“Twilight,” Venice Pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“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,” e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.
 
Or, visit my website to see more of my contemporary impressionist paintings at NikiGulley.com.
 
For more information about our next painting/photography workshops in Italy and other European locations, go to ArtTreks.org.

“Autumn Symphony” pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Autumn Symphony” ©2014 Niki Gulley
Pastel • 24” x 36”

This is a quiet, protected creek by our house that I like escaping to when I need a break from city life. On this perfect autumn day, there was the gentlest of breezes rustling the leaves, the vibrant fall foliage was at its peak and the only sounds to be heard came from the trickling of the nearby waterfall and the birds’ sweet melodies.

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Autumn Symphony.”
Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary landscapes.

Adopt – a – Art Show for Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Meandering Way” ©2012 Niki Gulley

25″ x 19″ pastel

In “Meandering Way,” I wanted you to be transported to a beautiful autumn day, completely surrounded by nature. Hiking through the forest, hearing the leaves crunching under foot and the canopy rustling above, you can be totally carefree and lost in the peaceful moment. Making short energetic strokes with my pastels and including vivid warm colors add to that joyful feeling of being immersed in nature.

This pastel along with several others will be available at our “Adopt – a – Art” party on Dec. 7th and 8th. As some of you may know, we are planning to move to a larger studio space and while we would love to take all of our precious friends with us, we would rather not move everything and start with a clean studio space. Consequently, we are going to do something this year that we have never done before and may never do again, we are going to have an adoption weekend. There will be nominal fees associated with some of these to cover the care and feeding of them over the years and all of our little friends will be available for viewing, ready to go to new homes. We hope that you can make it!

Adopt – a – Art

One time only art sale & auction of Niki Gulley’s pastels/paintings 

and Scott Williams’ photographs

Fri. Dec. 7th 7pm – 9pm 
Sat. Dec. 8th 1pm – 4pm

Gulley / Williams Studio – Dallas, TX
RSVP Niki@NikiGulley.com for address and directions



New “Plein Air Painting Landscapes” Class sponsored by the Dallas Arboretum

“Golden Moment” ©2012 Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ pastel
I painted this pastel at the Dallas Arboretum last fall to capture the gorgeous fall colors, and the mysterious long shadows cast by the sun as it was nearing sunset. I loved the vivid reds and oranges of the foliage, and the way the sun was causing those colors to glow along with the highlights on the path.
If you ‘d like to learn how to paint on location, or just improve your skills, please join me at the Dallas Arboretum for my upcoming Plein Air Painting class on Oct. 24th. To register, go to dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/CreativeArts.htm.
Visit nikigulley.com/artreks/ for upcoming Art Treks and Workshops or
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.For new classes and workshops in Texas this fall, see nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Painting at the Dallas Arboretum with Niki Gulley

“Golden Moment,” Dallas Arboretum ©2011 Niki Gulley
pastel on board • 10″ x 19″
The Dallas Arboretum is one of my favorite spots in the metroplex to paint, and last fall it was ablaze with color. I love being there late in the day when the crowds have thinned and the light is softer. In this pastel, I wanted to capture the intense fall foliage and the dramatic purple shadows cast by those trees along this path, which beckons you to wander down it.
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Join us Oct. 29th and 30th at the Arboretum and White Rock Lake if you’d like to experience nature first hand while improving your painting skills. Even though working in your home or studio might feel quite comfortable, there’s nothing like painting the subject that is in front of you. The sights, sounds, and smells of your surroundings actually go into your work!
Capturing the light quickly adds to the excitement and spontaneity of your final piece, while observing values from life will take your painting to a whole new level. Often times don’t you wonder when you look back through your photos, “What was I thinking when I took this one?” When you paint en plein air, you’ll be able to capture the scene accurately and the magic in that moment, versus being disappointed with your photos. Also, training your eye to see light and shadow accurately on location, will greatly help your studio work by learning to correct what you are seeing in your photos. With only a couple of spots left, I hope you can join us next weekend for this exciting workshop!
Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13, which tells you about my upcoming Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake, Oct. 29th and 30th. Space if filling up quickly, so e-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information and to register.
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If you would like to join us on future ART TREKS to Paris, France in May or Tuscany, Italy in September,visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail about our upcoming European Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops.

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E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

Texas Bluebonnet pastel by Niki Gulley

“Last Light,” Texas Hill Country ©2010 Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ pastel
We drove down to the Texas Hill Country to see the bluebonnets, and the Willow City Loop did not disappoint! Thick masses of azure blue as far as the eye could see. I was particularly drawn to this scene late in the day when the sun was starting to set and creating interesting long lavender shadows across the gently rolling landscape.
I’ll have this pastel and more of my Texas bluebonnet paintings at my booth at the Watters Creek Art Festival, watters-creek.com/events/Fine-Arts-Festival-Sun.htm, this weekend in Allen, TX., so please stop by to see them in person.
May 13 • 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
May 14 • 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
May 15 • 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Allen, TX • in Watters Creek on Village Green Dr.
970 Garden Park Dr. (at U.S. 75 and Bethany Drive)
E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.
Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

Plein Air Painting Workshop – Santa Fe, NM with Niki Gulley

“Convergence,” New Mexico ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 24″ x 36″
This pastel was inspired by the gorgeous New Mexico rugged terrain, and the pure radiant quality of the sunlight that bathes the region in a glow that makes colors come alive and adds a richness to the surroundings. Santa Fe is one of those places that allows you to witness nature’s staggering beauty amid a setting straight out of the old west.
This is the landscape that inspired Georgia O’keeffe and Ansel Adams, and now it’s your turn. We have the finalized details for our Painting & Photography Workshop in Santa Fe this August, and would love to have you join us!

Space is limited and if you sign up by May 18th, you qualify for the early discounted price so let us know soon if you’d like to come along. Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details.

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Early discount reservation deadline: May 18th
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Winter at White Rock Lake

“Winter’s Calm” ©2010 Niki Gulley
pastel • 16″ x 20″
This pastel is inspired by one of our rare snowfalls in Dallas. Growing up in Chicago I always loved how pretty and magical the snow was after it first fell, but I really don’t miss shoveling since moving to Texas! So in “Winter’s Calm,” I combined the best of both worlds, capturing the beautiful white powder dusting across the ground and along the lacy intertwining branches above while knowing that the next day it would all be gone, making the moment even more fleeting and special.
If you’d like more information on Winter’s Calm, e-mail Niki Gulley.

Plein Air Painting & Photo Workshop in Santorini / Athens, Greece

“Santorini Sunset” ©2010 Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ pastel • Santorini, Greece
Get inspired from the ancient beauty of Greece as you join us for this amazing opportunity to sharpen your skills while enjoying one of the most picturesque landscapes in the world. Learning has never been as much fun as it is with this unique workshop that takes both painters and photographers on a tour through the cradle of civilization. The best part is that you get to choose which aspects of the workshop interest you – whether it is learning how to paint quickly to achieve the mood and changing light of the scene or deriving the most out of your camera as you capture one of the most beautiful places in the world, Greece. We hope you can join us this May!
Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop
Athens & Santorini, Greece
May 11 – 19, 2011
Taught by Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
Early Signup Deadline 12/15/10 for a $400 savings!!!
For more information, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 or
e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.