fall foliage

New Autumn Glory Painting of the Blue Ridge Parkway by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

January 6, 2026

24” x 48” textured acrylic painting on canvas

I am in love with my new studio! The mountain views from my windows are just stunning. We’re unpacked and it feels so good to finally be settled, so that I can focus on creating again. First canvas — of course it’s of that inspiring vista right out my studio! When I started this last week, the fall color was breathtaking. Now, since the polar vortex there aren’t many leaves left. But, thankfully I was able to capture those hues before they dropped and now my imagination can fill in the gaps to recreate that joyful feeling for you. I hope you are transported with me to the catharsis of being surrounded by mother nature and this mountain majesty!

To see a video of this one, follow https://www.facebook.com/reel/736555692796606.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife seasonal paintings.

To see more of Niki’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

New “Wheel of Hope” from Weaverville, NC by Niki Gulley

January 5, 2026

SOLD • 24” x 48” textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just sold! Today I met up with the Asheville Plein Air painters at Lake Louise in Weaverville. Such a fun morning with a fantastic welcoming group!

I loved the historic waterwheel here, but sadly it got mangled in the hurricane. Then about 3 months ago, the wheel disappeared. Today I showed up for our paint out and a new one was back. One of the neighbors told me it had just gotten installed the night before. Talk about perfect timing! And, I loved hearing the history from all of the locals who came up and chatted with me.

Here’s a video of this one – https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjhHGqkVdh/

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife seasonal paintings.

To see more of Niki’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

New Fall Foliage from the Blue Ridge Mountains by Niki Gulley

January 2, 2026

24” x 48” textured acrylic painting on canvas

The Blue Ridge Parkway in all of its autumn glory! It is so beautiful exploring every hill and valley while soaking in that refreshing mountain air. What fall delights will you find around the next curve? I hope you enjoy the uplifting, vibrant colors and crisp November air as the sounds of falling leaves crunch underfoot and mother nature restores your spirit.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife seasonal paintings.

To see more of Niki’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

“Country Road” Textured Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

December 31, 2025

10″ x 20 textured oil painting on canvas panel

New England in the fall is breathtakingly beautiful! The autumn leaves explode with a symphony of crimson and gold that makes my heart leap with joy. Add to that this picturesque, quaint country road and I just had to get out my paints to capture the storybook setting. I hope this scene transports you to a simpler time and place!

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For more details on my other colorful fall foliage paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

“Rhythm Reflections” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

December 16, 2025

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.

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Whispers in Time” Aspen Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

December 11, 2025

SOLD • 30” x 30” textured oil painting

Colorado’s celebrated quaking aspen trees stand arrow straight in the valleys and

up and down the hills.

Slim white trunks sing out against the forest background and each leaf provides

a sparkling symphony of notes whispering through the mountains.

Flames of yellow leaves flicker against autumn’s burning reds

and the deep, cool blue mountain streaked with late light.

This painting captures the breathtaking colors of

Colorado in the fall, the Aspens at their most beautiful, and the peaceful rustling murmur and musical sigh of the fluttering leaves.

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To purchase “Whispers in Time,” go to nikigulley.com/whispers-in-time/.

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

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

“Fence Line” Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

December 10, 2025

20″ x 16″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Getting a chance to escape home confinement for a quick road trip to the mountains to paint, was just what the doctor ordered! Spending time in nature and reveling in the stunning fall colors with the crisp cool air, rejuvenated my spirit and inspired my muse. Add to the fact that I love aspens and you have just about the perfect remedy for these challenging times. I hope that you will feel my excitement and energy so that it will bring you as much joy as it did me.

To purchase “Fence Line,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/fence-line/.

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife aspen tree paintings.

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

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“Syncopation” Textured Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

December 3, 2025

12″ x 24″ • textured oil painting on canvas

Flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze while white sentinels slice through the colorful backdrop and create a rhythm as they march along. Repeating and receding, the aspen trunks lead you into the distance, inviting you to take a relaxing walk on a beautiful autumn morning.

To purchase, please go to https://www.nikigulley.com/syncopation-ii/.

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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.

“Fracturing Reality II” Textured Abstract Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

December 2, 2025

24” x 24” textured acrylic painting on canvas

Abstract realism – the synthesis of abstract and realistic painting. Borrowing abstract influences, such as focusing on color, line, shape and rhythm without a concrete, physical object and combining those concepts with depicting something from reality. When you marry these two genres, you get a new style of art that aims to illicit the emotions behind the subject.

In “Fracturing Reality II,” I hope you feel rejuvenated as you gaze into nature’s wonders and escape into your dreams.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

To see more of my textured nature paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Painting Fall at the North Carolina Arboretum by Impressionist Niki Gulley

June 11, 2025

36” x 18” textured acrylic painting on canvas

Today I joined the Asheville Plein Air Painters at the North Carolina Arboretum. While several of the trails were closed from the hurricane, the main gardens were open and it turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon. I loved the bright pops of color in their “mum quilt.” What a fantastic, welcoming group. I look forward to the next time I can join again!

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of Niki’s contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.