Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley Paints Covered Bridges

 

 
9″  x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 
©2023 Niki Gulley
 

We have landed in New York, about an hour from Buffalo, in Scott’s hometown. The fall leaves are just barely turning colors and the temps are in the 70s. Beautiful! 

 
Our first stop – Scott played a round of golf with old friends and since the grounds were so pretty, I decided to set up my easel at the golf course. So, here is my first painting of a covered bridge. This was a great introduction to more covered bridges to come!
 
 
 

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

 

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

Painting Adirondack Chairs in New York by Niki Gulley

7″ x 5″ textured acrylic painting on panel by Niki Gulley

We have arrived in New York! Second stop on our Fall Foliage Freedom Tour. 15 hours later in our RV, but we made it. Now time to relax a little bit. Come join me on this inviting Adirondack porch!

If interested in purchasing, go to https://www.nikigulley.com/adirondack-chair/.

 

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured palette knife paintings.

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

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

 

Iceland Painting and Photography Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“Ice Drift” ©2023 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3 – Vatnajokull National Park / Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

 

The next morning, we stopped by to photograph more puffins on our way out of town. Because you can never have enough puffin watching! Then we gathered up our merry band of trekkers and headed further east to the Vatnjokull National Park. Here we had several hours to hike and photograph the exotic scenery and another amazing waterfall before our final drive to our hotel located near the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

 
 

 

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

 

 

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If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We will be returning to Iceland August of 2024.
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
 

Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Falling Water II”, Skógafoss, Iceland ©2023 Niki Gulley
12″ x 16” textured oil painting
 
Iceland Art Trek: Day 1 – Skogafoss

 

First stop on our Iceland Art Trek this year was the Skogafoss waterfall. Surrounded by lush grassy mountains, this cascade surges downward with such force and power! Today I set up my easel to capture the energy and flow of the water. Creating strokes in diagonal sweeping shapes to enhance that feeling of movement and rhythm, I hope you, too, can hear the flowing water’s music and feel the gentle spray from its mist.

 
 
To purchase “Falling Water,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-ii-2/.
 

 

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 or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 

 

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

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

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

“Falling Water III”, Iceland ©2023 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting

 

Iceland Art Trek: Day 1 – Seljalandsfoss

 

For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! This one is so magical and unique since you can walk behind the falls and peer out the cave as the water rushes from above crashing into the reservoir below. I set out to capture the gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Trying to find a dry enough place to paint where the mist wouldn’t keep erasing my drawing was a challenge, but on my third try, I finally found a good spot! Trying to time it so that I could capture the sun as it was setting in the distance just added to the enchanting feel of this location. I hope you, too, can feel these cascades power and beauty.

 
If you’d like to purchase “Falling Water III,” please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-iii/.
 

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 or Foodie Treks including a workshop in Iceland August of 2023, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
 
To purchase “Falling Water,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/falling-water-ii-2/.

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

       

“Falling Water III” ©2023 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9” textured oil painting
 
Iceland Art Trek: Day 2 – Kvernofoss

 

Next up on our Iceland itinerary was visiting another waterfall. My husband and I love waterfalls, and it feels like Iceland has one even better than the next around every bend! So, needless to say we were pretty happy painting and photographing all of the falls the country had to offer. This cascade that we visited today is smaller in stature but no less impressive. It tumbles down over the rocky mountain and empties into a river carving its way through the lush, craggy valley below. I wanted to capture not only the falls, but the water’s path as it flows and snakes its way around the towering rock formations. Other than the midges that would swarm when the sun came out, it was a perfect afternoon! 

 

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 or Foodie Treks including a workshop in Iceland August of 2023, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***

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

 

Painting Godafoss Waterfall with Niki Gulley – Iceland Art Trek

“Cascades III” ©2022 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured oil painting on canvas panel
To purchase, visit nikigulley.com/cascades-iii/.
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5 – Godafoss

 

This evening we arrived in time to witness sunset over the massive Godafoss falls at the top of The Golden Circle. I set out to capture these gorgeous falls with all of their power and glory. Using diagonal strokes to capture the energy and strength of the cascades, I also wanted to show the mountains they were tumbling over as the water gushed and tumbled. Dramatic sunset clouds drift by, adding to the rhythm and emotion of this special place.The colors were so beautiful in the sky and created a rainbow of reflected colors in the cascading water. Sketching out my composition and squeezing out my colors ahead of time helped me be able to capture this fleeting moment. I hope you can hear the surging water and feel the joy of this magical place.
 
