palette knife landscape oil painting

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

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Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

July 14, 2025

“Cascading II” 9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel bu=y Niki Gulley

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 we set up our easels 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 see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

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

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

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July 26 – August 2, 2025
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September 27 – October 4, 2025
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Feb. 8-14, 2026
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September 26 – October 3, 2026
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October 4-11, 2026
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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

July 11, 2025

“Ice Drift” by 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 2 – Vatnajokull National Park / Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

After enjoying the gentle beauty in Southern Iceland, we worked our way around the country counterclockwise and visited the frozen lagoons and icebergs in the east next. Uniquely shaped large ice chunks float along gorgeous turquoise waters as they drift out to sea. Each one has a distinct shape and color that make them fascinating to watch. This afternoon, I set out to capture this rather interesting square ice piece with aqua blue diagonal ridges running through it. I pulled in fairly tightly so you could focus on its design and then I painted in a glimpse of the mountain behind it to give you a sense of scale. Meanwhile, the water below becomes slightly blurry as the ice chunks slowly drift by and we are caught up in the mesmerizing moment.

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

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

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

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July 26 – August 2, 2025
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September 26 – October 3, 2026
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Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New Cascades from Iceland by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 10, 2025

“Cascading III” 12″ x 9” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

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

Day 3 – Waterfalls and More Waterfalls

On Day 3 of our Iceland Art Trek, we visited more gorgeous waterfalls! Crashing through cliffs, splashing over rocks, bubbling downstream, the cascades flow out to sea. 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. Fortunately, the river was still enough to reflect the falls in the distance and we were able to capture that crystal mirror.

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

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

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

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July 26 – August 2, 2025
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September 27 – October 4, 2025
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Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026
September 26 – October 3, 2026
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Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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Iceland’s Gorgeous Waterfalls – Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

July 9, 2025

“Cascading V” 9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

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

Day 5 – The Golden Circle

On the fifth day of our Iceland Art Trek, we toured several scenes along the Golden Circle drive, north of Reykavik. In the morning, we hiked back to these beautiful falls that empty into this gorgeous pool of turquoise churning water. I was pleased with the results and really enjoyed the peaceful falls.

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

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

***

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
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September 27 – October 4, 2025
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September 26 – October 3, 2026
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Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

***

NikiGulley.com

Painting Lupine in Iceland with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 6, 2025

SOLD

“Rivers of Blue” 20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

Just Sold! We timed our Iceland Art Trek perfectly and had almost ideal weather for our group when we were teaching. However the week before when Scott and I arrived early to get in some additional painting and photographing was a whole other story. Today the 40 mph winds made it particularly challenging, so I set up my easel in the front seat of the car and painted out the window. A little weather wasn’t going to deter us!

I loved this view of the one lone house surrounded by colorful wildflowers and cobalt lupine (which look so much like our Texas bluebonnets). The hues were just beautiful together and it added so much joy to what could have been a challenging day. I hope you enjoy the escape, too!

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

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

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full

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September 27 – October 4, 2025
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September 26 – October 3, 2026
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October 4-11, 2026
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Iceland Art Trek with Painter Niki Gulley and Photographer Scott Williams

July 5, 2025

“The Black Church III” 5″ x 7” textured acrylic painting on panel by Niki Gulley

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

Day 6 – Snaefellsnes Peninsula

We continued our Art Treks adventure around the country to the west, finishing our trip on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The last stop on our itinerary was to visit the famous Black Church. Being the only church made of black construction material on the island, its distinctive appearance stands out rising out of a relatively large, flat plateau. The weather turned a little for the worse today, but this was such a dedicated group of painters. Even a little wind and drizzle wasn’t going to stop them!

In this piece, I wanted to capture not only the church’s color and shape, but the dramatic clouds surrounding it. Working with palette knife and thick paint, this little piece is loaded with texture, color and movement.

And, to treat ourselves at the end of the trip, we went to one of the few Michelin restaurants on the island and had the most delicious, fresh meal with newfound friends. None of us were ready for the trip to end!

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

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

***

NikiGulley.com

***

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek
September 27 – October 4, 2025
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Carnivalé Art Trek – Venice, Italy 2026
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings – Aug. 9th

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
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Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Palette Knife Waterfall Painting by Niki Gulley

July 4, 2025

“Cascading” 20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

So many waterfalls, so little time! The weather dried out, warmed up and the “breeze” calmed down in Iceland today. Yeah!!! I was in my element getting to paint this amazing 500 foot tall, mult-tiered cascade. I hope you, too, can feel the joy, peace and energy of this beautiful location.

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

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

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek
September 27 – October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

Carnivalé Art Trek – Venice, Italy 2026
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings – Aug. 9th

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

Last Day of Our Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

July 3, 2025

“Viking Village” 9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

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

Day 7 – Kirkjufell

We completed our Iceland Art Trek that we taught on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with its other worldly scenery. Our last stop was Kirkjufell, the cone shaped “church” mountain and its waterfall on the north side of the peninsula, and also the most photographed spot in Iceland. We had just enough time while the photographers were capturing its beauty to start one last painting. Everyone chose a different subject today, and I focused in on this cute town across the bay. Dramatic clouds caused the village to glow against the shadowed mountain, and I had fun playing with shapes and light with my palette knife.

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

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

***

If you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks!

Switzerland Art Trek
July 26 – August 2, 2025
Full

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September 27 – October 4, 2025
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