Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Deadline tomorrow!

“Welcome Home,” Tuscany  ©2014  Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ textured oil painting
On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek in September, we explored the nearby hill town of 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide show from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the week end.


If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. The final registration deadline of Jan. 25th is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014



Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

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

New Poppy Field Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

30″ x 48″ textured oil painting ©2013 Niki Gulley • SOLD

Just Finished – For this commissioned painting, my collector asked me to create a Tuscan landscape, loaded with vivid red poppies and yellow wildflowers on a bright sunny summer day. Created with thick oil paint and palette knives, this canvas is loaded with texture, movement and energy and the colors leap to life!

If you’d like more information on my contemporary landscape paintings, e-mail Niki Gulley.

Last Day, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12″ x 9″ textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Pienza:  TUSCANY ART TREK
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Tuscany Art 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the night end.


If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014



Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.
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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Visiting Montepulciano and Wine Tasting in Tuscany with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 2:  TUSCANY ART TREK – Montepulciano
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
On the second day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we set up our easels at a scenic overlook in Montepulciano while the photographers went exploring. The view of the valley below is gorgeous with miles of olive groves and vineyards stretching to the horizon. I chose to paint the blue-domed duomo below set amid the rolling hills and perfectly planted rows about to be harvested. In the afternoon, we visited two wineries and sampled some amazing red wines and the region’s prized Vin Santo. Another fantastic day in Tuscany!

If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014



Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

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

***
To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my booth
at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, TX this weekend.

Cottonwood Art Festival
Sat. Oct. 5th • 10am – 7pm
Sun. Oct. 6th • 10am – 6pm

 Cottonwood Park at Beltline Rd. and Coit • Richardson, TX

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NikiGulley.com

New Summer Aspen Tree Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

“Aspen Vista Trail, Summer” ©2013 Niki Gulley
16″ x 20” textured oil painting on canvas

On our Santa Fe Art Trek last year, the temperature started rising in the afternoon, so we headed up into the mountains for cooler breezes to paint the beautiful aspen trees. We were attracted to the brilliant white trunks with their unique peeling bark and dark protruding knots. I liked how the soft dappled light came through the trees and illuminated the path, leading into the distance. Becoming totally lost in the moment, I set out to capture the peacefulness and contentment of being immersed in nature.
“Aspen Vista Trail” is available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

For more information on my textured aspen tree and birch palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Rocky Mountain Aspens” oil painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Rocky Mountain Aspens” ©2013 Niki Gulley
11″ x 14″ oil painting
I painted these brilliant golden aspen trees from Colorado with brush, palette knife and plenty of oil paint. I love the contrast and intensity of the colors created between the foreground forest and background blues.

“Rocky Mountain Aspens” and several more of Niki’s contemporary landscape paintings are available through the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

“Lemon Tree” – Tuscany Plein Air oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Lemon Tree,” Tuscany ©2013 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ textured oil painting
On our Tuscany painting and photography workshop last year, we decided to stay at our picturesque villa and paint the amazing views right there. It was a gorgeous morning with bright puffy clouds and soft golden sunlight hitting the back of our agriturismo. So while we set up our easels just a few feet away from one another, each painter picked a different subject. From the highly textured stone farm house, to this lemon tree that was so lush that I chose for my painting, to an ancient well and delicate geraniums, each student’s paintings turned out beautifully. 
To purchase “Lemon Tree,” please contact the Good Art Company Gallery at goodartcompany.com/gac/.

And, if you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th – 13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014
Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

“Seasons of Change, Autumn” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“Seasons of Change, Autumn” ©2013 Niki Gulley
30″ x 30″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
With “Seasons of Change,” I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings of aspen and birch trees.

“Seasons of Change, Summer” Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“Seasons of Change, Summer” ©2013 Niki Gulley
30″ x 30″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

With “Seasons of Change,” I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!

This image looks great hung alone or with its companion piece pictured below.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings of aspen and birch trees.

Painting and Photographing Sunset in Santorini with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 4, Evening – Greece Art Trek:  Oia, Santorini
7″ x 5″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
That evening the photographers joined us out at the lookout point to photograph sunset, so we decided to continue painting. Since we only had about 15 minutes to capture the actual sun setting, we had to sketch the scene in advance, anticipate how the light might look, and pre-mix our golden colors. Then as the sun was dropping, we quickly had to paint those warm reflected lights on the buildings and the water and the golden glow in the sky. While challenging, it was a lot of fun and such a beautiful setting to paint! Capping the evening off, we had a delicious dinner in town at the most picturesque garden restaurant and relived the highlights of the day.
Our photographers staking out their spots to shoot sunset.

Dinner that night.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Paris and Provence, France so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing during lavender and sunflower season in France, and following in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, please join us for this amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

E-mail – Niki Gulley