contemporary landscape painting

Palette Knife Abstract Seascape Painting by Artist Niki Gulley

July 13, 2026

24″ x 24″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

We’re taking a break from fall foliage to soak up some warmth and sunshine along North Carolina’s Outer Banks coast. Listen to those rhythmic ocean waves! Talk about relaxing and just what the doctor ordered. Letting the sounds guide me and going with the flow of the moment, I left this one loose with abstract passages. I hope you can feel the joy and energy in this painting, and escape with me.

To see a video of this painting and location, visit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyn0LbiOUhw/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

Serenity Now! Escape with Artist Niki Gulley to the Outer Banks

July 10, 2026

12″ x 24″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

After nine days of grey, cold and sometimes rainy weather, I really needed to warm up and soak up some Vitamin D sunshine. So, we took a detour from fall foliage and headed to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. We found an amazing campsite right on the water, and this was our view out our window for the next 2 days! While a little windy our first night, the next morning I woke to beautiful, calm blue waters and I just had to paint that serene view. Those 2 hammocks were calling my name to just relax. I hope you can escape with me into this peaceful, cathartic seascape.

To purchase, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/serenity-now/.

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

Colorful Winter Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 6, 2026

“Morning Flow” ©Niki Gulley

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Available at https://www.nikigulley.com/morning-flow/.

My husband and I recently visited Iceland to gather new inspiration on film and canvas. Going in March so that we could see the northern lights, we were often greeted by snowfall and an occasional blizzard! Today was one of the days where it was too windy to paint or photograph outside so we aimed the car towards this gorgeous vista and I painted from protection of the passenger seat. I loved the play of colors with the blue of the river and sky contrasted against the golden grasses and mountains. The red branches on the winter shrubbery were particularly beautiful and I wanted to feature them in the foreground next to the focal point, meanwhile a light dusting of snow still frosts the ground and adds to the dreamlike landscape.

To see more of my travel location paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

Or, for one click shopping to purchase, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/morning-flow/.

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If you’re interested in joining us in 2024 on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Iceland this coming August or on a future Art Trek or Foodie Trek, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

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

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New “Colorful Ripples” by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

May 26, 2026

18″ x 24″ textured oil painting on canvas

Painted at a park near my home, I loved all of the spring colors reflected in this pond pond. Having fun working with surprising pops of color and utilizing large textured strokes, cause this piece to dance with joy and energy. May you escape with me into nature’s beauty!

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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.

Visiting Siena, Italy – Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

May 21, 2026

7″ x 5″ oil painting on panel

Day 4: TUSCANY ART TREK – Siena

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

On the fourth day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we visited the Medieval hill town of Siena, with its incredible marble Duomo, great people-watching plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the campo with something new to discover around every turn. While some of our group shopped, some photographed and others relaxed on the square, I set up in one of the quiet cobble streets to capture the textures of these ancient walls and mood of this unique city. For dinner that night, we treated ourselves to a delicious home-made Italian meal of pastas, truffles, pecorino cheese and some amazing red wine!

That night we had a Tuscan chef prepare us an amazing 7 course meal at the villa – Buon Appetito!

NikiGulley.com

E-mail Niki Gulley

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Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2025. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 2 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Two Spots Available for Tuscany Foodie Trek this September!

March 11, 2026

10″ x 20″ Textured Acrylic Painting on Canvas Panel

My husband and I stumbled upon this quintessential Tuscan farmhouse while out for a scenic drive this spring. Perched alone on top of this hill, we loved how the incredibly long cypress lined driveway was silhouetted by the sky. The soft light caused the hills to glow the most intense golden chartreuse, and I felt compelled to capture the beautiful scene. Unfortunately that meant I had to set up my easel alongside a rather busy road. Undeterred by the constant parade of racing traffic and horn honking semi trucks, I quickly got to work in order to paint these gorgeous clouds and light before they were gone.

“Golden Undulation” is available through The Good Art Company Gallery. Visit https://www.goodartcompany.com/product-page/abstract-impression-original-art-10×20-landscape-golden-undulation.

***

Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had a couple of spots open up for our trip this September. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek

September 26 – October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

***

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.

Tuscany Poppy Field Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

March 10, 2026

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!

“Ruby Expanse” is available through The Good Art Company Gallery. Please visit https://www.goodartcompany.com/product-page/abstract-impression-original-art-10×20-landscape-ruby-expanse-tuscany.

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Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek

September 26 – October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

***

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.

“Windows on the World” Oil Painting by Niki Gulley from Tuscany

March 4, 2026

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on panel

Inspired by Tuscany, you can almost imagine what the view must be like when you throw open the shutters and greet the morning as the scene unfolds below you! I loved the morning light raking across the building, casting long shadows and causing the textured stone and brick to tell its detailed history. And, there’s always one piece of laundry that refuses to dry as quickly as the others on the closthesline!

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

NikiGulley.com

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Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek

September 26 – October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Painting Italian Textures by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

March 2, 2026

12″ x 16″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

When we checked into our B and B in Tuscany this year, we were greeted by beautiful plantings everywhere. I fell in love with these gorgeous geraniums lining their Italian stairway and the soft light illuminating this courtyard. With my palette knife, I set out to capture all of the different textures from the Roman stone wall to the cobble path to the brick accents. Filled with joy and color, I hope you are transported to this serene escape.

For details on more of my Tuscany or European paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek

September 26 – October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

The Magic of Tuscany Painted by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 27, 2026

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 5: Cooking Class

Just Sold! Today at our villa, we learned how to make authentic Tuscan meals from a local home chef. From hand rolled pasta, to roasted pork, to various pizzas and appetizers and finishing with a chocolate cherry ricotta torte, they shared their homemade creations with the rest of us, which were delicious!

While the rest of our group was learning how to recreate an Italian feast, I had been admiring this view from the back of our villa. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking with 360 degree views of rolling hills and valleys, dotted by olive groves and quintessential Tuscan farmhouses. Today the late afternoon light was so beautiful how it cast its golden glow on the landscape, and I had to capture it before it was gone. The serpentine roads lead you up over the hills and into the distance. I hope you enjoy the escape to beautiful Tuscany, too, when you gaze at my painting!

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

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

***

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek

September 26 – October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.