Tag: fall foliage

“Reaching for the Heavens” Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

May 20, 2015
“Reaching for the Heavens” ©2015 Niki Gulley
48″ x 36” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the amusement of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing warm yellows and reds while utilizing thick chunky staccato strokes, add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

“Fire and Gold” – Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

May 8, 2015
“Fire and Gold” ©2015 Niki Gulley
textured oil on canvas • 36″ x 48″

I love the first signs of fall – the crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful autumn colors, and being totally immersed in nature in the middle of a forest without a care in the world. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate that joyful feeling, choosing warm reds and yellows of autumn and using energetic strokes with my paint to heighten that mood. Building up first thin transparent layers and then thick textured layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.

E-mail – Niki Gulley for more information.

Please visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Harmonic Hues” – Aspen Tree oil painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

May 4, 2015

“Harmonic Hues” ©2015 Niki Gulley
36″ x 36″ oil on canvas

I love painting aspen trees and I usually work with a more primary color palette, but in this painting, I wanted to convey a quieter, more peaceful mood. Opting for calming moss greens, soft golds and hints of lavender, with some pops of red and burgundy, Harmonic Hues reminds me of the serenity I feel while walking through the forest on a cool autumn day, being totally immersed in nature, not a care in the world. I hope you are transported, too!

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my birch and aspen tree oil paintings.

 Or, visit www.NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

New “Autumn Reflections” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 29, 2015
“Autumn Reflections” ©2015 Niki Gulley
18″ x 48″ textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

In Autumn Reflections, I wanted to give you the feeling of a beautiful, peaceful retreat on a colorful autumn day. To create that feeling of being immersed in nature, I chose this long panorama format so that the sanctuary is completely engulfed in fall foliage, a perfect escape from bustling city life. Loaded with uplifting color, still waters suggest a calming effect. One small ripple in the lake’s distance lets you know that some ducks just swam by and you are surrounded by wildlife, not a care in the world.

If you’re in the Dallas area this coming weekend and you’d like to see Autumn Reflections and more of my palette knife paintings in person, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival.

Cottonwood Art Festival
Sat. May 2 • 10am – 7pm
Sun. May 3 • 10am – 5pm
Richardson, TX
Cottonwood Park at Coit & Beltline
If you have any questions, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

New “Golden Tangle” Fall Foliage Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

March 23, 2015

“Golden Tangle” ©2015 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil on canvas


I painted this golden oak at White Rock Lake last fall. I loved how the canary yellow leaves glowed from the late afternoon sun as it illuminated the foliage from behind. Being backlit, the trunk went an inky velvet black and all of its gnarly limbs popped against that gilded backdrop, which I accented with flecks of crimson. Created with palette knife and a lot of thick oil paint, this canvas is loaded with texture, uplifting color and energy.

If interested in more information on pricing and purchasing this palette knife fall scene, please contact The Good Art Company.

To see more of my textured contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

 E-mail Niki Gulley


New “Marching into Autumn” Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

March 19, 2015

“Marching into Autumn” ©2015 Niki Gulley
10″ x 20″ textured oil on canvas


I painted this colorful autumn scene near my home when the fall foliage was first starting to appear. I loved the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of the cypress contrasted against the multitude of greens surrounding it. The patterns of the shadows underneath the trees created a sort of rhythm and I played up the angles of the trees and strokes to add to that feeling of a driving beat. I hope you, too, can feel the energy and joy of being surrounded by nature as autumn approaches.

If interested in more information on pricing and purchasing this palette knife fall scene, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of my textured contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

New “Reaching for the Heavens” Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

January 14, 2015
“Reaching for the Heavens” ©2015 Niki Gulley
48″ x 36” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the amusement of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing warm yellows and reds while utilizing thick chunky staccato strokes, add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

January 12, 2015

“Intertwining Beauty” ©2015 Niki Gulley
36″ x 60″ textured oil on canvas


Intertwining Beauty was inspired by a recent trip to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The aspen forest was so dense and beautiful. I loved the pops of vibrant fall colors peeking through the tall, tangled, web of white knobby trunks. Ruby reds grab your attention while staccato strokes of emerald, amethyst and topaz lead your eye around the canvas. I hope you can feel the energy found in nature and its power to invigorate your spirit.


I painted these aspen trees with extremely thick paint and palette knife. The resulting canvas is loaded with texture, color and energy! I’ve painted it on 1 and 1/2 inch deep stretcher bars, with the image continuing around the edges so that it can be hung as is frameless for a contemporary look. 

If interested in more information, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of my textured aspen and birch paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

New Colorado Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

November 7, 2014
“Aspen Concerto” ©2014 Niki Gulley
24” x 18” 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 early banks of snow.
This painting captures the breathtaking colors of
Colorado in the fall, the Aspens at their most beautiful, the peaceful snow-banked mountain, the rustling murmur and musical sigh of the fluttering leaves.

To purchase “Aspen Concerto,” please contact the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX. http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

New “October Reflections” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

November 3, 2014
“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.

Just Sold

This photo was sold at the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX.   To see more of my pieces at the Good Art Company visit http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/

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

E-mail – Niki Gulley