Tag: photography trips

Day 5, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Sunset Cruise

July 24, 2015
Day 5, Sunset Boat Cruise – Greece Art Trek
5″ x 7″ oil painting by Niki Gulley
That afternoon we rode the cable cars to the port below and caught a boat cruise that ferried us across the bay and around the island at sunset. Stopping at the volcano, some of our group hiked to the top, which was quite intriguing with its sci-fi type lava rock. Meanwhile some of us pulled out our paints and sketched the scenery around us. I particularly liked the casual posture and conversation of these two ladies who were part of our group, so I chose them for my subject. Both were wearing their new hats, which glowed in the sunlight. With just an hour to paint, all we could do is loosely capture a particular feeling. A fun challenge!
Next we stopped at a hot spring for anyone who wanted to swim. And, finally we cruised around the island enjoying the view from the water while the sunset on the horizon, sipping some Greek wines and nibbling on some local meats and cheeses. A great end to the day!
Watching sunset from the boat cruise.
Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.Or, if you are in the Denver, CO area this weekend, I will be exhibiting at the Cheesman Park Art Fest.

Cheesman Park Art Fest 
Sat. July 25 • 10am – 9pm
Sun. July 26 • 10am – 9pm
Denver, CO
dasheventsdenver.com/#!cheesman/ctzx

Capturing Sunrise in Santorini with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

July 22, 2015
Day 5, Sunrise in Oia – Greece Art Trek
8″ x 10″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

The next morning of our Greece Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop, the photographers got up early to shoot sunrise and I decided to join them. Town was so peaceful and the views were incredible. I chose this strategic location to capture the iconic blue domes over the caldera. It was cloudier this morning which created a peaceful feeling with softer sunrise colors that spread across the sky. I hope you, too, can feel the beauty and tranquility of this special spot.

Enjoying a drink that afternoon at our gorgeous pool view.
Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.
Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.Or, if you are in the Denver, CO area this weekend, I will be exhibiting at the Cheesman Park Art Fest.

Cheesman Park Art Fest 
Sat. July 25 • 10am – 9pm
Sun. July 26 • 10am – 9pm
Denver, CO
dasheventsdenver.com/#!cheesman/ctzx

Day 6, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Monet’s Garden

August 6, 2014
Monet’s Garden ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting
Day 6, Paris Art Trek: Monet’s Garden
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Paris Art Trek, we headed to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, which is incredible! The grounds are bursting with blooms, and they’ve kept it just like out of his paintings, especially in the water gardens. We set up our easels across from the bridge in his famous water lily paintings, and started on our own interpretations of the gorgeous location. What a treat!
That night we gathered for our last delicious meal with new friends and good memories. A perfect end to a perfect week!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015 
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015 
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014 
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015 
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015 
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Please visit NikiGulley.com (www.NikiGulley.com) to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.

Day 5, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Versailles

August 4, 2014
Versailles ©2014 Niki Gulley
5″ x 7″ pastel • SOLD
Day 5, Paris Art Trek: Versailles
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 

with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Today, we packed up and left our hotel for the opulent Palace of Versailles. After touring the chateau in all of its decadence, we dined al fresco and settled on the quiet painting location above in the formal gardens. It was another gorgeous day and the grounds were in full bloom. The garden staff even offered us fixative for our pastels when we were finished painting!

Next, we arrived at our B and B in Giverny – just a little slice of heaven! I felt like we entered the pages of a fairy tale!

That night we dined on another delicious dinner of Coquilles Saint Jacques, roast lamb, giant prawns, chocolate molten cake and some delicious Bordeaux to wash it down!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

 

Day 4, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Montmartre

August 1, 2014
Day 4, Paris Art Trek: Montmartre

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On day four of our Paris Art Trek, we ditched the painting gear and headed to Montmartre, home of so many famous French Impressionists and artists. Taking in the impressive Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, exploring the back alleys, making time for a little shopping, and swinging by the Moulin Rouge on our way home, everyone enjoyed a fun-filled day of sightseeing.

Tonight’s dinner consisted of grilled steak with a red wine reduction, sautéed veggies, broiled bone marrow and scalloped potatoes. We had to wash this down with a couple of bottles of Bordeaux, which were more than up to the task. Lastly we had a chocolate chocolate something or other. It was a chocolate ganache on top of a layer of cream mixed with passion fruit, all inside a chocolate shell, covered with fruit and drizzled with raspberry sauce. All and all, not too shabby! Stay tuned for further gastronomic adventures, because you ain’t seen nothing yet!!!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Day 3, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Notre Dame

July 30, 2014
Notre Dame ©2014 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil painting • SOLD
Day 3, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the third day of our Paris Art Trek, we visited Notre-Dame Cathedral it all of its Gothic Splendor. Fortified by a delicious lunch of crepes, salads and quiches, the painters went back to replicate this view of the church’s rose window across the Seine while the rest of our photographers and tourists visited Saninte-Chapelle, the Latin Quarter and St. Germaine.

That night we gathered for you guessed it…more epicurean experiences! Beef Bourguignon, Strawberry cheesecake gelato, Kir Royals and profiteroles with chocolate sauce were just a few of the highlights.
 

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

 

July 28, 2014
“Peaceful Morning,” Tuileries ©2014 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting
Day 2, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 
with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the second day of our Paris Art Trek, half of our group visited the Louvres in the morning, and for any of my painters who had been to the museum before, we set up our easels across from this peaceful fountain in the Tuileries. It was a gorgeous day, and the light was soft and beautiful hitting the garden. We did a quick black and white value sketch to simplify the complexity of the scene, and then moved onto color. A perfect morning!

After we finished, we met up with the rest of the group for a picnic in the park, and in the afternoon some of us visited the Musee d’Orsay and their amazing impressionist art collection. That night we gathered for another amazing French dinner!

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

Day 1, Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

July 25, 2014
“Paris in June” ©2014 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil painting
Day 1, Paris Art Trek:
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop 

with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first day of our Paris Art Trek, the sun was shining and it was a lovely 80 degrees. A perfect way to start our trip! In the morning, we went up in the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed the amazing views of the city. That afternoon, we painted in a quiet park next to the tower while the photographers shot around the city, and we all convened that night for a delicious Parisian dinner.

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops listed below, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks 
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014 • Sept. 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014 • Sept. 2015
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 2014

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

March 14, 2014

Venice Art Trek, Day 3: Rialto Market
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
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 you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming Art Treks, please let me know. For more details, E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014 – wait list only
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 2015
French Riviera – June 2015
Provence, France – June 2015

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

Day 2, Burano – Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

March 12, 2014

Venice Art Trek, Day 2: Murano and Burano
7″ x 5″ • textured oil painting by Niki Gulley
On the second day of our Venice Art Trek, we headed to the islands of Murano and Burano. First Murano, famous for its beautiful glass, to see a glass blowing demonstration and tour the museum. Then, onto Burano which is known as a fishing community (and for the homemade lace that they make there), and to help the fisherman find their houses while coming back from sea, they painted their homes every color of the rainbow. With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it’s hard to pick a single subject matter! We were drawn to this quiet location, however, and the vibrant blue stucco wall with that morning’s laundry being hung out to dry screamed to be painted. Today I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.

Painting and photographing in Burano.

If you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming Art Treks, please let me know. For more details, E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks
Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014
 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014 – wait list only
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 2015
French Riviera – June 2015
Provence, France – June 2015

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!