Tag: Plein air classes

“Dining al Fresco” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 3, 2023

 
Dining al Fresco, Venice – 12″X18″ Pastel by Niki Gulley
 

A warm evening breeze stirs, caressing your face as you dine. The sights and sounds of Venice mingle before your eyes, an unfolding opera of color and light. A couple strolls, enamored with the beauty that envelopes them, drawn into the Italian night, hand in hand. The love between them is nearly palpable, and as they pass you by, you feel it radiate off of them, just as the light spreads itself against the encroaching night.

The soft touch of the pastels help to capture the calm evening. Venice is filled with the romance and this scene really resonated with me. The warm palette gives one a feeling of calm, a comforting touch, as if by a summer breeze. 
 
***
 
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Europe, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you along! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to arttreks.org for more details.
 
For more information on “Dining al Fresco,” please e-mail Niki Gulley nikigulley@sbcglobal.net.
 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings.

“Bon Appetito” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 1, 2023

 

“Bon Appetito” by Niki Gulley
Pastel on board • 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you with us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.
 

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings.

“A Pause in Time” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 28, 2023

 

 

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy by Niki Gulley

18” x 24” pastel

 

Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night. 
 
 
Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco. 
 
 
This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic
and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors – 
 
rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in,
paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time.
 
 
This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society’s National Juried Show Exhibit.
 
 
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details.

 

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“Lucky’s Cafe” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 30, 2017



“Lucky’s Cafe,” Dallas, Texas © 2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 11″ x 14″ oil painting
Just Sold! Friends sit and gaze at the mass of beauty and indecision that is the menu. The fear of missing out on any number of delectable dishes makes it nearly impossible to chose. Their eyes waver between the menu in their hands and the massive chalk board that dominates the far wall. Mom’s meatloaf? Good Luck Reuben? And who could pass up the Sleaziest, Cheesiest, Grilled Cheese in Town? But, then, it is found: Chicken Fried Steak, a delicious staple of home-style comfort food.
 
Every once and a while, it’s nice to share a little home-town spirit. Coming from Dallas, I thought it would be nice to capture a local favorite, Lucky’s Cafe, on Oaklawn Ave. Even outside, you can feel the energy that emanates from within and cuts through the heavy blanket of night. 
 
E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about my contemporary impressionistic oil paintings, or check out my website at:
 
 

“Blind Light” Dallas pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 17, 2014
Blind Light, Dallas West End – pastel – 12″ x 18″
© Niki GulleyAnother one of my adventures to the Dallas West End brought me to  this scene.  The light patterns and the lone guy walking away drew me in.  I really like the way the colors fade in the distance.  The leading lines put you right on the street.

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Blind Light”
***
Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary art.  Or plan to attend this upcoming tour:
White Rock Artists Studio Tour
Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm
Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm

 

“Shift Change” Dallas Landry’s Seafood, pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 15, 2014
“Shift Change, Dallas West End – Pastel 12″X18”
© Niki Gulley

Lights glitter from their hiding places, nestled among the branches, mimicking the gleam of the stars high overhead. The wait staff gather outside, savoring the cool air, their work for the day done. Having left the fast paced world inside of Landry’s, they take a moment, and a breath, unwinding with a chat.

The pastels in this piece help the light bleed into the dark, capturing well the inviting warmth of Landry’s Seafood. In this scene we get to a changing of the guard, one no less important than any other. The lines guide you in, much like the pedestrians wandering into the scene.

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Shift Change”.

***

Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary art.

Or plan to attend this upcoming tour:

White Rock Artists Studio Tour

Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm

Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm

WhiteRockArtists.com

 

 

“Lucky’s Cafe”, a long time Dallas diner, pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 12, 2014
“Lucky’s Cafe” Dallas, TX – pastel 12″X18″
© Niki Gulley
Friends sit and gaze at the mass of beauty and indecision that is the menu. The fear of missing out on any number of delectable dishes makes it nearly impossible to chose. Their eyes waver between the menu in their hands and the massive chalk board that dominates the far wall. Mom’s meatloaf? Good Luck Reuben? And who could pass up the Sleaziest, Cheesiest, Grilled Cheese in Town? But, then, it is found: Chicken Fried Steak, a delicious staple of home-style comfort food.

Every once and a while, it’s nice to share a little home-town spirit. Coming from Dallas, I thought it would be nice to capture a local favorite, Lucky’s Cafe, on Oaklawn Ave. Even outside, you can feel the energy that emanates from within and cuts through the heavy blanket of night.

The pastels in this piece help to bring out the warmth and light that fills every corner of this treasure of Dallas.  A very quaint piece.
E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about “Lucky’s Cafe”
***
Please visit my website at NikiGulley.com  to see more of my pastels and oil paintings of contemporary art.  Or plan to attend this upcoming tour:


White Rock Artists Studio Tour


Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm


Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm
Sat. Oct. 11 • 10am – 5pm
Sun. Oct. 12 • 10am – 5pm

“Dining al Fresco” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 10, 2014
Dining al Fresco, Venice – 12″X18″ Pastel ©2014 Niki Gulley
A warm evening breeze stirs, caressing your face as you dine. The sights and sounds of Venice mingle before your eyes, an unfolding opera of color and light. A couple strolls, enamored with the beauty that envelopes them, drawn into the Italian night, hand in hand. The love between them is nearly palpable, and as they pass you by, you feel it radiate off of them, just as the light spreads itself against the encroaching night.


The soft touch of the pastels help to capture the calm evening. Venice is filled with the romance and this scene really resonated with me. The warm palette gives one a feeling of calm, a comforting touch, as if by a summer breeze. 
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.
For more information on “Dining al Fresco,” please e-mail Niki Gulley nikigulley@sbcglobal.net.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“A Pause in Time” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 8, 2014

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley

18” x 24” pastel

Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night.
Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco.
This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic
and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors – 

rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in,
paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time.

This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society’s 31st National Juried Show Exhibit.
***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.

“Bon Appetito” Venice pastel by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

September 5, 2014
“Bon Appetito” ©2014 Niki Gulley
Pastel 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

***
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 7-14, 2015. We’d love to have you join us! E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks for more details on France, Greece, or our Italy Art Treks.

For more information on “Bon Appetito,” please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings and pastels.