Plein air painting workshops

“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:

NikiGulley.com

Tuscan Vineyard Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October 20, 2017

SOLD • 48″ x 60″ textured oil painting

I was recently commissioned to paint this vineyard scene set against miles of rolling hills dotted with grapevines and olive trees. Working from some of my plein air sketches, photographs, and personal memories from our trips to the area, I created this large textured oil painting with palette knives and tons of paint. Full of color and movement, I arranged the planted grapevines to lead your eye back to the Tuscan villa and then to the beautiful countryside beyond.

If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to Tuscany, Italy in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como, Italy in September visit ArtTreks.org for more information. We’d love to have you join us!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

To see more of my paintings from Tuscany, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

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

August 9, 2017

7″ x 5″” 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 fourth 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!

That night we had a Tuscan chef prepare us an amazing 7 course meal at the villa – Buon Appetito!

If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The early registration deadline of Sept. 23rd for a $600 on most trips is quickly approaching, so don’t wait!

FULL – Fall in New England – Oct. 10-15, 2017

FULL – Croatia and Slovenia – May 9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018

Venice, Italy (Carnival) – February 3 – 10 /2018

Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September 14 – 23 /2018

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

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

NikiGulley.com

“Hill Country Retreat” Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Niki Gulley

May 15, 2017

SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

Just sold! I painted these Texas bluebonnets at a plein air painting workshop I was leading in Fredericksburg, TX. I loved the pop of red on the flag flying off this cabin’s back porch in contrast to the vibrant cobalt bluebonnets. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this Texas landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Lone Star Escape” Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Niki Gulley

December 19, 2016

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted these Texas bluebonnets at a plein air painting workshop I was leading in Fredericksburg, TX. I loved the pop of color on the flag flying off this cabin’s back porch in contrast to the vibrant cobalt bluebonnets. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this Texas landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Journey in Time” Santa Fe Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

August 15, 2016

SOLD • 12″ x 24″ textured oil painting

Just Sold! This church, Canyoncito, near Santa Fe, NM is so charming that I decided to paint it in the setting around it to add to that idyllic feel. I loved how the brilliant white of the stucco and the red roof made the church stand out against all of the greenery and blue sky. Choosing the panorama format helps to set the scene and adding long shadows from the left, leads your eye into the composition and to the focal point.

Painting at Canyoncito.

Visit nikigulley.com/artreks/ for upcoming Art Treks and Workshops.

For more information on Dallas art classes, see nikigulley.com/art-classes.E-mail Niki Gulley for more details her contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings.

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NikiGulley.com

“Bend Ahead” – New Colorado Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 6, 2016

24” x 18″ textured oil painting

Inspired by a trip to Colorado in the fall, trying to catch the beautiful autumn aspens leaves before they dropped, we just caught the last glimpse of color before an early snowfall hit. The combination of golden leaves set against the vivid blue sky, and the cool snow shadows contrasted against glowing light highlights as the sun cast its warming rays, was a symphony to the eye! I hope you, too, can slow down and enjoy the beautiful scenery on this winding journey.

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

“Bend Ahead” – New Colorado Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

July 6, 2016

24” x 18″ textured oil painting

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

Lake Como Plein Air Oil Painting by Niki Gulley Just Sold

May 20, 2016

SOLD • 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

Just Sold! On our Lake Como Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop, our group went in all different directions the last day of the trip. 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 for our next European Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop, please visit art treks.org for more details or e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

“Hill Country Retreat” Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Niki Gulley

March 18, 2016

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted these Texas bluebonnets at a plein air painting workshop I was leading in Fredericksburg, TX. I loved the pop of red on the flag flying off this cabin’s back porch in contrast to the vibrant cobalt bluebonnets. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this Texas landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.