niki gulley plein air painting workshops

Painting Colmar with Niki Gulley – Alsace Art Trek 2022

December 12, 2022

SOLD • 12″ x 9″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Day 4, Alsace, France Art Trek: Colmar

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Just Sold! On the fourth day of our Alsace Art Trek, it was time to slow down the pace and enjoy our home-base town of Colmar. This city is so enchanting, like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, that it is hard to narrow down what to paint. I settled on this quiet area along the canals where my painters could sit and take in the beautiful views. Each student found their own unique scene to capture. Meanwhile I actually decided to paint my students sitting on this picturesque bench. Gary with his straw hat looked so dapper that I had to record the moment in acrylic!

While we painted, the photographers and tourists continued to explore every narrow alleyway, historical building and square, picturesque canal and French/German accents indicative of only the Alsatian region. Later that evening, we reconvened for a delicious dinner and to discuss stories from our day.

Photographers posing in Colmar – hard at work!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

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

Plein Air Painting in France with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 21, 2022

SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Day 3, Alsace, France Art Trek: Konigsberg Castle and Riquewihr

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

By day 3, our group was over any jet-lag remnants and raring to go, so we packed the day with fun activities! First we explored Konigsberg Castle, a fortress from the Middle Ages that has been completely renovated to its former glory. Next, we visited the Medieval village of Riquewihr, surrounded by vineyards in every direction. After exploring all of the alleyways and shops and grabbing a gourmet lunch, it was time for some wine tasting. Alsace being known for its delicious white wines, we were not disappointed.

Later that day, we returned to Colmar to relax and enjoy another delicious dinner together with new friends while we discussed our adventures from the day.

Dinner in Colmar

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

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

Painting and Photographing in France with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 20, 2022

7″ x 5″ textured acrylic painting on panel

Day 2, Alsace, France Art Trek: Eguisheim

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

After painting and photographing sunrise in Colmar, we headed to the next adorable village, Eguisheim.

Known as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this town does not disappoint! Immaculate flower filled window boxes, a bustling town square and colorful architecture greets you in every direction. Us painters set up around the fountain in the main square to capture the spirit of the city while our photographers and tourists explored the rest of all the town had to offer.

Eguisheim photo by Scott Williams

Our Art Treks group in Eguisheim town square

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

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

New Colorful French Architecture Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 19, 2022

SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Day 2, Alsace, France Art Trek: Sunrise in Colmar

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Just Sold! This morning I dragged my body and my painting gear in the darkness to set up at this picturesque view in downtown Colmar along with the photographers who got up to capture sunrise. As the sun started rising, it illuminated the buildings and cast its colorful glow along the river and the sky. I’m so glad I made the effort and got up in time to capture it, even if the rest of my painters decided to sleep in!

Sunrise in Colmar

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

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

Alsace, France Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

September 16, 2022

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Day 1, Alsace, France Art Trek: Kaysersberg

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

For our first Art Trek of 2022, we led our group to the fairytale villages of Alsace, France. Located along the French/German border, each town is a visual paradise consisting of brightly colored cross-timbered houses and flower boxes overflowing with vibrant, cheerful blooms. The hardest part is narrowing down what to paint!

On our first full day, we visited the picturesque town of Kaysersberg. Nestled on a peaceful river, this colorful village provided plenty of inspiration for our painters and photographers. We set up our easels to capture this waterfall and cross-timbered houses while the photographers and tourists explored the rest of town. Later that day, we returned to our home base town of Colmar, taking a leisurely boat ride through the canals and dined on an authentic Alsatian meal that evening. What a great way to start the trip!

Our painting view in Kaysersberg

Boat tour in Colmar

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my France painting series.

***

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

Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Day 3, Rialto Market

August 23, 2022

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on panel

On the third day of our Venice Art Trek, we took a vaporetto tour of the island and got off at the Rialto bridge where we wandered the fruit, vegetable and fish markets. We left the photographers there to shoot while we set up our easels in this quiet spot marking the oldest restaurant in Venice. This bridge had so much character being made completely of wood, decorated in plantings and flanked by red and white poles that we just had to paint it!

