Where Two Continents Collide on Art Treks Iceland Adventure

        

“Rural View II” ©2021 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 7 – Thingvellir National Park / Stykkisholmur

 

On the seventh day of our Iceland Painting and Photography Workshop we led, we stopped by one of the major attractions in Iceland, Thingvellir National Park. One of the highlights is when our group got to “see” where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
 
 
After hiking around the park, we ventured onto our last hotel along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. I was taken by their simplistic architecture, often topped with bright red roofs to add a pop of color to the natural landscape. I chose this barn and set out to capture its shape, the colors and light hitting the structure, and the picturesque, idyllic, quiet scenery surrounding the building in all directions. I was drawn to the complimentary color palette of orange/gold grasses contrasted against a beautiful blue sky reflecting into the pond behind the barn. Playing off those colors in the distant mountains, I wanted this piece to be full of texture, joy and energy. 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Touring the Golden Circle with Niki Gulley’s and Scott Williams’ Art Treks

       

“Liquid Rush” ©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 6 – Geysir and Waterfalls on the Golden Circle
 

 

That afternoon, we stopped by the Geysir for the photographers to capture the thermal explosion of water and steam, which explodes about every 5 minutes. So much fun to watch! After that, we finished the day with – you guessed it! One more waterfall. Slightly off the beaten path, these cascades rush over rocky cliffs to empty into this massive river valley that will eventually flow out to sea. A great way to end the day.

 

 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

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

“Cascades IV” ©2021 Niki Gulley
8″ x 6” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 6 – The Golden Circle
 
On the sixth 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. While the payoff is definitely worth the hour-long hike, I was really glad I lightened my gear to just a canvas, carrier, 4 paints and a palette knife and ditched the heavy easel and tripod. Balancing my canvas on my lap, I was pleased with the results and really enjoyed the peaceful falls. Now we just had to hike back out!
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Painting and Photographing Godafoss Waterfall on Niki Gulley’s and Scott Williams’ Art Trek to Iceland

   

“Cascades III” ©2021 Niki Gulley
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 5 – Godafoss

 

That evening we arrived in time to witness sunset over the massive Godafoss falls at the top of The Golden Circle. 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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

New “Heathered Hills” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

   

 

“Heathered Hills” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 8″ x 6” textured oil painting on canvas panel
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5 – Driving through Iceland’s Beautiful Countryside

 

Just Sold! The next morning, we loaded everyone back up in the van to continue our gorgeous tour of Iceland during our Art Trek we led in August. This summer the wildflowers dotting the roadsides were beautiful. From the soft pinks of Heather to the bold blues of the Lupines to cheerful pops of gold, I just had to capture their joy and color. 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Painting Iceland’s Waterfalls with Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

“Cascades II” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 8″ x 6” 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

 

Just Sold! Later that day, while Scott and the photographers were photographing the glacier lagoons, I continued painting the beautiful waterfall on our hotel’s grounds. Pulling in tight on this one just to focus on the rush of the water and the textures of the rocks, I hope you feel the power of nature to invigorate and lift one’s spirits!
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

New “Cascades” from Iceland by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Cascades” ©2021 Niki Gulley
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.
 
 
***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

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

“Ice Drift” ©2021 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.

 

***
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 
 

New “Black Beach Sunrise” Palette Knife Painting of Iceland by Niki Gulley

 

“Black Beach Sunrise” ©2021 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 5″ x 7” textured oil painting

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2 – Black Beach and Puffins
 

 

On our second morning in Iceland, we got up early to capture adorable puffins diving off cliffs to capture their morning’s catch. After that we visited the Black Beach where the rock formations and caves were formed out of black lava. Giant basalt columns stacked one right after the other dominate the shoreline. I wanted to capture their texture and the peaceful glow as the morning sun rose above the horizon in this little 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 or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.
 
 

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

       

“Falling Water III” ©2021 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, please let us know. 
 
 
 
Alsace, France – Aug. 2022
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Oct. 2022
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.