Niki Gulley pastels

Artscape – Dallas Arboretum

March 15, 2010

18″ x 24″ pastel

One of my favorite places in Dallas in the springtime is the Arboretum during their Dallas Blooms. I love the masses of colors that the tulips, azaleas and narcissus form, not to mention that the gardens signal that winter is over and spring is really here! This weekend I’ll be exhibiting at Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum, which falls in the middle of peak time during Dallas Blooms. Going on its 5th year, Artscape showcases 100 talented artists from around the country so stop on by for a beautiful weekend of art and flowers!

Artscape

Sat. March 20 & Sun. March 21

9am – 5pm

Dallas Arboretum (8617 Garland Rd.)

dallasarboretum.org/Learn/ArtScape.htm

Santorini Sunset

February 2, 2010

“Santorini Sunset” Â©2010 Niki Gulley
12″ x 24″ pastel

Today I am feeling sentimental since my husband and I got together 7 years ago last week. Three years later we spent our honeymoon visiting Athens and the Greek Islands. Definitely one of our favorite spots was the island of Santorini for its beautiful views of the Caldera, its white-washed architecture with the signature blue domes, the laid back attitude and the warmth of the people. We fell in love with Santorini as so many others have done.

Here is a view at the far end of the island in the town of Oia. I wanted to capture the “skyline,” ocean view and the gorgeous sunset that night.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

Or e-mail me for more information at [email protected].

Intricate Rooftops II

January 16, 2010

“Intricate Rooftops II” – China
5″ x 7″ pastel by Niki Gulley

Here is another small study from China.

“Floating on Water” Thailand pastel

January 14, 2010

“Floating on Water,” Thailand 10″ x 8″ pastel by Niki Gulley

Having our friend, who lives in Thailand, to help guide us while we were visiting Bangkok allowed us to get off the beaten path and see all sorts of sights besides the main tourist attractions. One of my favorites was a trip to this temple park where they had recreated all of the major temples in Thailand on a smaller scale, but still life-size so that you could still tour inside the buildings in addition to viewing the exterior details and grounds as they would appear in their natural setting. I was particularly drawn to this Chinese temple which appeared to actually be floating on water from certain angles. I loved the deep red exterior with jade green detailing and the way the exotic looking spider mums in the foreground framed this view. Late afternoon light also added a sense of peacefulness to the scene.

Intricate Rooftops, Bangkok, Thailand

January 12, 2010

“Intricate Rooftops,” Bangkok, Thailand â€¢ by Niki Gulley

5″ x 7″ pastel

On the last leg of our Asian adventure, we visited our good friend who had been living in Bangkok, Thailand for the past year. We welcomed having our host and much appreciated tour guide help us navigate the 18 million person city, especially after having toured around the other countries on our own.

Our first stop, which is a must for all tourists, was the lavishly gilded Grand Palace. The elaborate, ornate Thai architecture was so different than the more understated temples we’d seen in China and Japan. At first, I almost felt overwhelmed by all of the colors, scrolling details and vibrant gold. But when I focused in on just a small section of the grandeur, such as in this pastel close-up of the wat rooftop, I could really appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship more fully.

If you’d like to see more small works in my temple series from Asia, e-mail me at [email protected].

Tokyo Pastel

January 7, 2010

“Imperial Palace” Tokyo, Japan by Niki Gulley

10″ x 8″ pastel

This pastel of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo is inspired by a trip we took to Asia about this same time last year. Our layover in Japan allowed us to explore Tokyo for a couple of days. While the afternoons were cool and crisp, we lucked out with beautiful blue skies and could explore most of the city on foot and subway. I loved the architecture and the unusual flora we encountered. In this pastel, I wanted to convey how peaceful it was on this winter’s morning along with the beauty of the bridge and palace framed by the weeping willow.

For more information, e-mail me at [email protected].

Winter’s Calm

December 21, 2009

This pastel was inspired by one of our few snowfalls in Dallas a few years ago. I bundled up and ran out with my camera in the morning to capture the moment before the sun melted all of the snow later that day. Having grown up in Chicago, I love the beauty and peacefulness from the first snowfall of the year. I just prefer living here so that it doesn’t last more than a day and there’s no shoveling involved!