If interested in seeing framing options and purchasing this Venice painting, please check out nikigulley.com/sentimental-journey/.

And, if you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming Art Treks, please let me know.

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

2023 Schedule

Venice – Carnivalé

Art Trek – Feb. 12-18

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Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

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Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

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New England

Art Trek – Oct. 10-15

2024 Schedule

Spain

Foodie Trek – March

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Portugal

Art Trek – March

•

Iceland

Art Trek – August

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – October

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

To see more of my plein air travel paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Portugal’s Gorgeous Coastline Painted by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 26, 2021

SOLD • 12″ x 9″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 4 – Evening Boat Ride

After returning from Obidos, we treated ourselves to a relaxing boat cruise along Cascais’ rocky shoreline and surrounding cities. Mother nature didn’t disappoint and we were able to enjoy a gorgeous sunset as we sipped on some local Portuguese wines!

Above you’ll see my interpretation of the coastline. I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your spirits. I also wanted to capture the gorgeous rock formations and the beautiful colors in the ocean. Whenever I visit the coastline I always feel rejuvenated, and I hope I’ve translated that onto the canvas for you to experience it, too.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting Lisbon with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 25, 2021

6″ x 8″ textured oil painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 5 – Lisbon

Rounding out our adventure, we visited the bustling city of Lisbon. Most of our group visited the Carmo Convent, know as the church without a ceiling, and toured the city’s sights. Meanwhile, I set out to capture the colorful trolley and architecture which makes Lisbon so unique. I love the trolleys that run through Lisbon and thought this would be such a fun departure to paint. Of course, I also thought this one was always parked in one place (we’d never seen in move in the past) and I didn’t realize that it would not only be traveling every 10 minutes, but would also switch cars (when I started the painting it was the yellow car you see above)! Add to that the crowd that gathered behind me, and you get the joys and challenges of plein-air painting.

That afternoon, we attended a wine and port tasting with the most delicious bottles!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Lead Art Treks in Portugal

November 24, 2021

SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 6 – Jeronimos Monestary

After an action filled day in Lisbon, we took a slower pace the next day by visiting Cascais’ bustling Farmers’ Market and later that day, onto one of Lisbon’s the most visited sights, Jeronimos Monestary. Its architecture is unlike any other church, demonstrating the wealth in Portugal’s age of exploration.

Upon returning to Cascais, we just had to go for one more Port tasting, and fortunately the grapes did not disappoint! That evening, we dined on one of our best meals and relived the fun events of the trip.

(Picture at top you can see my painting from the Douro Valley where so may of Portugal’s delicious wines and ports originate. The grapevines had turned gorgeous reds, golds and oranges and the wineries were perched on such high hills overlooking the river that I wanted to capture that commanding view. Hugging the various elevations, grape leaves rise from neatly planted rows, inviting you to stop in and try one of their delicious ports.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting Portugal with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

November 23, 2021

SOLD • 5″ x 7″ textured oil painting

Portugal Art Trek:

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 7 – Cascais

On the final day of our Art Trek in Portugal that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led, we gave everyone the day to explore and visit whatever sights they chose. Just a short stroll from our accommodation, some visited the crashing oceans waves at Boca do Inferno while others toured the picturesque lighthouse standing watch. Others chose to explore the defensive walls of a 15th century fort guarding the harbor and a couple of other chose to just chill out at the beach and pool.

Being a water lover, I chose to spend as much of the day as I could near the ocean. Above you can find my painting of the coastline. I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your spirits. Whenever I visit the beach I always feel rejuvenated, and I hope I’ve translated that onto the canvas for you to experience it, too!

(Lighthouse and palaces in Cascais • Photo by Scott Williams)

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

***

If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks, including one to Alsace, France next August or on our Foodie Trek to Tuscany, please let us know.

Alsace, France – Aug. 2022

Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022 (wait list only) / Oct. 2023

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

NikiGulley.com