Plein air painting workshops

Day 6, Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

November 1, 2013

8″ x 10″ textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Lake Como – Varenna and Menaggio
CINQUE TERRE / LAKE COMO ART TREK

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

On the sixth day of our Lake Como Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop, our group went in all different directions. Some folks decided to take an all day cooking class where they learned to make

pastas, soups and entrees from scratch. While the rest of us visited Varenna castle in the morning and afterwards rode the ferry to Menaggio. We explored the town and treated ourselves to a fantastic lunch, dining al Fresco again before heading back to Varenna. With some down time in the afternoon, I enjoyed our amazing view of the lake and town from our balcony while completing this small palette knife oil painting of the colorful buildings below.

For dinner that night, we navigated the switchback roads to the tiny town of Perledo and were treated to a huge traditional seven-course Italian meal. With every plate being created from scratch with local ingredients, the food and wines were amazing. We left fat, happy and slept like the dead that night!

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre / Lake Como for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 12th-21st, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Workshops fill up fast, so don’t wait to register!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Tuscany, Cinque Terre Lake Como Art Treks with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

October 14, 2013

8″ x 10″ textured oil by Niki Gulley • SOLD

Day 7, Transitional Day: TUSCANY / CINQUE TERRE / LAKE COMO ART TREK

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

The next day, some of our group left to go back to the states and a few stayed with us another week to be a part of our Cinque Terre / Lake Como Art Trek. For those staying on the second week, we had a leisurely morning at the villa to relax, swim in the pool, pack, etc. I had time to work on one last painting, a view that I had been admiring for the week from the back of our villa. I was attracted to this stone house with its window awning casting the diagonal shadows across its facade, nestled in between cypress, and the rolling countryside as a backdrop behind it.

That afternoon we headed to the airport to collect the rest of our group and drive to the Cinque Terre, five hill towns that are connected by a hiking trail on the west coast of Italy. After we checked into our hotel, we looked around Monterosso and grabbed a delicious seafood dinner that night.

If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! And, the final deadline to register for our Cinque Terre / Lake Como Art Treck, Sept. 12th-21st is Nov. 2nd. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

***

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Visiting Siena, Italy – Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

October 2, 2013

12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 3: TUSCANY ART TREK – Siena

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

On the third day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we visited the Medieval hill town of Siena, with its incredible marble Duomo, great people-watching plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the campo with something new to discover around every turn. While some of our group shopped, some photographed and others relaxed on the square, I set up in one of the quiet cobble streets to capture the textures of these ancient walls and mood of this unique city. For dinner that night, we treated ourselves to a delicious home-made Italian meal of pastas, truffles, pecorino cheese and some amazing red wine!

A mid-afternoon gelato break!

If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

***

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my booth

at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, TX this weekend.

Cottonwood Art Festival

Sat. Oct. 5th • 10am – 7pm

Sun. Oct. 6th • 10am – 6pm

Cottonwood Park at Beltline Rd. and Coit • Richardson, TX

cottonwoodartfestival.com

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NikiGulley.com

Painting in Montepulciano with Niki Gulley

September 13, 2013

“Morning Overlook,” Montepulciano
9″ x 12″ oil by Niki Gulley

TUSCANY ART TREK

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

During our Tuscany Art Trek, we visit the picturesque hill town of Montepulciano, known for its delicious red wines. We set up at this beautiful scenic overlook to paint the valley below. Narrowing down a subject to paint is challenging since the whole scene is amazing, but impossible to capture all of it on our small travel canvases. An amazing morning!

If you’d like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

To see more of my Italy and European paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Plein Air Painting in Tuscany with Niki Gulley

September 2, 2013

24″ x 12″ • Textured Mixed Media on canvas

This painting was inspired by one of our plein air painting workshops in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone clump of cypress trees, and on this day the clouds in the sky parted just enough to allow the sun’s rays to pass through and illuminate the cypress grove below. I decided to have fun with the colors to add to the excitement and drama of the moment.

“Breaking Through” and several of Niki’s contemporary impressionistic landscapes are on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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If you would like join us on our next Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop to Tuscany Sept. 5-13, 2014, please check out nikigulley.com/artreks for more information.

