“Vertical Aromas” Palette Knife Lavender Field Painting by Niki Gulley

April 17, 2017
“Vertical Aromas” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 12″ textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas
 
The lavender fields in Provence are incredible – perfectly manicured rows and rows of an explosion of violet as far as the eye can see. I wanted to try something different in this painting, arranging the purple waves vertically to draw your eye up to the stone farmhouse in the distance. Meanwhile wispy clouds drift by and perspective lines all converge, leading you to this joyful, peaceful spot. I hope you can smell the amazing aromas and  feel your spirits lifted while gazing into this scene!
 
For information on Vertical Aromas or more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please see my new works at the Good Art Company Gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.
 
To view more of my lavender, poppy and sunflower field paintings, visit nikigulley.com. 
 
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife wildflower paintings.
 
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For more information on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshops in Italy, France, England and Ireland, please visit www.ArtTreks.org or e-mail Niki Gulley.
 

New “Party of One” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

April 14, 2017
“Party of One” ©2017 Niki Gulley
20” x 30” textured oil painting
 
This sturdy trunk and agile tree limbs reach to the heavens above and invite you to gaze in wonderment like a kid again at the kaleidoscope of fall spectrum above. Painted with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint, this painting is loaded with texture, color, energy and movement!
 
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her palette knife aspen tree and contemporary landscape paintings. 
 

New “Kid’s Perspective” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

April 12, 2017
“Kid’s Perspective” ©2017 Niki Gulley
textured oil painting on canvas • 20″ x 30″
In “Kid’s Perspective” I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and soft shades of tangerine contrasted against a 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 and to direct your eye to the focal point. Utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.
 
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.

 

New “Fall’s Carnival” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 10, 2017
“Fall’s Carnival” ©2017 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40″ textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this landscape to be filled with movement and vivacity, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. Contrasting short staccato strokes against blended passages with my palette knives, also increase that sense of motion. One zig zag passage of crimson foliage creates a focal point in the tangle of leaves and turnks while adding energy to the scene. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated. 

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

 
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife aspen tree and birch paintings.

New “Tuscan Dreams” Palette Knife Poppy Field Painting by Niki Gulley

April 7, 2017
“Tuscan Dreams” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 24″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
 
Inspired from a wonderful trip to Tuscany, I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of joy and energy. Set beneath a colorful sky with a few clouds drifting by on a beautiful day in springtime, the poppies and wildflowers are in full bloom. Using broken impressionistic strokes in surprising hues, causes the landscape to dance and flow, and I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.
 
You can paint and photograph these very views if you join us for our Tuscany Workshop in 2017. Don’t miss out on an amazing trip! There are just a two spaces left. See art treks.org for details or e-mail Niki Gulley for more information.
 
To view more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.

 
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my poppy and wildflower palette knife paintings.
 

New “Secret Garden” Provence Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

April 5, 2017
“Secret Garden,” Provence ©2017 Niki Gulley
12″ x 9″ oil painting

I painted this peaceful courtyard while my husband and I were leading our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks Workshop in Provence, France. I loved the peach archway framing the picture window in the distance, creating a frame within a frame. The complimentary colors juxtaposed against each other created such an exciting contrast. While the light was a little tricky to capture going in and out of the clouds, I tried to convey its soft illumination on the walkway and distant wall. Painted with palette knife, this painting is loaded with texture and color, and I hope you are transported to this picturesque spot.

Photo by Sheri Jones

If you’d like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. We are taking reservations now, so please let us know if you would like to join us. This year’s trip filled up in less than a week! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to ArtTreks.org.
For more information on “Secret Garden”, please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company Gallery, in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

  
Or, visit NikiGulley.com (www.NikiGulley.com) to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.
 
 

“Diagonal Patterns” Palette Knife Lavender Field Painting by Niki Gulley

April 3, 2017
“Diagonal Patterns,” Provence ©2015 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ textured oil painting
 
I painted “Diagonal Patterns” on location in Provence during our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshop my husband and I led in France. The lavender fields were amazing, and stretched as far as the eye could see! I wanted to focus on these perfectly planted purple rows, contrasted against the vibrant yellow sunflowers in the distance. I loved how those colors popped next to each other! I chose to lower the horizon line so that I could include these amazing clouds drifting by in diagonal patterns that mimicked the lavender aisles.  That also gave the painting an idea of space so that you could sense the fragrant purple beauties stretching for miles. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, the final image is loaded with color, texture and movement!  

This summer we will be leading Art Treks to Tuscany and Ireland, and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, Croatia, Slovenia, Venice, Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! See details on ArtTreks.org.

For more information on “Diagonal Patterns”, please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company Gallery, in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.
 
Or, check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

New “October Transitions II” – Aspen Tree oil painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

March 30, 2017
“October Transitions II” ©2017 Niki Gulley
36″ x 36″ oil on canvas

I love painting aspen trees and I usually work with a more primary color palette, but in this painting, I wanted to convey a quieter, more peaceful mood. Opting for calming grey greens, soft golds and reds with hints of teal, Harmonic Hues reminds me of the serenity I feel while walking through the forest on a cool autumn day, being totally immersed in nature, not a care in the world. I hope you are transported, too!

For more information on “October Transitions II”, please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company Gallery, in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my birch and aspen tree oil paintings.
 
 Or, visit www.NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

First Place Award for “Following the Leader” by Niki Gulley

March 29, 2017
 
 
“Following the Leader” ©2017 Niki Gulley
24″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas
 
I’m excited that this painting just won first place at the Artists of Texas H2O show held in Corpus Christi!Gold, white, tangerine – quicksilver Koi slice through silent waters. Playful, darting fish follow each other up through the composition, while cool colors float and ripple across the painting forming tranquil patterns.  A happy threesome glides by, lifting your spirits as you gaze into this vertical panorama while thick strokes of paint created with palette knife add dimension and movement.

For more information on my textured contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
 
Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my palette knife oil paintings.

 

Palette Knife Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

March 27, 2017
“Texas Pride II” ©2017 Niki Gulley
20″ x 30″ textured oil painting on canvas • SOLD
 
I painted these Texas bluebonnets and with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve depth and texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. In this wildflower series, I’ve painted the scene around the edges of the canvas on 1 and 1/2″ deep stretcher bars so that the painting can be hung without a frame for a contemporary look. Or, I also have a beautiful espresso floater frame where you can still see the painted edges of the canvas if you prefer framed artwork. 

The original oil painting of “Texas Pride II” is sold, but canvas prints are available. Please e-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com for pricing and ordering information.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.
 
For more information on my bluebonnet paintings and Texas landscapes, please e-mail Niki Gulley.