“Fence Line” Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Fence Line” ©2025 Niki Gulley
20″ x 16″ textured oil painting on canvas panel

Getting a chance to escape home confinement for a quick road trip to the mountains to paint, was just what the doctor ordered! Spending time in nature and reveling in the stunning fall colors with the crisp cool air, rejuvenated my spirit and inspired my muse. Add to the fact that I love aspens and you have just about the perfect remedy for these challenging times. I hope that you will feel my excitement and energy so that it will bring you as much joy as it did me.

To purchase “Fence Line,” go to https://www.nikigulley.com/fence-line/.

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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
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  https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

Capturing Vermont’s Fall Foliage with Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

“Climbing to the Sky” ©2025 Niki Gulley
24″ x 18″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel
 
The color explosion in northern Vermont was out of this world, and I just had to capture its fleeting beauty.  So, we found a nice big place to park the RV and I was able to work larger again today. The reds were so vibrant and intense on this maple that it had to be my focus. Feeling like a kid with the excitement of the colors, I chose this uplifting view reminiscent of laying on the ground as a child and staring up into the treetops and sky. Totally lost in the moment and not a care in the world, I hope you are transported to a similar happy memory from your youth!
 
 
To purchase “Climbing to the Sky,” please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/climbing-to-the-sky/.

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

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

 

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

 

“Autumn’s Tapestry” Kid’s Perspective Painting by Niki Gulley

     

“Autumn’s Tapestry” ©2025 Niki Gulley
textured oil painting on board • 20″ x 20″
 

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and reds contrasted against a turquoise-blue sky with gentle clouds drifting by, I’ve arranged the aspens in a circular pattern to give you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest. Using diagonal leading lines with the tree trunks and limbs, your eye gazes into the focal point where all of the elements come together. Meanwhile, utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

 
If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please go to https://www.nikigulley.com/autumns-tapestry/.
To see more of my impressionist palette knife paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.
 

 

If you have any questions about my aspen and birch tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 

“Limitless Possibilities” Abstract Autumn Landscape Painting by Niki Gulley

   

“Limitless Possibilities” ©2025 Niki Gulley
40” x 30″ textured mixed media painting 
on 1.5″ wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges
 
You walk down a path sheltered by autumn drenched trees, intrigued by the light flowing through the leaves and branches, casting shadows, colors changing with each gentle breeze, sunlight cascading down your pathway. Peaceful, tranquil this painting flows around the canvas capturing the memory of autumn: lush crisp colors, crunchy leaves and a walk through the woods Walt Whitman would have envied.
 
 
 
 
For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
 

 

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

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Arms to Heaven” Uplifting Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 
“Arms to Heaven” ©2024 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 30″ x 30″ textured mixed media painting on 1.5″ deep canvas with the painting wrapping around the edges
In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting autumn tones contrasted against a turquoise blue sky, gentle clouds drift by as the sun peeks through casting its magical light on everything it touches and lifting your spirits. Arranging the trees in a circular pattern gives you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest and directs your eye to hope’s focal point. Utilizing thick, energetic paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of promise and discovery.
 
 
For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
 

 

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

 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Syncopation” Textured Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

   

 
“Syncopation II” ©2025 Niki Gulley
 12″ x 24″ • textured oil painting on canvas
 
Flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze while white sentinels slice through the colorful backdrop and create a rhythm as they march along. Repeating and receding, the aspen trunks lead you into the distance, inviting you to take a relaxing walk on a beautiful autumn morning.
 


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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her palette knife aspen and birch tree paintings.
See NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.

 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 

“Fracturing Reality II” Textured Abstract Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

“Fracturing Reality II” ©2024 Niki Gulley

24” x 24” textured acrylic painting on canvas
 
Abstract realism – the synthesis of abstract and realistic painting. Borrowing abstract influences, such as focusing on color, line, shape and rhythm without a concrete, physical object and combining those concepts with depicting something from reality. When you marry these two genres, you get a new style of art that aims to illicit the emotions behind the subject. 
 
In “Fracturing Reality II,” I hope you feel rejuvenated as you gaze into nature’s wonders and escape into your dreams.
 
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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings. 
 
To see more of my textured nature paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

Agriturismo Cooking Class in the Italian Countryside with Foodie Treks

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 
by Niki Gulley
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5: Cooking Class in the Countryside
 

Today we had our second cooking class today at a fully operating agriturismo. We started making a hand rolled Pici pasta with homemade tomato sauce. Then we moved onto creating a salt crusted pork loin stuffed with herbs, along with roasted veggies. Finally we finished with wine cookies dusted in cinnamon sugar. We also got a chance to tour the farm and cheese making facility. Finally, we reaped the fruits of our labors with some cheese tasting and dining on the delicious meal we cooked, always having a great time!!! Life is so good.

 
 
For my painting today, you never know what’s going to happen when you set up on location. Today was rather warm so I chose this shady overlook with views of the beautiful vineyard below. It seemed like a nice, quiet spot. Then came 5 pm, which turns out was social hour for the local guys.

Some stared with crossed arms and facial expressions like they just ate lemons, some paced by craning their necks and one friendly man invited us in Italian to see his home up close since it was the vineyard next to where I was painting. It’s never dull!
 

To see a video of my process, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/DOv2N5zDO9n//

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For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

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

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
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If you’d like to join us on one of our fun-filled upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Iceland Art Trek
Aug. 3-10, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-2026/
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 

September 26 – October 3, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-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.

Painting in Tuscany with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

    

16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 
by Niki Gulley
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek – Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 5: Gardens and Hill Towns
 
This morning we enjoyed a stroll around a beautiful Tuscan hill town and dined at a delicious Michellin restaurant for lunch. Then we visited an operating Italian Renaissance garden. Formal and organized with clipped boxwoods and plantings in symmetrical stone urns, impressive travertine column staircases, and the largest indoor potted citrus grove in the area, it was interesting to see the contrast between an Italian garden and an American garden, and the challenges of getting irrigation to the remote property. 
 
For this painting, I focused in closer on one of the tuscan farmhouses, with a majestic backdrop of the peaks and valleys. Between the quiet surroundings, the quintessential Tuscan cypress, olive groves and the perfect weather conditions, this proved to be a very inspiring afternoon.

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For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

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

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
******
 
If you’d like to join us on one of our fun-filled upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!
 
 
Iceland Art Trek
Aug. 3-10, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-2026/
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 

September 26 – October 3, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-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.

Last Day Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

“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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We are excited to announce a new Art Trek for next year, where you will feel like you’ve stepped into a different time and world, like right out of a movie set. We’re elated to be returning to Venice, Italy in February 2026 for the costumed fantasy that occurs during Carnival. We’re already about half full, so let us know if you’d like to come along. 
 
And, while our Switzerland Trek is completely booked this month, we actually have 2 spots open in our Tuscany Foodie Trek this coming September. Always everyone’s favorite trip, please let us know if you would like to join us on that delicious gastronomic journey!
 

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 – October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!
 
Carnivalé Art Trek – Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings – Aug. 9th

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-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.
 
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https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/