“Terra Cotta Rooftops” ©2022 Niki Gulley 

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

 

 

During our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we headed to the wine town of Montepulciano. Scott took our group on a tour of the city, making sure to visit the underground Etruscan tunnels, stopping at some of the wineries for some samples and allowing everyone to do some shopping.

 

Meanwhile, I set up my easel at this breathtaking overlook. The view of the valley below is gorgeous with miles of olive groves and vineyards stretching to the horizon. I chose to paint the this puzzle of rooftops and buildings stacked in the foreground with the lush valley stretching into the distance. I hope you enjoy the morning escape to Tuscany!

 

After lunch, we visited a winery nearby to sample their Rossos, Vino Nobiles and the delicious sweet dessert wine, Vin Santo. 

 

 

 

 

“Rolling Shadows II” ©2022 Niki Gulley 

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

 

 

 

After another gorgeous leisurely morning at our villa, we all enjoyed learning how to cook authentic Tuscan food from a restaurant chef in one of the neighboring hill towns. From rolling out pici pasta to stuffing squash blossoms, to indulging in the most delicious tiramisu, we feasted like kings for lunch, savoring the fruits of our labor while also learning and sampling some of the region’s best wines. 

 

 

That afternoon after a stopping for a couple of scenic photos of the Italian countryside we returned to relax at the villa. Above you can see one of the most iconic stops in Tuscany. And, I’ve always been attracted to this lone clump of cypress trees. Today, I liked how the late afternoon sun was casting such long dramatic shadows on the ground and I decide to accentuate the cool blues and violets I saw in the darks to contrast with the gold rolling hills. I decided to have fun with the colors and strokes to add to the excitement and drama of the moment.

That evening we went into town for a delicious meal of melted pecorino and homemade rustic bread, pici (hand rolled pasta) with wild boar sauce or truffle ravioli for others, fresh organic vegetables and of course the local red wine to top it off!

“Serpentine Drive” ©2022 Niki Gulley 

SOLD • 12″ x 16″ textured oil painting

 

Before we taught our Tuscany Foodie Trek, my husband and I spent a few days exploring the Tuscan countryside, painting and photographing the iconic scenery. “Serpentine Drive” illustrates one of the fascinating places we stopped with its mile long cypress lined drive. It felt like the trees snaked back and forth to infinity! Setting up my easel in late afternoon, I was able to capture the dramatic light as the setting sun illuminated the tops of the rolling hills and created long, dramatic shadows. Between the repetition of the vertical arbors and the horizontally flowing hills, the scene created a rhythmic harmony that added to the joy and serenity of the moment. 

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