Turquoise Vortex oil painting

“Turquoise Vortex” ©2010 Niki Gulley
30” x 30” • oil on canvas

Growing up in Chicago, our brutally cold winters would feel like they lasted forever so my family tried to vacation along our tropical coasts whenever possible. I loved this week we spent together – the cathartic rhythm of the ocean waves lapping against the shore as dad and I tried to ride each crest as close to the beach as possible, feeling the cool sand squish between my toes and fingers while building sand castles together, and enjoying the peacefulness at sunset as the gorgeous fireball dropped down from the sky and cast diamond-like reflections across the ocean’s surface.

Turquoise Vortex recreates that magical moment as the sun starts to descend and illuminate the water’s peaks and makes everything sparkle. Using a circular composition and bold colors enhances that feeling of motion and rhythm while suggesting the awesome energy and power found in nature.

If you’d like to learn how to paint landscapes or “loosen up” your technique, join me this fall in my adult art classes. Registration is open and there are only a couple of spots left, so e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information,

Or, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details.

Fire and Gold oil painting

“Fire and Gold” ©2010 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 36″ x 48″

I used to love it as a kid when my parents would take me to the forest preserves near our home outside of Chicago. We would spend the whole day bike riding, picnicking and being immersed in nature and I relished this time with my family. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate those warm memories, choosing reds and yellows of autumn to heighten those happy feelings and using energetic strokes with my paint reminiscent of a carefree, simpler time.

“Transitional Tones” ©2010 Niki Gulley
12” x 12” oil on canvas

I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.

If you’d like to learn how to create loose, vibrant paintings join us this fall in my adult art classes in Dallas. I am beginning registration and classes fill up quickly, so visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

Bountiful Bulbs oil painting

“Bountiful Bulbs” 2010 Niki Gulley
18” x 48” oil on canvas

Sometimes I like to paint places that I dream about and hope to one day experience, as is the case in “Bountiful Bulbs.” The tulip farms that I’ve seen in photos look so magnificent with their perfect vibrant rows of color combined with hearing my friends’ descriptions of seeing the overwhelming explosion of blooms both inspire me to paint a strawberry-and-lemon-lollipop-dipped world where all of your cares melt away.

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

Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival – this weekend – Chicago, IL

Birch Study
5” x 7” oil painting by Niki Gulley

Fresh off the easel! Extremely thick oil paint with lots of movement and texture. If interested in purchasing or seeing other birch studies, contact me at Niki@NikiGulley.com. These miniature paintings look great in pairs and threes! Or, stop by my painting booth this weekend in Chicago at the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival. See http://www.chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=189 for more information.

Tomorrow’s Promises oil painting

“Tomorrow’s Promises” ©2010 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 48″ x 60″
I wanted you to feel the joy and peacefulness of walking through a protective cathedral of branches on a beautiful autumn day. With the soft light illuminating the walkway and golden skylights above, the only sounds to be heard are the crunching of fallen leaves underfoot and a slight breeze flickering the leaves overhead. What lies ahead? The mysterious glow from beyond beckons you forward. Tomorrow’s promises await.
If you’d like to see “Tomorrow’s Promises” in person, visit me this weekend at the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival in Chicago, chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=189, or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Bathed in Sunshine – Fresh off the easel!

“Bathed in Sunshine” ©2010 Niki Gulley
Acrylic Painting • 20” x 30” or 20” x 60”

I love it when we are driving leisurely through the countryside and we come across a gorgeous field of wildflowers. The sudden burst of color thrills your senses! Playing with color and texture, I feel like Bathed in Sunshine radiates with energy and captures the joy you feel on one of the last beautiful days of summer.

You can choose either the left or the right painting to hang alone or display both side by side to form a panorama diptych. Bathed in Sunshine is created with extremely thick paint on gallery wrap canvas with the painting continuing around the edges to create a 3-dimensional, almost sculptural wall art.

To see these paintings, stop by my booth at Westport, CT’s Fine Art Festival this weekend or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com to ship.

For details on the art show, visit westportartsfestival.com

Poppy Passion at Art Fair on the Square this weekend

“Poppy Passion” ©2010 Niki Gulley
Oil painting • 18” x 36”

I absolutely love it when I come across a whole field of wildflowers – there is something about the transformation of a single dainty flower into a dense explosion of color that inspires awe and delights your senses. So in Poppy Passion, I combined memories of places I’ve been with intense complimentary colors to convey that joy I feel when I come across a gorgeous field of poppies.

If you’d like to see Poppy Passion in person, visit my booth this weekend at Art in the Square in Madison, WI, mmoca.org.

Transitional Tones IV

“Transitional Tones IV” ©2010 Niki Gulley
12” x 12” oil painting

I created these aspen trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and dimension. I love how the bright colors pop and brighten up any room, and how the strokes contain so much movement and energy. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky aspen paintings look great in pairs or threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings.

Transitional Tones III

“Transitional Tones III” ©2010 Niki Gulley
12” x 12” oil painting

I created these aspen trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and dimension. I love how the bright colors pop and brighten up any room, and how the strokes contain so much movement and energy. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky aspen paintings look great in pairs or threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings or visit my art booth at the Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend in Evanston, IL to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For details on the show, go to chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.