Niki Gulley paintings

January 29, 2010

Venice oil painting â€¢ 10″ x 8″ â€¢ by Niki Gulley â€¢ SOLD

This is one of my favorite paintings I completed during our Venice workshop last spring. I found us the perfect quiet spot to paint with almost no onlookers, however it turned out to be a major thoroughfare for the gondolas. We were serenaded the whole time by various baritone gondolier voices breaking into “AmorÃ©” and curious passengers craning to see what we were painting. It only added to the ambience!

Once I blocked in the background of this piece I started painting the gondola, which was quite a challenge since they didn’t stay still for more than a few seconds. Luckily there was a constant stream of boats so if I waited a little bit, another one would come floating into the scene. Painting moving gondoliers also proved to be difficult, and I was struggling with his hair when right at that moment, a new driver came into view with this great hat and navy scarf wrapped around it. VoilÃ ! Problem solved.

If you’d like to join us for our next painting / photography adventure in Venice this May, e-mail me Niki@NikiGulley.com. There are only 2 days left to sign up for this amazing workshop!

Visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13 for more information.

Book Illustrator for “The Art of Virtue”

January 26, 2010

16″ x 20″ pastel by Niki Gulley â€¢ SOLD

I was commissioned to create this unusual floral painting for The Art of Virtue, a book that was just published on the writings of Benjamin Franklin by Charles T. Warren. The publisher wanted a painting that could be used in its entirety for the cover art and then also as eight individual paintings that could be broken up to be the artwork for each of its chapters. Also, with Franklin’s interest in and influential development of horticulture in Philadelphia, florals seemed like a perfect fit.

At top is the original painting, along with the cover of the book and some interior pages above and below. For more information on commissions, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Venice Painting Workshop – Jan. 30th deadline

January 22, 2010

“Afterglow,” Venice, Italy by Niki Gulley

14″ x 11″ pastel

As we’re approaching the deadline for our plein air painting and photography workshop that my husband and I are teaching in Venice this May, I’m getting more and more excited about the trip. Venice is such a fascinating place with its architecture being 100s of years old, and the only modes of transportation being by foot or boat, that it really feels like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s difficult not to see a painting opportunity around every corner.

In “Afterglow” I wanted to capture the beautiful sunset that night over the main lagoon. The buildings in the background were kind of hazy with the sun setting, and the gondolas in front of me had just finished dropping off then final love-struck passengers and were being put away for the night. I felt like I could be in the middle of one of Claude Monet’s paintings!

If interested in other paintings from Venice or in more information about our upcoming workshops in Italy, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com or visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13 . Jan. 30th is the cut off for the Venetian workshop, and space is limited to only 12 participants, so sign up today and join us for this amazing opportunity!

Color Explosion Workshop with Niki Gulley

January 20, 2010

“Backyard Aromas” Â©2010 by Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ pastel

In this pastel I wanted to capture this beautiful lavender field, but so many artists paint lavender that I wanted to put a twist on the subject matter. Rather than recreate the realistic colors as I saw them, I thought it would be fun to see how far I could push my colors. I love the way complimentary colors vibrate when next to each so I chose oranges and yellows for the sky and sand in between the rows since they are opposite of the blues and purples of the lavender on the color wheel. I love the energy and color contrasts of the finished painting!

On Jan. 30th, I’ll be teaching an all day workshop at my studio, “Color Explosion,” where we’ll cover color theory and meaning so that you can use color with confidence. Registration deadline is this Friday, Jan. 22nd, and I have just a few spots left. Let me know if you have any questions or would like to participate in the workshop. For more information, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com or visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13.

Bridge to Yesterday – Guilin, China

January 10, 2010

“Bridge to Yesterday” – Guilin, China – by Niki Gulley

11″ x 14″ pastel

Once we finished visiting Tokyo, we proceeded on to mainland China for an adventure of a lifetime. After a harrowing 15 hour ride west into the countryside from Hong Kong on a jam-packed floor-room only overnight sleeper bus, we finally began to see the mystical mountain formations that make Guilin one of the most beautiful areas of China and the source of artists’ inspiration for centuries. The way in which the mysterious karst mountain formations rise and disappear amongst the misty, foggy atmosphere is truly magical.

We came across this park on our last day in Guilin. After such an exhausting journey, and the hustle and bustle of the big city, this slice of tranquility was just what we needed. In this pastel, I wanted to convey the peacefulness and the mystical quality of this quiet spot. The precipitation was heavy in the air, which created a nice contrast between the red foot bridge in the foreground and the distant hazy mountains.

For more information about “Bridge to Yesterday,” e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com

Venice Painting and Photography Workshop

January 5, 2010

Twilight, Venice

“Twilight, Venice” by Niki Gulley
11″ x 14″ pastel

In anticipation of our upcoming painting/photography workshop that my husband and I are teaching in Venice, Italy this spring, I thought I’d put my excitement down on canvas. I can’t wait to get back to the beauty and magic of Venice. I love entering a different world and time when we visit. This piece is inspired by the glow cast from the sun setting beyond the lagoon. Most of the gondolas have returned from their romantic cruises and have been put up for the night. There is a calmness to the usually bustling waterway that I thoroughly enjoy this time of day.

If interested in “Twilight, Venice” or in more information about our next painting/photography workshop in Italy, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Or, visit nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13 for more information. The registration deadline of Jan. 30th is quickly approaching!

Textured Aspen Oil Sketch

January 3, 2010

7″ x 5″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Another chunky sculpted oil painting with 1/4 inch thick paint.

E-mail me for more information about this painting or other similar chunky oil sketches at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Home Portraits

December 29, 2009

8″ x 10″ pastel by Niki Gulley

Here is a home portrait I recently completed for a Christmas gift. It was challenging capturing all of the architectural details of the house in an 8″ x 10″ pastel, but I’m pleased with how it turned out and the home owner loved it, too! If interested in commissioning me to create a unique painting or pastel for you, contact me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Frosted Sunrise

December 26, 2009

Crystal Mill – Colorado oil painting

December 23, 2009

Another snow scene – this one was inspired from a trip to Colorado. I thought this setting, with the river and the snow and the old mill, looked like it came right out of a postcard. Just beautiful!