Santa Fe Pastel by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

 

“The Blue Door,” Santa Fe ©2022 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ pastel

During our Santa Fe workshop, one morning we headed to a quiet street in downtown. It was a beautiful day, and we were all drawn to the unique adobe architecture typical in Santa Fe, the soft morning light, and the vibrant color accents on each home. I chose this periwinkle doorway, both for the striking contrast against the orange pueblo and also because the Russian sage everywhere was so beautiful, and added some balance on the left hand side of the composition. We all thoroughly enjoyed the morning, even if a passing homeowner or two were disappointed that we hadn’t picked their doorways to paint!

 

To see more of Niki Gulley’s New Mexico and Southwest paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.
 

One Week Left to Register for our Santa Fe Art Trek

“The Blue Door,” Santa Fe ©2012 Niki Gulley

12″ x 9″ pastel

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, NM – Aug. 12-18

Last year on our Santa Fe workshop, one morning we headed to a quiet street in downtown Santa Fe. It was a beautiful day, and we were all drawn to the unique adobe architecture typical in Santa Fe, the soft morning light, and the vibrant color accents on each home. I chose this periwinkle doorway for my quick demo in pastels, both for the striking contrast against the orange pueblo and also because the russian sage everywhere was so beautiful, and added some balance on the left hand side of the composition. We all thoroughly enjoyed the morning, even if a passing homeowner or two were disappointed that we hadn’t picked their doorways to paint!
Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too. Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop Aug. 12-18 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.We will transport you to different picturesque locations, where you will be painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old. This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Santa Fe Art Trek
Plein Air Painting / photography workshop taught by Scott Williams and Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 12 -18, 2012
See nikigulley.com/art-classes for more details

or e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions and to register.

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Plein Air Painting & Photo Workshop

“Under the Tuscan Sun” ©2011 Niki Gulley
Sold • pastel 24” x 36”

Just sold to one of my Dallas collectors, “Under the Tuscan Sun,” was inspired from one of the many gorgeous vistas near the villa our group stays in while my husband and professional photographer, Scott Williams, and I are teaching our Tuscany Workshop. Between the vibrant sunset, the gently rolling hills, and this typical stone farm house, I just had to paint this ideal location.

Many folks have been asking, so we finally have our dates for our next “Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Tuscany”, Sept. 2 – 10. This is the perfect time of year for Tuscany and with an extra day added this year, how can you pass it up?!? There is a limit of 10 people and this is the trip that filled up in two weeks last year, so don’t wait too long to sign up in case that happens again. See more details about the trip at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13. Contact me for sign up forms if you are interested in going or if you have any questions.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.
Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of more of my paintings and pastels.
For more on Scott Williams photography, go to blind-squirrel.org.

Crimson Sky pastel

“Crimson Sky,” Dallas ©2010 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel • 25″ x 19″
Just sold to a new collector in Dallas!

Last Chicago art show this weekend

“Afternoon Shadows” Gilson Park, Chicago, IL ©2010 Niki Gulley
Pastel • 10” x 8”

I used to love going for a Sunday drive with my family when I was a kid. Sometimes we’d head to this park, which ran along Lake Michigan on a perfect autumn afternoon. We’d park and walk along the beach until we got to where the boats were docked, and then we’d wander onto the Bahaii Temple, with its amazing architecture and intricate carved ivory details, before we’d double back. In Afternoon Shadows, I wanted to depict a beautiful autumn day when the leaves are turning, there’s a slight chill in the air, the afternoon sun is casting mysterious long shadows and you can just make out the top of the temple in the distance, all while reminiscing about a simpler time and place.

To see “Afternoon Shadows” in person, stop by my booth at the Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational this weekend in Oakbrook, II. For more information on the show, go to oakbrookcenter.com/events/48th-annual-invitational-fine-art-exhibition.

Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational – this weekend

“Sounds of Autumn” ©2010 Niki Gulley
Pastel • 14” x 11”

The Chicago Botanic Garden is always beautiful, but in this pastel I wanted to capture it on a perfect autumn day when the native grasses and fall foliage have turned their vibrant autumn colors. I like this view looking across the peaceful lake towards the carillon chiming in the distance, playing in time with the trickling sounds of the wind flickering the fall leaves.

If you’re in the Chicago area, stop by my booth at the Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational to see “Sounds of Autumn” and more of my recent paintings. oakbrookcenter.com

To learn how to paint with pastels, join me in my Adult Art Lessons, Playing with Color, this fall. Classes fill up quickly, so visit my classes tab for more information.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com to register or with any questions.