Other upcoming Art Treks include:

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014 (deadline approaching)

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

Upcoming Art Trek to Paris, France with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

August 28, 2013

36″ x 60″ textured oil painting

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water, diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface; water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage while azure skies reflect in the water.

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If you would like join us on our next Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop to Paris June 19-27, 2014 where we will be visiting Monet’s Gardens, please visit nikigulley.com/artreks for more information. Register by Sept. 28th for a $600 savings!

Other upcoming Art Treks include:

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

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Or, if you would like more information on “Dancing on Water” please contact my Dallas gallery, American Fine Art, americanfineart.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

New Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley at the Ann Arbor Art Fair

July 17, 2013

30″ x 48″ • textured oil on cavan

Inspired by our trip to Provence last summer, I was awestruck by these massive fields of sunflowers blooming. Seeing this brilliant carpet of gold, with its sea of faces smiling towards the sun, just made me feel happy and I wanted you to experience that joy, too. In person “Sunny Disposition II” practically leaps off the canvas with its vibrant yellow petals and extremely thick three-dimensional oil paint.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Paris June 19-27 and Provence, France June 26-July 4, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing during lavender and sunflower season in France, and following in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, please join us for this amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

If you would like to see “Sunny Disposition II” and more of my textured oil paintings in person, please stop by my booth at the State Street Art Fair in Ann Arbor, MI this Wednesday through Saturday.

State Street Art Fair

Wed. July 17 • 10am – 9pm

Thurs. July 18 • 10am – 9pm

Fri. July 19 • 10am – 9pm

Sat. July 20 • 10am – 6pm

Ann Arbor, MI

Booth #B211 on N. University between Thayer and State St.

a2statestreetartfair.com

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Last Day, Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

June 28, 2013

Day 7 – Greece Art Trek: Santorini

9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley • “Cocktail in Paradise”

On our last afternoon, the sun came out and it and everyone had free time to do whatever they pleased. Some folks shopped, some relaxed by the pool, others continued photographing, and I couldn’t miss one last opportunity to paint our gorgeous Santorini view. Everyone had a lovely, rejuvenating afternoon!

Later that day we all gathered to share what we had painted and photographed during the trip, and sample some of the local wines and cheeses while we discussed the art. To cap off the day, we treated ourselves to a delicious seafood dinner with another gorgeous view of the ocean, catching up with new friends and savoring our last night. A perfect ending to a perfect trip!

Critique / Show and Tell

Dinner with an amazing view on our last night.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Paris and Provence, France so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing during lavender and sunflower season in France, and following in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, please join us for this amazing trip! Details will be coming soon on nikigulley.com/artreks.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

Greece Art Trek with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley and European Photographer Scott Williams

June 26, 2013

Day 6 – Greece Art Trek: Fira and Wineries

12″ x 9″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

On the sixth day of our Greece Art Trek, the sky darkened and the winds picked up so we decided to paint in a more sheltered spot. So setting up on our balcony, we chose to paint a vignette of the white-washed stucco and simple architectural lines and curves. At a couple of points, we even got some soft sunlight to give our subject subtle highlights and shadows, which we painted quickly as the light was quite fleeting.

That afternoon, we weren’t about to let the drizzle spoil our day so we made the most of the the situation and went wine tasting! One of the local wineries overlooked the caldera, so we not only sampled some delicious Greek wines and munchies but also with the rain letting up, took in another amazing view.

Wine tasting on Santorini.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionistic paintings.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

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

June 12, 2013

Day 1, Greece Art Trek: The Acropolis, Athens9″ x 12″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

On day one and two of our plein air painting and photography workshop in Greece, we landed in Athens and visited the Acropolis along with several other ancient sites. It was truly awe inspiring to see a part of history from the fifth century BC and to imagine what life must have been like as democracy was beginning. In the afternoon, us painters set up our easels on top of the beautiful balcony view from our hotel to paint the Parthenon while the photographers continued touring the city. In this oil painting, I wanted to capture a sense of scale with the Acropolis, and suggest how it rises above the city on this massive mound, towering majestically over the city, kissed by the clouds above.

E-mail – Niki Gulley