“Aqua Dreams” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

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

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

Just Sold! “Snake Crossing” Oil Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Snake Crossing” ©2014 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20″ x 24″ • textured oil on canvas
We spend a lot of time in the car, between driving across country for art shows, exploring new places for inspiration, and traveling while teaching painting and photography workshops, so in this new series I’ve felt compelled to capture my views from the passenger seat. This particular painting was inspired by one of our trips out west. Not only do I love the various rock formations in the distance and the dramatic sunset, but I relish the sense of open space after living in a city. Looking out on the expansive horizon, I get the feeling that anything is possible and a new discovery is just ahead. All lines are designed to beckon you into the distance, and an upcoming snake crossing road sign hints that you have escaped city life and are immersed in a vast unspoiled landscape. This low angle of the road combined with energetic diagonal strokes is designed to give you the feeling of freedom while driving cross country in search for whatever your journey holds next.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm
Booth #706
Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,
between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.
***

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

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

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

Just Sold! “Coming Together” Palette Knife Aspen Tree painting by Niki Gulley

“Coming Together” ©2014 Niki Gulley • SOLD
Textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas • 40″ x 30″
In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing calming greens against a lavender-blue peaceful sky and arranging the two main aspens so that they meet in the middle, suggests a feeling of togetherness. While organizing the outlying trees in a circular pattern and using thick, curving, bold orange brushstrokes, creates a joyful, playful mood.

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

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

New “Building on the Past” Oil Painting of the Cinque Terre by Niki Gulley

“Building on the Past,” Cinque Terre, Italy ©2014 Niki Gulley
40″ x 30″ oil painting on wrap around canvas

Last year on our Cinque Terre Art Trek, we set up our easels in Riomaggiore and I tried to capture the intricate puzzle of stacked houses precariously balanced one on top of each other lining this cliffside. The engineering feat to build them fascinates me, and I love their bright hues contrasted against the Mediterranean’s blues. I wonder what it’s like to live there, to see that gorgeous ocean view out your window everyday and on the flip side, trying to navigate all of the uneven steep steps with groceries and daily tasks. Once back in my studio, I took my plein air sketch and photos and created this larger version of Riomaggiore in all of its colorful glory. I hope you can still hear the cathartic sounds of the waves crashing against the rocky shore and the joy of being on vacation in such a beautiful, uplifting place.

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre / Lake Como for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 12th-21st, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming ArtTreks

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
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-25, 2014

2015
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 2015

 Athens and Santorini, Greece – June 26 – May 2015
The French Riviera – June 2014
 Provence, France – June /July 2015


Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!
***
To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

New “October Reflections” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

“October Reflections” ©2014 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40″ textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

Living in Dallas we are surrounded by concrete, but I have a couple of favorite spots that I go to when I want to be immersed in nature. This pond is always filled with lily pads that I enjoy painting in the spring, but I wanted to paint them in the autumn this time surrounded by the beautiful fall colors. I loved the contrast of the bright azure sky being reflected an inky blue in the water against the fiery reds in the foliage. Arranging the composition in a circular pattern to suggest harmony and tranquility, I hope you feel energized and rejuvenated gazing upon this peaceful oasis.

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley

New “Snake Crossing” Oil Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Snake Crossing” ©2014 Niki Gulley
20″ x 24″ • textured oil on canvas
We spend a lot of time in the car, between driving across country for art shows, exploring new places for inspiration, and traveling while teaching painting and photography workshops, so in this new series I’ve felt compelled to capture my views from the passenger seat. This particular painting was inspired by one of our trips out west. Not only do I love the various rock formations in the distance and the dramatic sunset, but I relish the sense of open space after living in a city. Looking out on the expansive horizon, I get the feeling that anything is possible and a new discovery is just ahead. All lines are designed to beckon you into the distance, and an upcoming snake crossing road sign hints that you have escaped city life and are immersed in a vast unspoiled landscape. This low angle of the road combined with energetic diagonal strokes is designed to give you the feeling of freedom while driving cross country in search for whatever your journey holds next.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in the Austin, TX area this weekend, please stop by my booth at Art City Austin.
Art City Austin (TX)
Sat. April 12 • 10am – 8pm
Sun. April 13 • 11am – 6pm
2nd St. Retail & Shopping District
ArtAllianceAustin.org
***

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

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

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

“Natural Textures” Abstracted Aspen Tree palette knife painting by Niki Gulley

“Natural Textures III” ©2014 Niki Gulley
24″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Natural Textures III is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension and depth. Hang it alone, or combine it with Natural Textures I and II to form a triptych, as pictured below.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings or
visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary aspen and birch tree paintings.

New Sunflower Field palette knife oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Sun Filled Memories” ©2014 Niki Gulley
20″ x 30″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these cheerful sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture.

“Sun Filled Memories” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.