Niki Gulley paintings

“Bon Appetito” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 1, 2023

“Bon Appetito” by Niki Gulley
Pastel on board • 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

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If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you with us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

“A Pause in Time” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 28, 2023

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy by Niki Gulley

18” x 24” pastel

Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night.

Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco.

This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic

and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors –

rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in,

paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time.

This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society’s National Juried Show Exhibit.

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If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“Drip Dry” Palette Knife Plein Air Painting by Niki Gulley

February 24, 2023

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

With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it’s hard to pick a single subject matter in Burano, Italy. But, today I was drawn to this quiet location with its vibrant blue stucco wall as the backdrop for that morning’s laundry being hung out to dry. I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.

NikiGulley.com

E-mail Niki Gulley.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to France, Tuscany, or Venice, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

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

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

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Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

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Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

Pastel Home Portrait by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 30, 2023

SOLD • 11″ x 14″ pastel by Niki Gulley

Just Delivered! My final request for 2022 was to create a special home portrait. I no longer advertise that I make these, but I am still happy to paint something special for my collectors or their referrals by request. So for this particular pastel, someone new reached out to me with the craziest 6-degrees-of-separation story! They had purchased a home in the M streets of Dallas and the previous home owner (who turned out to be one of my early collectors) had gifted and left them the home portrait I had created for her in 2004.

Fast forward to this year, and these home owners were ready to move into another place, so they wanted to pass on the gift again to the new people purchasing their home and leave my home portrait from 2004 with the house. So, of course when they moved into their new place (and no one had left a home portrait here), they asked me to create something special for their Christmas gift. So fun! I was even able to include their doggie in the window this time. I hope they enjoy the new memories, and a big thank you to both home owners from 2004 and 2022.

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

For more information on my large floral paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Santa Fe Pastel by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 27, 2023

“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.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my plein air travel paintings.

Hill Country Bluebonnet Commissioned Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 16, 2023

SOLD • 24″ x 36″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Just Shipped! This year my collectors reached out to me to create two special custom pieces for their new home in Colorado. I wish it had been under happier circumstances, though. You see they were one of the unfortunate families devastated by last year’s Colorado wildfires and everything they owned was burned to the ground. My heart broke when they told me their story.

But, I was so honored when they informed me that I was the first artist they contacted to replace their former art collection. And, on top of that I was to go in the place of a William Slaughter painting that they had owned for 40 years! Large shoes to fill, but I was excited to create something uplifting to bring back fond memories for them. Set amongst the rolling landscape of the Texas Hill Country, I wanted them to feel the warmth and beauty on this perfect spring day while out for a leisurely drive among the cheerful bluebonnets and Texas wildflowers.

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

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

New “Happy Trails” Bluebonnet Trail by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

January 13, 2023

24″ x 36″ textured mixed media painting

Inspired by a trip to the hill country, I wanted you feel the warmth and beauty on this perfect spring day while out for a leisurely stroll among the bluebonnets. Dramatic clouds drift by and the landscape is filled with vibrant color to lift your spirits. Painted with thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture, the resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color, movement and energy. I hope you enjoy this happy trail!

For more information on “Happy Trails,” please contact the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

For more information on my bluebonnet paintings and Texas landscapes, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Painting Tranquility in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains

January 12, 2023

16″ x 20″ textured mixed media painting on canvas by Niki Gulley

Continuing on our journey to escape the Texas heat this summer, we retreated to the gorgeous Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The setting was so beautiful and peaceful that I just had to pull out my paints and start capturing all of that joy and tranquility! Here is my finished painting of the Dillon Reservoir.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

See NikiGulley.com

New Contemporary Summer Aspens Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

January 11, 2023

24″ x 24″ textured mixed media painting on canvas

Colorado in July is such a beautiful sight to behold! Cool mountain breezes and woods loaded with tranquil aspens invigorate your soul while cheerful lupine and native wildflowers lift your spirits and fill your heart with joy. Nature’s symphony dances to a tune that is music for your senses. Loaded with texture and color, may “Rhythms of Summer” transport you to this magical land of summer serenity.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife aspen and birch paintings.

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

New Colorado Wildflower Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

January 10, 2023

SOLD • 24″ x 36″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Just Shipped! I was honored when my collectors reached out to me to create two special custom pieces for their new home in Colorado. I just wish it hadn’t have been under such tragic circumstances. You see they were one of the unfortunate families devastated by last year’s Colorado wildfires and everything they owned was burned to the ground. Truly heartbreaking!

So, wanting to turn that tragedy around, they definitely needed some beautiful, cheerful landscapes to add joy and color to their new place. First they asked me to create a snow-dappled mountain backdrop loaded with colorful wildflowers frosting the foreground. Sprinkle in few of my signature aspen trees and hopefully nature’s palette creates a harmonic concert to fill their hearts and home.

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

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