Niki Gulley plein air oil paintings

Visiting Siena Italy with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams on their Tuscany Foodie Trek

January 24, 2025

5″ x 7″ oil painting on panel

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 2: Siena, Italy

During the Foodie Trek that my husband and I led in Tuscany, we headed to the Medieval hill town of Siena, with its incredible church, great people-watching plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the Campo with something new to discover around every turn.

While most of our group toured inside the Duomo, I chose to set up my easel and capture it’s impressive facade. Beautiful pink, green, white and black marble are stacked in such intricate patterns, it’s impossible to capture on a 5″ x 7″ canvas but I was able to at least suggest some of those colors and its scale, while showing the energy around it with people bustling in every direction.

That evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner with pasta doing the backstroke in truffles and pecorino cream while sharing our experiences. What a fantastic day!

For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

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If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Greece Art Trek
May 17-24, 2025
Full
Visit https://www.arttreks.org/greece-2025/ for details.

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full
More info. at https://www.arttreks.org/switzerland-2025/.

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek
September 20-27, 2025
Just 2 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Cypress Serenade II” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 16, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

My husband and I lead a Foodie Trek to Tuscany almost every year, and I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees. I love trying to capture it in different ways, and mother nature had her hand in me choosing this location today. You see, there was a strong possibility of rain and this is one of the few locations I’ve found in the entire Tuscan countryside with a covered area that could keep me and my painting dry in the case of that liquid sunshine arriving mid-stroke. Fortunately because of the weather, the clouds in the sky were voluminous, beautiful and full of drama. Poppies blooming in the foreground just added to the excitement and energy of the moment. And, luckily I was able to capture the majority of the scene before the storms hit!

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Next summer we will be leading a Foodie Trek to Spain and Tuscany, and an Art Trek to Iceland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! Details are available on ArtTreks.org.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New “Cypress Serenade” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 8, 2023

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I painted “Cypress Serenade” recently on location in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Hugging so close to the ground, soft and voluminous, acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture their drama before they disappeared. Wildflowers blooming in the foreground set the stage and I decided to have fun by repeating those colors throughout the scene, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

“Walking in Sunshine” a sunflower painting by Niki Gulley painting

April 21, 2023

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

SOLD through the Good Art Company Gallery. Follow the path leading you through bright, smiling sunflower faces as big as dinner plates, filling you with more joy with each step. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view as the sun starts to set over the horizon and cast its late day glow. Full of warmth, color and texture, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

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For details on more of my sunflower and contemporary floral landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

New “Sunshine Serenade II” Palette Knife Tuscany Painting by Niki Gulley

April 13, 2023

10″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I absolutely love Tuscany and find inspiration everywhere I look. This afternoon I set up my easel alongside the road, drawn to this long cypress driveway with these cheerful sunflowers framing the scene. As luck would have it, mother nature provided a symphony of colors across the sky as the sun started setting and I worked quickly to establish the beautiful, golden light that was cast across the rolling hills and sunny blooms. I hope you, too, can enjoy the joy and glory that is Tuscany!

To purchase this piece, visit https://www.nikigulley.com/sunshine-serenade-ii/.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Portugal, Spain, Tuscany, or Iceland, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

2024 Schedule

Portugal Art Trek

March 10 – 17

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Spain Foodie Trek

March 18 – 24

•

Iceland Art Trek

August 5 – 13

•

Tuscany Foodie Trek

October 12 – 19

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

“Walking in Sunshine” – Cheerful Sunflower painting by Niki Gulley

March 23, 2023

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

Just Sold through The Good Art Company Gallery! Follow the path leading you through bright, smiling sunflower faces as big as dinner plates, filling you with more joy with each step. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view as the sun starts to set over the horizon and cast its late day glow. Full of warmth, color and texture, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

***

For details on more of my sunflower and contemporary floral landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to France, Tuscany, Spain, Portugal or Iceland, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

2023 Schedule

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

2024 Schedule

Portugal – March

Spain – March

Iceland – August

“Along the Shoreline” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 8, 2023

14″ x 18” textured oil painting on canvas

Early on a fall morning the sun breaks softly through leafy branches and casts early autumn’s palette across the creek. Silent water is ruffled by a gentle breeze. Arching over, bending into the quiet waters, a tree arches into the scene – encompassing, embracing. This painting captures the dreamy reflections and tranquil landscape of one of my favorite spots to paint on location near my home. It is painted in the traditional plein air oil manner, incorporating some heavy texture with palette knife.

To purchase “Breaking Through”, please visit nikigulley.com/breaking-through/.

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

See NikiGulley.com to view her textured palette knife oil paintings.

“Going to Class” from Oxford by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

January 25, 2023

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Inspired from a visit to Oxford, England, I loved the feel and energy of the old college town. We stopped in our tracks one day as we were passing in front of this Ivy covered wall, almost engulfing the massive hand-carved wooden door. Golden light was raking across the scene, beckoning you to take a look and go inside. The fact that the bike was parked right there, made it the perfect photo opp and later in the studio, the perfect painting subject.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

New Contemporary Impressionistic Ocean Painting by Niki Gulley

December 7, 2022

12″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I love everything about going to the beach. I love gazing into the endless horizon while listening to the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing against the shore. I love feeling the warmth of the sun against my skin while the cool sand squishes between my toes. And, I love how all of my cares disappear and I feel completely at peace engulfed in the moment.

So, getting to paint along the shoreline is almost as close as it gets to perfection! Here is one of the paintings I created early in the morning along the Costa del Sol in Spain. I hope you, too, can feel the joy and serenity of gazing at the ocean in this piece.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape and seascape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

New “Cypress Glory II” Palette Knife Tuscany Painting by Niki Gulley

December 5, 2022

10″ x 20″ textured oil painting

I absolutely love Tuscany and find inspiration everywhere I look. Tonight I set up my easel alongside the road, drawn to this long cypress driveway which I figured would be silhouetted against the setting sun. As luck would have it, mother nature provided a symphony of colors across the sky and I worked quickly to establish the beautiful, golden light that was cast across the rolling hills and stone farmhouse. I hope you, too, can enjoy the glory that is Tuscany!

***

If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to France, Tuscany, or Venice, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.