plein-air painting workshops Italy

New “Cypress Serenade II” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 16, 2023

20″ x 10″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

My husband and I lead a Foodie Trek to Tuscany almost every year, and I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees. I love trying to capture it in different ways, and mother nature had her hand in me choosing this location today. You see, there was a strong possibility of rain and this is one of the few locations I’ve found in the entire Tuscan countryside with a covered area that could keep me and my painting dry in the case of that liquid sunshine arriving mid-stroke. Fortunately because of the weather, the clouds in the sky were voluminous, beautiful and full of drama. Poppies blooming in the foreground just added to the excitement and energy of the moment. And, luckily I was able to capture the majority of the scene before the storms hit!

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Next summer we will be leading a Foodie Trek to Spain and Tuscany, and an Art Trek to Iceland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trips! Details are available on ArtTreks.org.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New “Cypress Serenade” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

August 8, 2023

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I painted “Cypress Serenade” recently on location in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Hugging so close to the ground, soft and voluminous, acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture their drama before they disappeared. Wildflowers blooming in the foreground set the stage and I decided to have fun by repeating those colors throughout the scene, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment.

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Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

“Walking in Sunshine” a sunflower painting by Niki Gulley painting

April 21, 2023

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

SOLD through the Good Art Company Gallery. Follow the path leading you through bright, smiling sunflower faces as big as dinner plates, filling you with more joy with each step. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view as the sun starts to set over the horizon and cast its late day glow. Full of warmth, color and texture, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

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For details on more of my sunflower and contemporary floral landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

New “Sunshine Serenade II” Palette Knife Tuscany Painting by Niki Gulley

April 13, 2023

10″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I absolutely love Tuscany and find inspiration everywhere I look. This afternoon I set up my easel alongside the road, drawn to this long cypress driveway with these cheerful sunflowers framing the scene. As luck would have it, mother nature provided a symphony of colors across the sky as the sun started setting and I worked quickly to establish the beautiful, golden light that was cast across the rolling hills and sunny blooms. I hope you, too, can enjoy the joy and glory that is Tuscany!

To purchase this piece, visit https://www.nikigulley.com/sunshine-serenade-ii/.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Portugal, Spain, Tuscany, or Iceland, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

2024 Schedule

Portugal Art Trek

March 10 – 17

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Spain Foodie Trek

March 18 – 24

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Iceland Art Trek

August 5 – 13

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Tuscany Foodie Trek

October 12 – 19

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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

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

“Walking in Sunshine” – Cheerful Sunflower painting by Niki Gulley

March 23, 2023

SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured oil painting

Just Sold through The Good Art Company Gallery! Follow the path leading you through bright, smiling sunflower faces as big as dinner plates, filling you with more joy with each step. A quaint stone farmhouse in the distance welcomes you to come in and enjoy the view as the sun starts to set over the horizon and cast its late day glow. Full of warmth, color and texture, my hope is that when you gaze into this piece, it lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

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For details on more of my sunflower and contemporary floral landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to France, Tuscany, Spain, Portugal or Iceland, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

2023 Schedule

Tuscany

Foodie Trek – May 27 – June 3

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Provence

Art Trek – June 24- July 1

2024 Schedule

Portugal – March

Spain – March

Iceland – August

Last Day Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

March 21, 2023

“Juliet’s Perch”

12″ x 9″ textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley

To purchase this painting, visit nikigulley.com/juliets-perch/.

Venice Art Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams: Last Day

On the last day of our Venice Art Trek, St. Mark’s Square was packed with tourists and people dressed up in costumes for Carnivalé which we loved seeing, but we were hoping to find a quieter spot to paint. So we left the photographers and headed back near our hotel.

One of my students this time was in her 80’s. And, normally you think as the teacher you should be inspiring your students, but in this case, I believe she inspired me! Plein air painting isn’t easy between not only capturing the scene on location but also toting all of your gear, and she kept at it.

So, for this last scene, I treated us to a spot right outside the door of our hotel, and let her pick our subject. You’ve got to love the quintessential Venetian balcony with the green shutters and ironwork! I also was attracted to the morning light creating deep shadows on all of the textured bark and stucco, which is so much fun to capture with palette knife.

That afternoon, everyone had free time to do whatever they chose and that evening we all gathered again for one last delicious meal together. What an incredible trip!

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

For more information on my Venice and other travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

New “Gondola Sunrise II” by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

March 15, 2023

9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Venice Carnivalé Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Day 3

For this painting, I actually got up long before sunrise! A feat in itself! But, during Carnival in Venice it gets so crowded that I love the mornings before the crowds descend. This morning, it was just me and about 100 costumes and photographers, which is quite quiet during the celebration.

So, I set up my easel along the lagoon off of St. Mark’s Square while it was still dark but had some ambient light from the street lamps. I squeezed out my paints by memory and began sketching the scene. By that point, first light broke in the most inspiring, brilliant colors. It was beautiful and so worth the effort! Listening to the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore and gondolas riding their rhythm was truly magical. Only in Venice!

Then, I painted as quickly as I could, and luckily was treated to another round of glorious color when the sun finally rose. I hope you, too, can enjoy the beauty of this enchanting city.

To see more of my travel paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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“Gondola Ride” Oil Painting by Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

March 6, 2023

SOLD • 12″ x 9″ oil painting

Just Sold! I painted this piece on location during our Art Trek we taught in Venice while their infamous Carnival celebration was taking place. Since St. Mark’s Square can get overrun with tourists, we chose to set up our easels along a side street to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the city. I love the magical light that comes flooding in through the canals and is so distinctive of Venice. The stone bridge with its iron railing sets a perfect backdrop to the gondolier rowing his enchanted passengers through the romantic back canals.

To see more of my travel paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

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If you’re interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland – Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek – Tuscany – Oct. 2020

Paris – May 2021

Portugal – Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

“Dreamlike Journey” Pastel from Venice by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 2, 2023

12” x 9” pastel

I created this pastel during a workshop my husband and I taught in Venice. We love the city, and there is so much inspiration there between the art, architecture, canals and magical light that it’s really hard to narrow down what to paint! On this day, we decided to stick with a classic view of the canals. I like the way light peeks through the narrow passageway and leads your eye from building to building, and the gondola that happened into the scene created the perfect finishing detail.

If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Italy, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks.. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to ArtTreks.org.

NikiGulley.com

New Contemporary Impressionistic Ocean Painting by Niki Gulley

December 7, 2022

12″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

I love everything about going to the beach. I love gazing into the endless horizon while listening to the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing against the shore. I love feeling the warmth of the sun against my skin while the cool sand squishes between my toes. And, I love how all of my cares disappear and I feel completely at peace engulfed in the moment.

So, getting to paint along the shoreline is almost as close as it gets to perfection! Here is one of the paintings I created early in the morning along the Costa del Sol in Spain. I hope you, too, can feel the joy and serenity of gazing at the ocean in this piece.

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

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about my palette knife travel paintings.