Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

“Bellagio,” Lake Como, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 8″ x 10″
Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly painted buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I liked how the flowers framing this view of Bellagio mimicked the hues of the town’s architecture and added a colorful contrast to the blues of the lake and distant mountains.

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. If you sign up by Jan. 13th, you’ll save $500 off the cost of the trip!
To see more of my paintings from Italy visit NikiGulley.com.

“Riomaggiore” pastel

“Riomaggiore,” Cinque Terre, Italy ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 5″ x 7″
From our trip to the Cinque Terre along Italy’s west coast, Riomaggiore is one of my favorite harbors. I love the colorful buildings and the amazing way they are stair-stepped and stacked one on top of each other along this hilly coastline. The view from up top is amazing, too!

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. Sign up by Jan. 13th and save $500!
To see more of my travel landscapes and Italy paintings visit NikiGulley.com.

“Tuscan Drive” pastel

“Tuscan Drive” ©2012 Niki Gulley
pastel • 14″ x 11″
This quintessential Tuscan farmhouse framed by the cone-shaped cypress trees is so indicative of Tuscany and the area that we stay in that it’s hard not to paint it! This scene is just around the corner from where we stay while we’re teaching our Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop each September and I’ve always liked how the curving lines of the gravel driveway lead you up the hill. I wanted to add a lot of color and energy to the foreground grasses to create a joyful feeling, much like most everyone experiences being in Tuscany.

If you’d like to come along Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 for our next Tuscany Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. Register by Jan. 13th for a $500 discount. We’d love to have you join us!
To see more of my plein-air paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Lake Como, Italy oil painting

“Peaceful Harbor,” Lake Como, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 24″ x 36″
Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly colored unique buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I love this little laid back town of Varenna, which is so peaceful that all of your cares just melt away. 

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. If you sign up by Jan. 13th, you’ll save $500 off the cost of the trip!
To see more of my paintings from Italy visit NikiGulley.com.

Birch Tree textured paintings

5×7 birch study II ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board

I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.

Pictured above, Monday’s 5″ x 7″ birches next to Wednesday’s and today’s birches.
The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes! To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343

Autumn Birch painting series

5×7 birch study II ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board

I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.


Pictured above, Monday’s 5″ x 7″ birches next to today’s birches.
To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343. The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes!

5×7 birch study


5×7 birch study ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board
I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343. The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes!

Texas Bluebonnets & Indian Blanket

“Texas Treats V” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas
I painted these Texas bluebonnets and Indian Blanket 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. In this wildflower series, 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.
To see more of my bluebonnet and Texas paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=898. The 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes!
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured oil paintings.

Textured Birch Oil Painting

“Ruby Emergence” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 48” x 60” textured acrylic 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.

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

“Scenic Route” oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Scenic Route” ©2011 Niki Gulley
Oil on canvas • 20” x 60”

My husband and I love exploring the back roads whenever we’re en route somewhere. We always discover such interesting places, and the scenery is so much more picturesque than along the highway. It’s fun to slow down and enjoy the journey with no agenda, which is what I had in mind when I painted “Scenic Route,” a beautiful fall drive through the winding hills far from the city.

If interested in purchasing this painting, e-mail me at Niki Gulley.