 
 
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 or Foodie Treks, please let us know. We’ll be returning to Iceland in August of 2024!
 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
***
 

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

“Cascades” from Iceland by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

 

“Cascades” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 12″ x 9” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 4 – Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
 

 

 

On Day 4 of our Iceland Art Trek, Scott drove the photographers to visit the glacier lagoons. Meanwhile, I stayed back and painted on the beautiful grounds of our hotel. The waterfalls in Iceland are incredible and practically around every turn – crashing through cliffs, splashing over rocks, bubbling downstream and trickling out to sea. This one was actually next to our hotel and screamed that I had to capture it! I chose to paint this scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey the movement and energy of the rushing water and the texture in the cliffs and rocks. Also, adding to the joy of the moment, summer’s last lupines dot the landscape with brilliant hues of blues.
 

 

 
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/

The Joys of Doing Art Shows with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 Perhaps I Should’ve Listened to My Parents about Becoming an Artist…

It’s interesting in talking people to find out that most of you guys have no idea what goes into exhibiting at an art show, but you’d like to know. So… for something a little different this month, how about if I regale you with the process?

It often starts with the show attempting to fit 250 artists’ SUV’s and trailers (or in our case an 18′ box truck with a 5′ lift gate) into the set up area which allows about 20 vehicles at a time to unload. Next, you dolly your canopies, display walls, art and support materials (or in our case, we push eleven 6′ x 3′ x 8′ six hundred pound carts) to your booth space.

Yes – that’s right! We all own or rent our tents and walls. The show does not supply these. Our fair fees just cover our 10′ x 10′ piece of concrete. Next, we then proceed to erect our outdoor galleries, which on our fastest day takes about 7 hours – that’s as long as there is no heat, humidity, rain, or extra dollying (like uphill over grass at the Cottonwood Art Festival.)

Then, when the weekend is over, we pack each artwork in protective wrapping and take it all down. Luckily this process goes quicker and we can finish in 3 to 4 hours, although it’s usually dark by this point. And, occasionally such as in Ann Arbor and Chicago, the show has allowed locals to drive on the streets while you are still loading up.

We then proceed to drive home, often about 1200 miles spread over two days. Usually this goes smoothly other than having to pull in at every state’s commercial truck weight station, with the occasional inspections (where you pray you receive no fines or delays.) This particular summer, besides getting some warnings in Wisconsin during out impromptu truck inspection, we ran into a few other surprises. Despite our vehicle having rather low mileage, our sway bar fell off in the middle of Tennessee, we were towed and impounded for the low price of $525 in Chicago’s suburbs despite having a parking pass, and lastly our tire blew out on the freeway 10 miles from a town in Ohio on a Sunday. Did I mention almost all businesses are closed on Sundays in Toledo? Fun stuff!

Needless to say, I am so grateful to all of you that come out to support us and allow me to continue my passion for painting!!! Scott’s getting closer to retirement, so you may be seeing us less in future years. Sadly, this was our last summer in Ann Arbor, and I will really miss you guys! But, keep in mind I am only a phone call or e-mail away if  you need some artwork to lift your spirits.

 

 
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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
E-mail –  Niki Gulley
 

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

“Golden Light” Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Golden Light” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 8 – Kirkjufellsfoss

 

Just Sold! We completed our Iceland Art Trek that we taught on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with its dramatic scenery and other worldly feel. First we stopped at Kirkjufell, the cone shaped “church” mountain and its waterfall on the north side of the peninsula, and also the most photographed spot in Iceland. Truly unique in its appearance, this lush conical mass rises from the earth, towering over the flat terrain around it. Sunlight caused the grasses and sky to glow, and I wanted to capture not only the unique, bizarreness of this “Church Mountain,” but also the peaceful river carving its way in front of it reaching out to the sea. Choosing a multi-colored palette adds to the joy and energy of this magical spot. 

 

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

 

 

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If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.