contemporary landscape painting

“Arboreal Labyrinth” Abstract Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

December 8, 2020

24″ x 44″ Textured Mixed Media Painting on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

This Arboreal Labyrinth series was such a joy to paint! My goal was to capture the excitement and energy I feel while being immersed in the forest. Relishing in the gorgeous fall colors, enjoying the cool breeze as it kisses my cheek and creates a beautiful symphony blowing through the autumn leaves, and admiring the texture of peeling, knotted aspen trees, I stroll through the woods and forget about anything else but being surrounded by mother nature’s beauty.

For more information on this series, please contact AO5 Gallery at ao5gallery.com.

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

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

New “Prickly Tower” Contemporary Cactus Painting by Niki Gulley

November 12, 2020

48″ x 30″ Textured Mixed Media Painting on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

On a recent trip, we came across these gigantic cacti. I had never seen such a large cactus before and I was awestruck by its age and size. Purposely choosing this angle from below and narrowing the perspective as it stretches to the dramatic clouds drifting by in the sky, you can get a sense of its scale. Filled with vibrant colors and dragging my paint in swirling, diagonal patterns add to the energy and joy of the scene.

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

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

“Climbing Trees” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

November 9, 2020

40” x 30” oil on canvas

Growing up in the midwest, I loved the first snowfall of the year when everything would get a beautiful dusting of pristine white powder, including even the tiniest of branches in the treetops above. If you caught that moment early enough in the morning before anything had disturbed the intricate frosted web, it was just magical. Then the sun would start rising and peeking through the limbs, and everything would sparkle like diamonds. In Climbing Trees, I wanted to capture that beautiful moment when the sunlight dances through the icing on the treetops and you can feel yourself looking up in wonderment just like you did when you were a kid.

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E-mail – Niki Gulley for more information on Climbing Trees.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s Palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

“Forest’s Edge” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

October 30, 2020

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on canvas

I love being immersed in nature. After living in a city surrounded by concrete and noise, I find being surrounded by mother nature to be extremely cathartic, peaceful and rejuvenating. In Forest Edge, I wanted to capture those feelings of happiness and tranquility. Working first with thin drippy paint, and then building up thick layers of oil paint with palette knives to achieve extreme dimension, this painting is loaded with movement, energy and color. I hope it lifts your spirits and recharges your batteries while bringing texture, joy and the outdoors inside your home.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

“Fall Jamboree” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

October 29, 2020

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on canvas

I love being immersed in nature. After living in a city surrounded by concrete and noise, I find being surrounded by mother nature to be extremely cathartic, peaceful and rejuvenating. In Fall Jamboree, I wanted to capture those feelings of happiness and tranquility. Working first with thin drippy paint, and then building up thick layers of oil paint with palette knives to achieve extreme dimension, this painting is loaded with movement, energy and color. I hope it lifts your spirits and recharges your batteries while bringing texture, joy and the outdoors inside your home.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

“Rhythm Reflections” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

October 28, 2020

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on canvas

I love being immersed in nature. After living in a city surrounded by concrete and noise, I find being surrounded by mother nature to be extremely cathartic, peaceful and rejuvenating. In Rhythm Reflections, I became fascinated with the mirror reflection on the aspen trees in the water below the horizon line. With the lake surface slightly blurring the individual leaves, patterns started emerging that created a sort of rhythm that I found mesmerizing. Working first with thin drippy paint, and then building up thick layers of oil paint with palette knives to achieve extreme dimension, this painting is loaded with movement, energy and color. Leaving the composition slightly abstracted gives you a chance to form your own contemplative narrative with nature.

For more information on “Rhythm Reflections,” please contact AO5 Gallery at ao5gallery.com.

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Standing Witness” Palette Knife Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

October 15, 2020

“Standing Witness”©2020 Niki Gulley
16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

Recently, we visited Santa Fe and to escape the heat we ventured up the Santo de Cristo mountains to cool down among the beautiful, refreshing aspen trees. I was attracted to this grove in particular with their beautiful textured white bark and their proximity and angles to each other. I decided to include the sentinels behind, also, to give you a sense of being surrounded by the peaceful forest. Dappled light casts diagonal shadows and causes the grasses to dance and sparkle. I hope you can feel the serenity of this rejuvenating place.

Close up texture detail:

I’m excited to have been invited to exhibit at Studio Seven Arts in Pleasanton, CA. If you’d like to see or find out more details about Standing Witness, please check them out:

Studio Seven Arts Gallery

400 Main Street

Pleasanton, CA

StudioSevenArts.com

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my birch and aspen tree oil paintings.

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

NikiGulley.com

New “Meandering Journey” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

October 14, 2020

“Meandering Journey”

16″ x 20″ textured oil by Niki Gulley

Recently, we visited Santa Fe and to escape the heat we ventured up the Santo de Cristo mountains to cool down amongst the beautiful, refreshing aspen trees. I was drawn to this meandering path leading through the aspens with its dappled light creating such gorgeous shadows. Having fun capturing all of the different textures with palette knife from the lush grasses to the feathery wildflowers to the peeling bark on the aspen trees, I set out to recreate the peace and beauty of this forest. I hope you, too, can feel the serenity of this rejuvenating place and enjoy an uplifting walk in the woods.

I’m excited to have been invited to exhibit at Studio Seven Arts in Pleasanton, CA. If you’d like to see or find out more details about Meandering Journey, please check them out:

Studio Seven Arts Gallery

400 Main Street

Pleasanton, CA

StudioSevenArts.com

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her palette knife aspen and birch tree paintings.

See NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Autumn Memories” Palette Knife Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

October 7, 2020

36″ x 36″ texture oil painting

I painted Autumn Memories to bring back the serenity I feel while walking through the woods on a cool autumn day, being totally immersed in nature, and not a care in the world. I chose pure, intense reds and yellows contrasted against autumn grasses and pops of purple to create a fall forest that vibrates with color, energy and sound. I hope you are transported with me to this cathartic aspen forest!

I’m excited to have been invited to exhibit at Studio Seven Arts in Pleasanton, CA. If you’d like to see or find out more details about Autumn Memories, please check them out:

Studio Seven Arts Gallery

400 Main Street

Pleasanton, CA

StudioSevenArts.com

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my birch and aspen tree oil paintings.

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

NikiGulley.com

New Contemporary Textured Wildflower Painting by Niki Gulley

April 27, 2020

12″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting
Painted on 1.5″ gallery wrap canvas with the painting continuing around the edges.

Here is the final painting in this abstracted wildflower series. Painted with palette knife and loaded with texture, this painting really jumps off the canvas in person. Full of mystery, hope and energy, I hope it brings you joy and color.

Close up texture detail:

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Texas inspired textured paintings.