Niki Gulley contemporary impressionist paintings

French Riviera Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 3, 2015

Day 1, Rothschild Estate and Beaulieu – French Riviera Art Trek

9″ x 12″ pastel by Niki Gulley

On the first day of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we spent the morning touring the gorgeous grounds and estate of Beatrice Rothschild. Composed of nine different themed gardens, each one managed to be even more beautiful than the one before with jaw-dropping views of the ocean below.

That afternoon, my painters set up their easels in the pictureasque nearby harbor or Beaulieu while the photographers and tourists joined Scott at another impressive villa and for a walking tour along the harbor. The beach was alive with activity and we set out to capture that energy with the colorful umbrellas and clear turquoise water set against the lush vegetation and unique stately homes in the background. A great day!

The gorgeous Rothschild villa and gardens.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Last Day, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

July 27, 2015

Last Day, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

7″ x 5″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the last day of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop in Greece, some folks shopped, some relaxed by the pool, others continued photographing. I couldn’t miss one last opportunity to paint our gorgeous Santorini view from our hotel balcony. Everyone had a lovely, rejuvenating afternoon!

Later that day we all gathered to share what we had painted and photographed during the trip, and sample some of the local wines and cheeses while we discussed the art. To cap off the evening, we treated ourselves to a delicious seafood dinner with another gorgeous view of the ocean, catching up with new friends and savoring our last night. A perfect ending to a perfect trip!

Dinner with an amazing view on our last night.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Day 5, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Sunset Cruise

July 24, 2015

Day 5, Sunset Boat Cruise – Greece Art Trek

5″ x 7″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

That afternoon we rode the cable cars to the port below and caught a boat cruise that ferried us across the bay and around the island at sunset. Stopping at the volcano, some of our group hiked to the top, which was quite intriguing with its sci-fi type lava rock. Meanwhile some of us pulled out our paints and sketched the scenery around us. I particularly liked the casual posture and conversation of these two ladies who were part of our group, so I chose them for my subject. Both were wearing their new hats, which glowed in the sunlight. With just an hour to paint, all we could do is loosely capture a particular feeling. A fun challenge!

Next we stopped at a hot spring for anyone who wanted to swim. And, finally we cruised around the island enjoying the view from the water while the sunset on the horizon, sipping some Greek wines and nibbling on some local meats and cheeses. A great end to the day!

Watching sunset from the boat cruise.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.Or, if you are in the Denver, CO area this weekend, I will be exhibiting at the Cheesman Park Art Fest.

Cheesman Park Art Fest
Sat. July 25 • 10am – 9pm
Sun. July 26 • 10am – 9pm
Denver, CO
dasheventsdenver.com/#!cheesman/ctzx

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Capturing Sunrise in Santorini with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

July 22, 2015

Day 5, Sunrise in Oia – Greece Art Trek

8″ x 10″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

The next morning of our Greece Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop, the photographers got up early to shoot sunrise and I decided to join them. Town was so peaceful and the views were incredible. I chose this strategic location to capture the iconic blue domes over the caldera. It was cloudier this morning which created a peaceful feeling with softer sunrise colors that spread across the sky. I hope you, too, can feel the beauty and tranquility of this special spot.

Enjoying a drink that afternoon at our gorgeous pool view.

Cheesman Park Art Fest
Sat. July 25 • 10am – 9pm
Sun. July 26 • 10am – 9pm
Denver, CO
dasheventsdenver.com/#!cheesman/ctzx

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

New Autumn Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

January 8, 2014

24″ x 48″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit more so than an exact replica of the forest, so I chose to use warm vivid colors and thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the foliage in diagonal sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance.

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

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Palette Knife Birch Painting, “Autumn Crescendo,” by Niki Gulley

July 19, 2013

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

If you would like to see “Autumn Crescendo” and more of my textured oil paintings in person, please stop by my booth at the State Street Art Fair in Ann Arbor, MI this Wednesday through Saturday.

State Street Art Fair

Wed. July 17 • 10am – 9pm

Thurs. July 18 • 10am – 9pm

Fri. July 19 • 10am – 9pm

Sat. July 20 • 10am – 6pm

Ann Arbor, MI

Booth #B211 on N. University between Thayer and State St.

a2statestreetartfair.com

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Last Day, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

June 28, 2013

Day 7 – Greece Art Trek: Santorini

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley • “Cocktail in Paradise”

On our last afternoon, the sun came out and it and everyone had free time to do whatever they pleased. Some folks shopped, some relaxed by the pool, others continued photographing, and I couldn’t miss one last opportunity to paint our gorgeous Santorini view. Everyone had a lovely, rejuvenating afternoon!

Later that day we all gathered to share what we had painted and photographed during the trip, and sample some of the local wines and cheeses while we discussed the art. To cap off the day, we treated ourselves to a delicious seafood dinner with another gorgeous view of the ocean, catching up with new friends and savoring our last night. A perfect ending to a perfect trip!

Critique / Show and Tell

Dinner with an amazing view on our last night.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Paris and Provence, France so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing during lavender and sunflower season in France, and following in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, please join us for this amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Greece Art Trek with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley and European Photographer Scott Williams

June 26, 2013

Day 6 – Greece Art Trek: Fira and Wineries

12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the sixth day of our Greece Art Trek, the sky darkened and the winds picked up so we decided to paint in a more sheltered spot. So setting up on our balcony, we chose to paint a vignette of the white-washed stucco and simple architectural lines and curves. At a couple of points, we even got some soft sunlight to give our subject subtle highlights and shadows, which we painted quickly as the light was quite fleeting.

That afternoon, we weren’t about to let the drizzle spoil our day so we made the most of the the situation and went wine tasting! One of the local wineries overlooked the caldera, so we not only sampled some delicious Greek wines and munchies but also with the rain letting up, took in another amazing view.

Wine tasting on Santorini.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic paintings.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Plein Air Painting and Photographing in Santorini, Greece with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

June 19, 2013

Day 4, Afternoon – Greece Art Trek: Oia, Santorini

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

With so much beautiful scenery, it was hard to decide on a subject, but a couple of the painters chose this iconic view of the windmills and bleached architecture contrasted against the cobalt blue skies and waters below. Meanwhile the photographers climbed every nook and cranny in town in search for the perfect shot, and others chose to shop or relax with a snack, soaking in the gorgeous view over the caldera.

One of my student’s easels with their completed painting overlooking Oia in the background.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Autumn Aspen Trees painting by Niki Gulley – Just Sold

April 19, 2013

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Just Sold and now hanging in the art collection at Prime Lending in north Dallas!

Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen and Oak trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, scarlet and tangerine, with each light breeze. There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, a band of slender straight trunks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling tumble of amber and crimson. Staccato strokes and shimmering hues add to the feeling of change in the air and suggest the wind whistling through the foliage.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings of aspen and birch trees.

NikiGulley.com