Alsace, France Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

  

 ©2022 Niki Gulley
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.
 
 

 

 

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

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

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

 

“Sentimental Journey,” Venice, Italy ©2022 Niki Gulley
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
Tuscany
Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3
Provence
Art Trek – June 24- July 1
 
New England
Art Trek – Oct. 10-15
 
2024 Schedule
 
Spain
Foodie Trek – March  
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.
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

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

“Atlantic Coastline II” ©2020 Niki Gulley
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.
 
 

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Painting Lisbon with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

      

Trolley ©2021 Niki Gulley
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.
 
 

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Lead Art Treks in Portugal

       

“Late Harvest” ©2019 Niki Gulley 
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.
 
 

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Painting Portugal with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

        

 ©2021 Niki Gulley
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.
 
 

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Painting in Portugal with Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

     

Obidos ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting on panel
 
Portugal Art Trek: 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
Day 4 – Obidos
 
For a change of pace, the next day we took a side trip to the quaint and colorful town of Obidos. This charming Portuguese walled town with narrow cobbled streets, traditional painted houses and medieval castle, is a perfect destination to immerse yourself in Portugal’s history. The white washed houses with colorful blue and yellow accents screamed that they needed an artist to try and capture their beauty and uniqueness. Then add the gorgeous, prolific bougainvillea blooming out of the cracks in the ground and you had the makings for a perfect painting!

 

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

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Visiting Peña Palace with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams Art Treks

    

 Peña Palace ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 8″ x 6″ textured oil painting on panel
 
Portugal Art Trek: 
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
 
Day 3 – Sintra: Peña Palace

 

Since Sintra is filled with so many beautiful palaces and castles, one day is not enough time to absorb it all, so we returned the next day to continue exploring everything it has to offer. First stop was its star attraction, Peña Palace, which dazzles with bright colors and fairytale design. While our group explored the interior and its surroundings, I set up my easel to paint its dramatic, red and yellow facade.
 
 
Next up on our itinerary we visited our last Sintra attraction, the National Palace, and then headed back to Cascais for a little downtime at our hotel pool and another delicious dinner. 
 
To see more of my impressionistic plein air landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
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.
 
 
 

Art Treks Paints and Photographs Sintra, Portugal

    

 Monseratte ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 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 2 – Afternoon Location – Sintra: Monseratte
 
That afternoon we headed to another amazing palace, Monserrate.  It is a visually striking blend of Arabic, gothic and Indian influences, and once again is surrounded by beautiful, lush, exotic vegetation. While our photographers and tourists explored the palace’s interior, I set up outside to capture its distinct architecture.
 
 
After finishing our tour in Sintra, we headed back to Cascais for a little downtime and an amazing dinner. The perfect ending to an adventure filled day!
 
 
To see more of my impressionistic plein air landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 

 

 

***
 
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.
 
 

Painting Castles in Portugal with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

    

 La Quinta de Regaleira ©2021 Niki Gulley
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 2 – Sintra: La Quinta de Regaleira
 
On our first full day of our Portugal Art Trek, we hit the ground running by visiting the fairy tale town of Sintra filled with exotic gardens, palaces and castles. First stop was La Quinta de Regaleira, decorated in an ornate facade and surrounded by enchanting gardens filled with gothic turrets, carved gargoyles and hidden tunnels. I chose this view of the palace nestled into the lush forest around it, perched on a hill and soaring towards the heavens above. It is a truly magical setting! 
 

 

To see more of my impressionistic plein air landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 
***
 
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.