European photo tours

Painting Portugal with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 23, 2021

SOLD • 5″ x 7″ textured oil painting

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 7 – Cascais

On the final day of our Art Trek in Portugal that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led, we gave everyone the day to explore and visit whatever sights they chose. Just a short stroll from our accommodation, some visited the crashing oceans waves at Boca do Inferno while others toured the picturesque lighthouse standing watch. Others chose to explore the defensive walls of a 15th century fort guarding the harbor and a couple of other chose to just chill out at the beach and pool.

Being a water lover, I chose to spend as much of the day as I could near the ocean. Above you can find my painting of the coastline. I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your spirits. Whenever I visit the beach I always feel rejuvenated, and I hope I’ve translated that onto the canvas for you to experience it, too!

(Lighthouse and palaces in Cascais • Photo by Scott Williams)

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting in Portugal with Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

November 22, 2021

SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 4 – Obidos

For a change of pace, the next day we took a side trip to the quaint and colorful town of Obidos. This charming Portuguese walled town with narrow cobbled streets, traditional painted houses and medieval castle, is a perfect destination to immerse yourself in Portugal’s history. The white washed houses with colorful blue and yellow accents screamed that they needed an artist to try and capture their beauty and uniqueness. Then add the gorgeous, prolific bougainvillea blooming out of the cracks in the ground and you had the makings for a perfect painting!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Visiting Peña Palace with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Art Treks

November 19, 2021

SOLD • 8″ x 6″ textured oil painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 3 – Sintra: Peña Palace

Since Sintra is filled with so many beautiful palaces and castles, one day is not enough time to absorb it all, so we returned the next day to continue exploring everything it has to offer. First stop was its star attraction, Peña Palace, which dazzles with bright colors and fairytale design. While our group explored the interior and its surroundings, I set up my easel to paint its dramatic, red and yellow facade.

Next up on our itinerary we visited our last Sintra attraction, the National Palace, and then headed back to Cascais for a little downtime at our hotel pool and another delicious dinner.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Art Treks Paints and Photographs Sintra, Portugal

November 18, 2021

SOLD • 6″ x 8″ textured oil painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 2 – Afternoon Location – Sintra: Monseratte

That afternoon we headed to another amazing palace, Monserrate. It is a visually striking blend of Arabic, gothic and Indian influences, and once again is surrounded by beautiful, lush, exotic vegetation. While our photographers and tourists explored the palace’s interior, I set up outside to capture its distinct architecture.

After finishing our tour in Sintra, we headed back to Cascais for a little downtime and an amazing dinner. The perfect ending to an adventure filled day!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting Castles in Portugal with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 17, 2021

6″ x 8″ textured oil painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 2 – Sintra: La Quinta de Regaleira

On our first full day of our Portugal Art Trek, we hit the ground running by visiting the fairy tale town of Sintra filled with exotic gardens, palaces and castles. First stop was La Quinta de Regaleira, decorated in an ornate facade and surrounded by enchanting gardens filled with gothic turrets, carved gargoyles and hidden tunnels. I chose this view of the palace nestled into the lush forest around it, perched on a hill and soaring towards the heavens above. It is a truly magical setting!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Portugal Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

November 16, 2021

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 1 – Cascais

Once we finished researching our 2022 Art Trek to Alsace, France, we flew to Portugal to begin leading this summer’s Art Trek to our intrepid group. Our first afternoon was rather leisurely since most of our group was arriving from the United States and shaking off their jet lag. So once everyone checked into our oceanside hotel and took a short nap, we set out on a walking tour of our home base town, Cascais. The Atlantic Ocean hugs its coastline, and there is a great walking trail all along the city. Above, you can see how I wanted to capture the gorgeous rock formations and the beautiful colors in the ocean.

After finishing taking in the beautiful scenery along the water, we wandered the maze of tiled streets throughout town, soaking in the architecture and energy, and finished the night with a delicious dinner of Portuguese tapas. A great way to start the trip!

View from our hotel

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022

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

NikiGulley.com

Palette Knife Painting of Colmar, France by Niki Gulley

November 15, 2021

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Can you really get sick of painting gorgeous fairytale views? Definitely not! We only had one more day in Colmar for me to once again try and capture its beauty. Fortunately, I did not have to get up before sunrise to capture this one and it was a shorter walk from our hotel, but I found the scene just as enchanting. I hope you, too, art transported to this picturesque, uplifting location.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022

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

NikiGulley.com

Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley Painting in France

November 12, 2021

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

I loved these views in Colmar so much that I just had to paint more of them. So once again, I was able to drag my body out of bed and carry my painting gear in the darkness to set up at this picturesque location in downtown Colmar. As the sun started rising, it illuminated the buildings and cast its colorful glow along the river and the sky. I’m so glad I made the effort and got up in time to capture it!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting Sunflowers in France by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 11, 2021

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Painted on location while we were visiting Alsace, France, these perky sunflowers added so much joy to the lush valley. Grapevines planted in repetitious, rhythmic rows ebb and flow over the gentle curving hills as they lead your eye to the old stone church in the distance and you can almost hear their bells ring out. While I began this one outside, you can see the dramatic clouds that started to roll in and and my luck ran out as the rain hit. Fortunately there was still a view undercover and I was able to finish it in the front seat of our rental car. Good thing I didn’t spill any paint!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022

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

NikiGulley.com

New “Fairytale Setting” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 10, 2021

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Next up on our journey was a visit to the fairytale villages of Alsace, France. Located along the French/German border, each town is a visual paradise consisting of brightly colored cross-timbered houses and flower boxes overflowing with vibrant, cheerful blooms. The hardest part is narrowing down what to paint! This morning I dragged my body and my painting gear in the darkness to set up at this picturesque view in downtown Colmar. As the sun started rising, it illuminated the buildings and cast its colorful glow along the river and the sky. I’m so glad I made the effort and got up in time to capture it!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022

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

NikiGulley.com