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

View from our Villa, Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9″ x 12″ textured oil painting • SOLD
Day 1, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first morning of our Tuscany Art Trek, my husband went over camera functions and tips with his photography students while my painters set up to capture this gorgeous view of the distant hills and farmhouse that we see from our breakfast table each morning. With a few clouds drifting by, there was a beautiful soft light and a symphony of autumn colors framed by the quintessential Tuscan cypress tree in the foreground. What a perfect morning!
That afternoon we continued painting at the villa while the photographers explored the scenic countryside, and we all gathered that evening for a delicious meal of melted pecorino and homemade rustic bread, pici (hand rolled pasta) with wild boar sauce or truffle ravioli for others, fresh organic vegetables and of course the local red wine to top it off!
If you’re interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The registration deadline of Nov. 15th for most trips is quickly approaching, so don’t wait!
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 8-16, 2015
The French Riviera – June 18-26, 2015
Provence, France – June 25-July 3, 2015
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 4-12, 2015
Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 11-19, 2015
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.
***

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

New Tuscany Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Flowing with Sunshine,” Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley
10″ x 30″ textured oil painting

I chose to paint this view of our villa that we stay in during our Tuscany Art Treks, since I’d been admiring it for years. I like how the old stone farmhouse sits high on its hilltop with amazing 360 degree views of the rolling valleys and hill towns. The clouds have been gorgeous every trip we’ve taken, so I also wanted to convey that beauty in this panorama. Taking a few liberties and adding the sunflowers in place of the pool, “Flowing with Sunshine” is loaded with texture, color and uplifting energy!

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. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
Upcoming Art Treks
Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014
New Orleans, LA – Oct. 22-26, 2014
Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 7-14, 2015
Athens and Santorini, Greece – May 7-16, 2015
Andulucia, Spain – May 2014
The French Riviera – June 16-25, 2015
 Provence, France – June 25 – July 3, 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.

***

If you’re in the Ann Arbor, MI area this coming weekend and you’d like to see Flowing with Sunshine and more of my palette knife landscape paintings in person, please stop by my booth at the State Street Area Art Fair.

State Street Area Art Fair
Wed. July 16 • 10am – 9pm
Thurs. July 17 • 10am – 9pm
Fri. July 18 • 10am – 9pm
Sat. July 19 • 10am – 6pm
Ann Arbor, MI
Booth #B212 on N. University between Thayer & State St.
A2StateStreetArtFair.com
To see more of my sunflower and palette knife floral paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

New Tuscany Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Flowing with Sunshine,” Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley
10″ x 30″ textured oil painting
I chose to paint this view of our villa that we stay in during our Tuscany Art Treks, since I’d been admiring it for years. I like how the old stone farmhouse sits high on its hilltop with amazing 360 degree views of the rolling valleys and hill towns. The clouds have been gorgeous every trip we’ve taken, so I also wanted to convey that beauty in this panorama. Taking a few liberties and adding the sunflowers in place of the pool, “Flowing with Sunshine” is loaded with texture, color and uplifting energy!
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. 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.
 

Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams – Deadline tomorrow!

“Welcome Home,” Tuscany  ©2014  Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ textured oil painting
On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek in September, we explored the nearby hill town of Pienza to enjoy its picturesque alleyways and amazing views of the valleys below. Having been home to Pope Pius II, the town is filled with interesting historical sites, great shopping, delicious lunch spots and plenty of interesting corners to paint. I chose this doorway since I loved the texture of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide show from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the week end.


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. The final registration deadline of Jan. 25th 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.

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

12″ x 9″ textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Pienza:  TUSCANY ART TREK
Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we explored nearby Pienza to enjoy its picturesque alleyways and amazing views of the valleys below. Having been home to Pope Pius II, the town is filled with interesting historical sites, great shopping, delicious lunch spots and plenty of interesting corners to paint. I chose this doorway since I loved the texture of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the night end.


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 website at NikiGulley.com.

Deadline approaching for “Coloring Outside the Lines” Workshop

“Morning Textures II” Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil

Day 6, morning location – Tuscany Art Trek
On the last morning of our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop, we headed into the nearby town and set up our easels to capture the beautiful morning light illuminating every crack and textured surface of the Renaissance architecture. The only tricky part was trying to find a location where we were out of the way of traffic, because no matter how narrow and quiet a street may seem, tiny Italian cars will eventually buzz by you. Once establishing our drawing and focal point, we had to paint quickly to capture the changing light and be out of the nearby trattorias way as they were gearing up for the noon rush. I loved how everyone’s paintings turned out! the resulting paintings were full of spontaneity and energy as we had no time to fuss or overwork our paintings, and merely reacted instinctively to the scene.
If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. Registration deadlines for some of the trips are less than a month away!

If you’d like to learn how to paint with more color and freedom, please join me for my upcoming workshop, “Coloring Outside the Lines,” in Fredericksburg, TX, Nov. 2-4. Registration deadline is Oct. 15th. For details, visit nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Niki Gulley helping one of her students with her painting on the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek.



If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Niki Gulley at Cottonwood Art Festival this Weekend

“Lemon Tree” Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ textured oil painting

Day 4 – Tuscany Art Trek
On Day 4 of our Tuscany painting and photography workshop, we decide to take it easy after a busy day in Siena the day before and paint again at the villa. It was a gorgeous morning with bright puffy clouds and soft golden sunlight hitting the back of our villa. So while we set up our easels just a few feet away from one another, each painter picked a different subject. From the highly textured stone farm house, to this lemon tree that was so lush and tall that I chose for my painting, to a random bed that was on the property, to the terra cotta steps and quintessential Tuscan architectural details, to the ancient well and delicate geraniums, each student’s paintings turned out beautifully. After a peaceful morning of painting and photographing, we all reconvened on the patio of the villa for another delicious lunch of locally grown fruits, meats, cheeses and Vino Nobile.
If you’d like to see “Lemon Tree” and more of my travel plein-air paintings, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Oct. 6th and 7th, from 10am – 6pm. Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com for details.
Enjoying a delicious lunch at our villa, overlooking the surrounding rolling hills and distant Tuscan hill towns.
If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is this Saturday!

 

If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.
***
US Classes and Workshops – nikigulley.com/art-classes.
Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops – nikigulley.com/artreks/
Available Paintings – NikiGulley.com

Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Richardson, TX

“Autumn Harvest,” ©2012 Niki Gulley
24×36″ pastel

Day 2, afternoon, Vineyard tours and Wine Tasting – Tuscany Art Trek
On the second day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we took a tour in the countryside of 2 local wineries, seeing their cellars and production process while learning more about Italian wines. Then, the best part of all – sampling some of those delicious wines with the locally grown meats and cheeses! One of the wineries has been in the same family for 300 years, and the care and pride they take in making their wines really shows through. A great end to a fun-filled day!
If you’d like to see “Autumn Harvest” and more of my impressionist landscape paintings, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Oct. 6th and 7th, from 10am – 6pm. Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com for details.
Touring the cellar of one of the wineries that’s been in business for over 300 years.
If you’d like to join us for next year’s Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is less than a month away.



If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

***




US Classes and Workshops – nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops – nikigulley.com/artreks/
Available Paintings – NikiGulley.com