Niki Gulley paintings

Poppy Diptych

March 12, 2012

Two 24” x 24” textured oil paintings on canvas to form a 24” x 48” diptych

I love it when we are driving leisurely through the countryside and we come across a gorgeous field of wildflowers. The sudden burst of color thrills your senses! Playing with color and texture, I feel like this poppy painting radiates with energy and captures the joy you feel on one of the first beautiful days of spring. With this series, you can purchase either the left or the right painting to hang alone or display both side by side to form a panorama diptych.

The March edition of American Art Collector magazine mentioned myself and Dallas artist Barbara Mason in their floral section. Picture in the article is “Bursting with Color.”

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured floral paintings.

Or, to see more of her work, stop by her booth at Artscape this weekend.
Fri. March 16th • 9am – 5pm
Sat. March 17th • 9am – 5pm
Sun. March 18th • 9am – 5pm
Dallas Arboretum • 8617 Garland Rd.
http://www.dallasarboretum.org/artscape

NikiGulley.com

Plein Air Painting in Italy with Niki Gulley

March 9, 2012

SOLD • 30″ x 15″ pastel

I was commissioned to paint this vineyard and rolling hills backdrop based on my collectors’ fond memories of Tuscany. So, using some of my plein air sketches, photographs, and personal memories from our trips to the area, I created this pastel. Full of color and movement, I arranged the planted grapevines to lead your eye back to the Tuscan villa and then to the beautiful countryside beyond.

If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to Tuscany, Italy in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como, Italy in September visit nikigulley.com/artreks for more information. We’d love to have you join us!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

To see more of my paintings from Tuscany, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

“Carnival” – New autumn aspen oil painting by Niki Gulley

March 5, 2012

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

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. Combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives, also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this aspen tree painting.

Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

Plein Air Painting in Italy with Niki Gulley

March 2, 2012

SOLD • 18″ x 36″ oil painting

This house on a hill painting was inspired by our first trip to Tuscany, where I fell in love with everything about the region. Medieval towns, cypress tree-lined roads and glorious sun drenched splendor of the rolling hills are just some of the allure of Tuscany.

Imagine the inspiration derived from strolling the narrow cobble streets or taking in the panoramic views as the sun sweeps across the landscape spread out before you. Start your own renaissance by standing in the shadows where the masters once painted, all while experiencing the grandeur of Tuscany first hand. Capture the rich fall colors offset against cobalt blue skies, the rows of earth-hued vines, ripe with their succulent grape harvest, all while being warmed, literally, under a Tuscan sun.

Tuscany’s warmth is in more than the countryside, it’s within its people as you will discover while sampling the region’s abundant wines, savory fruit and amazing varieties of cheese. There is nothing like getting to know a culture and experiencing a sense of place. It is a journey for the senses, not only visually and intellectually, but for the palate as well.

Whether you are a painter or photographer, our unique Art Treks have been designed to allow you to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice. Choosing which aspect interests you, we will help guide you to capture the architecture and breathtaking vistas flooded with their extraordinary quality of light, on either canvas or film. If you would like to join us on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to Paris, France in May, Tuscany, Italy in September, or Cinque Terre / Lake Como, Italy in September visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

Registration deadline is March 1st.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

To see more of my paintings from Italy, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

“Sun Drenched” textured sunflower oil painting

February 29, 2012

30″ x 48″ textured oil on canvas

Inspired by our trip to Provence last summer, I was awestruck by these massive fields of sunflowers blooming. Seeing this brilliant carpet of gold, with its sea of faces smiling towards the sun, just made me feel happy and I wanted you to experience that joy, too. In person “Sun Drenched” practically leaps off the canvas with its vibrant yellow petals and extremely thick three-dimensional oil paint.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings.

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

“Blue Tomorrow” textured bluebonnet painting by Niki Gulley

February 28, 2012

36″ x 48″ textured oil on canvas

Just Finished! 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 drive among the bluebonnets and Texas wildflowers. Painted with thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture, the resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary bluebonnet and Texas landscape paintings.

Textured Bluebonnet Painting “Blue Horizon”

February 24, 2012

“Blue Horizon” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD 30″ x 48″ textured oil on canvas

SOLD – I love the rolling hills of the Texas hill country and when the bluebonnets are prolific, it feels like a carpet of blue stretches for miles. I painted this bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush scene with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. I’ve painted the scene around the edges of the canvas on 1 and 1/2″ deep stretcher bars so that the paintings can be hung without a frame for a unique sculptural effect.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary bluebonnet and Texas landscape paintings.

Last day for Two Woman Show, “Opposites Attract,” at Jaycee Center for the Arts

February 22, 2012

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 thin transparent layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.

To see “Fire and Gold” in person, stop by the Jaycee Center for the Arts in Irving, TX for this two woman show featuring the paintings of Niki Gulley and Elizabeth Padgett. Exhibit ends this Thursday, Feb. 23rd. 1975 Puritan Dr. between Story Rd. and MacArthur in Irving, TX.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

Dancing on Water textured water lilies

February 20, 2012

36” x 60” textured oil painting

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water,

diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface;

water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns,

a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage

while azure skies reflect in the water.

To see “Dancing on Water” in person, stop by the Jaycee Center for the Arts in Irving, TX for this two woman show featuring the paintings of Niki Gulley and Elizabeth Padgett. Exhibit ends this Thursday, Feb. 23rd. 1975 Puritan Dr. between Story Rd. and MacArthur in Irving, TX.

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If you would like to join us in May for our next ArtTrek to Paris, France, and paint Monet’s Gardens in person, visit nikigulley.com/artreks, which goes into detail about our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

Feb. 18th Painting Workshop

February 10, 2012

SOLD • 30” x 30” textured oil on canvas

Growing up in Chicago, our brutally cold winters would feel like they lasted forever so my family tried to vacation along our tropical coasts whenever possible. I loved this week we spent together – the cathartic rhythm of the ocean waves lapping against the shore as dad and I tried to ride each crest as close to the beach as possible, feeling the cool sand squish between my toes and fingers while building sand castles together, and enjoying the peacefulness at sunset as the gorgeous fireball dropped down from the sky and cast diamond-like reflections across the ocean’s surface.

If you’d like to create paintings with more freedom and expression, please join me Feb. 18th and 19th for a workshop I’m teaching on “Loosening Up,” at my studio in Dallas, TX. See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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