After nine days of grey, cold and sometimes rainy weather, I really needed to warm up and soak up some Vitamin D sunshine. So, we took a detour from fall foliage and headed to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. We found an amazing campsite right on the water, and this was our view out our window for the next 2 days! While a little windy our first night, the next morning I woke to beautiful, calm blue waters and I just had to paint that serene view. Those 2 hammocks were calling my name to just relax. I hope you can escape with me into this peaceful, cathartic seascape.
Painted at a park near my home, I loved all of the spring colors surrounding this peaceful pond. Having fun working with complimentary colors much like the impressionists and utilizing large textured strokes, cause this piece to dance with joy and energy. May you escape with me into nature’s beauty!
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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on palette knife landscape paintings.
Painted at a park near my home, I loved all of the spring colors reflected in this pond pond. Having fun working with surprising pops of color and utilizing large textured strokes, cause this piece to dance with joy and energy. May you escape with me into nature’s beauty!
•••
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on palette knife landscape paintings.
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!
Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 2 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/
I am fascinated by our Texas live oaks. Their gnarly, tangled branches are unlike other trees and tell such a story of their life – twists, turns and all. Standing tall and branching wide, they offer shelter and respite from the hot Texas sun and grow where few other sentinels can survive such drought conditions. Their deep, etched bark gave me the perfect opportunity to play with color and texture. Add in the whimsical swirling sk and you get a modern take on Van Gogh!
E-mail Niki Gulley for more details on this live oak piece.
“Golden Undulation,” Tuscany ©2026 Niki Gulley
10″ x 20″ Textured Acrylic Painting on Canvas Panel
My husband and I stumbled upon this quintessential Tuscan farmhouse while out for a scenic drive this spring. Perched alone on top of this hill, we loved how the incredibly long cypress lined driveway was silhouetted by the sky. The soft light caused the hills to glow the most intense golden chartreuse, and I felt compelled to capture the beautiful scene. Unfortunately that meant I had to set up my easel alongside a rather busy road. Undeterred by the constant parade of racing traffic and horn honking semi trucks, I quickly got to work in order to paint these gorgeous clouds and light before they were gone.
Iceland
August 3-10, 2026
Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Tuscany Foodie Trek
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.
Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.
Iceland
August 3-10, 2026
Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Tuscany Foodie Trek
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.
Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.
For details on more of my Tuscany or rose garden paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.
Iceland
August 3-10, 2026
Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Tuscany Foodie Trek
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/
If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.
Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.