Tag: Dallas artist Niki Gulley

Book Illustrator for “The Art of Virtue”

January 26, 2010

16″ x 20″ pastel by Niki Gulley • SOLD

I was commissioned to create this unusual floral painting for The Art of Virtue, a book that was just published on the writings of Benjamin Franklin by Charles T. Warren. The publisher wanted a painting that could be used in its entirety for the cover art and then also as eight individual paintings that could be broken up to be the artwork for each of its chapters. Also, with Franklin’s interest in and influential development of horticulture in Philadelphia, florals seemed like a perfect fit.


At top is the original painting, along with the cover of the book and some interior pages above and below. For more information on commissions, e-mail me at [email protected].

Venice Painting Workshop – Jan. 30th deadline

January 22, 2010


“Afterglow,” Venice, Italy by Niki Gulley
14″ x 11″ pastel

As we’re approaching the deadline for our plein air painting and photography workshop that my husband and I are teaching in Venice this May, I’m getting more and more excited about the trip. Venice is such a fascinating place with its architecture being 100s of years old, and the only modes of transportation being by foot or boat, that it really feels like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s difficult not to see a painting opportunity around every corner.

In “Afterglow” I wanted to capture the beautiful sunset that night over the main lagoon. The buildings in the background were kind of hazy with the sun setting, and the gondolas in front of me had just finished dropping off then final love-struck passengers and were being put away for the night. I felt like I could be in the middle of one of Claude Monet’s paintings!

If interested in other paintings from Venice or in more information about our upcoming workshops in Italy, e-mail me at [email protected] or visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13. Jan. 30th is the cut off for the Venetian workshop, and space is limited to only 12 participants, so sign up today and join us for this amazing opportunity!

Intricate Rooftops, Bangkok, Thailand

January 12, 2010

“Intricate Rooftops,” Bangkok, Thailand • by Niki Gulley
5″ x 7″ pastel

On the last leg of our Asian adventure, we visited our good friend who had been living in Bangkok, Thailand for the past year. We welcomed having our host and much appreciated tour guide help us navigate the 18 million person city, especially after having toured around the other countries on our own.

Our first stop, which is a must for all tourists, was the lavishly gilded Grand Palace. The elaborate, ornate Thai architecture was so different than the more understated temples we’d seen in China and Japan. At first, I almost felt overwhelmed by all of the colors, scrolling details and vibrant gold. But when I focused in on just a small section of the grandeur, such as in this pastel close-up of the wat rooftop, I could really appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship more fully.
If you’d like to see more small works in my temple series from Asia, e-mail me at [email protected].

Bridge to Yesterday – Guilin, China

January 10, 2010

“Bridge to Yesterday” – Guilin, China – by Niki Gulley
11″ x 14″ pastel
Once we finished visiting Tokyo, we proceeded on to mainland China for an adventure of a lifetime. After a harrowing 15 hour ride west into the countryside from Hong Kong on a jam-packed floor-room only overnight sleeper bus, we finally began to see the mystical mountain formations that make Guilin one of the most beautiful areas of China and the source of artists’ inspiration for centuries. The way in which the mysterious karst mountain formations rise and disappear amongst the misty, foggy atmosphere is truly magical.
We came across this park on our last day in Guilin. After such an exhausting journey, and the hustle and bustle of the big city, this slice of tranquility was just what we needed. In this pastel, I wanted to convey the peacefulness and the mystical quality of this quiet spot. The precipitation was heavy in the air, which created a nice contrast between the red foot bridge in the foreground and the distant hazy mountains.
For more information about “Bridge to Yesterday,” e-mail me at [email protected]

Tokyo Pastel

January 7, 2010


“Imperial Palace” Tokyo, Japan by Niki Gulley
10″ x 8″ pastel
This pastel of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo is inspired by a trip we took to Asia about this same time last year. Our layover in Japan allowed us to explore Tokyo for a couple of days. While the afternoons were cool and crisp, we lucked out with beautiful blue skies and could explore most of the city on foot and subway. I loved the architecture and the unusual flora we encountered. In this pastel, I wanted to convey how peaceful it was on this winter’s morning along with the beauty of the bridge and palace framed by the weeping willow.
For more information, e-mail me at [email protected].