Texas with bluebonnets filling the distant hills and leading your eye back towards the wooden bridge. Painted with a combination of brush and palette knife, the finished image is loaded with depth and color.

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

If you’d like to see “Bluebonnet Reflections” and more of my Texas wildflower scenes in person, please stop by my booth at the Southlake art show this weekend.

Art in the Square (TX)
Fri. Apr. 25 • 4pm – 9pm
Sat. Apr. 26 • 10am – 9pm
Sun. Apr. 27 • 11am – 6pm
Southlake Town Sq. • 1256 Main St
Booth #J-5
ArtInTheSquare.com


E-mail – Niki Gulley

New Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Blue Morning, Nash Farm” ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Painted on location at Nash Farm, these Texas bluebonnets are loaded with texture, color and dimension!

To see more of my contemporary palette knife landscape paintings and Texas wildflower scenes, visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“October Rhythms” Palette Knife Aspen Trees by Niki Gulley

“October Rhythms” ©2014 Niki Gulley
36″ x 48″ textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

I find being immersed in nature can have such an uplifting effect, and I wanted to share that feeling with you in October Rhythms. I chose pure, intense reds and yellows contrasted against autumn golds and chocolates to create an fall forest that vibrates with color, energy and sound. The repetition in the aspen trunks and foliage patterns, combined with the flickering tones of the breeze rustling the leaves reminded me of a symphony in the forest so I titled this painting October Rhythms.

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Spring’s Majesty,” Texas Hill Country – New Bluebonnet painting by Niki Gulley

“Spring’s Majesty, Texas Hill Country” ©2014 Niki Gulley
18″ x 36″ textured painting

“Spring’s Majesty” was inspired by a trip to the Texas Hill Country when the bluebonnets were in full splendor. While we were near Fredericksburg, we took a scenic drive along the Willow City Look and as we approached the top of a hill about half way around, we were greeted by this gorgeous view of the rolling hills colored with bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush in full bloom. Then, to top it off the sun was setting in the distance casting its golden glow and backlighting the wildflowers. I had to capture the magical moment, enhancing the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky and along the ground. Arranging clouds, the road and rows of bluebonnets in rhythmic sweeping shapes, create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

“Spring’s Majesty” is available through the Good Art Company gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her Texas bluebonnet paintings.


To see more of Gulley’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.