New “Chit Chat” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

June 6, 2016
“Chit Chat” ©2016 Niki Gulley
30″ x 48″ textured oil painting
Shimmering in golden light, this backlit grove of aspen trees reaches tall, leaning left and then right towards the sun as it grew. The peeling trunks almost seem to move, even chatting with one another. A few trees weren’t so lucky and lay fallen at their feet, while the whole scene is filled with color, texture and movement to suggest the power of nature and its ability to enhance your spirit.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her palette knife aspen tree and contemporary landscape paintings. 

Just Sold – “Perseverance” by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

June 6, 2016
Perseverance ©2016 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 48″ x 36″ • Textured oil painting on canvas

During one of our plein air painting workshops that we lead in Santa Fe, we chose this beautiful location near Georgia O’Keefe’s home of Ghost Ranch. I loved the way the sun illuminated the rocky cliffs and the robust, fluffy clouds that drifted above us. Reaching for the sky, hopeful and steadfast, this one lone tree persevered despite the odds.

If you’d like more information on my contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, if you are in the Ohio area, please stop by my booth at the Columbus Arts Festival this weekend.

Columbus Arts Festival 
Fri. June 10 • 11am – 10:30pm 
Sat. June 11 • 11am – 10:30pm 
Sun. June 12 • 11am – 5pm 
Downtown Riverfront • Columbus, OH 
Booth #218M – on Main St. between the bridge and Civic Center Dr. 

New “Colorful Carousel” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

June 3, 2016
“Colorful Carousel” ©2016 by Niki Gulley
 36″ x 60″ original textured oil painting

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit, so I chose to use warm vivid colors contrasted against cool underbrush while utilizing thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the fall foliage in curving sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance on a beautiful fall day.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings online, visit NikiGulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

“Reflective Radiance” textured oil painting of Monet’s Garden by Niki Gulley

June 1, 2016
“Reflective Radiance” ©2016 Niki Gulley
Two 48″ x 18″ canvases with one 48″ x 30″ canvas in the middle to form a 48″ x 66″ triptych
Textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I decided it would be a fun challenge to create an extremely large painting, and I wanted the final piece to be very uplifting, colorful and full of energy. Opting for warm colors and working with extremely thick paint and palette knives, I chose this lily pond reference from our visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France. The grounds were breathtaking and I could actually see his paintings come to life. I was drawn to the energetic flow and yet calming serenity in this view, and I positioned the water lilies and my paint strokes in a curving pattern to add to that mood. The morning light peeking through the distant foliage added to a sense of mystery and promise that I wanted to capture in paint, and share with you that feeling of hope.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

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

May 30, 2016
“Kid’s Perspective II” ©2016 Niki Gulley
36″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the joy of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing playful colors and thick chunky staccato strokes add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

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

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

May 27, 2016

“Intertwining Beauty” ©2016 Niki Gulley
36″ x 60″ textured oil on canvas


Intertwining Beauty was inspired by a recent trip to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The aspen forest was so dense and beautiful. I loved the pops of vibrant fall colors peeking through the tall, tangled, web of white knobby trunks. Ruby reds grab your attention while staccato strokes of emerald, amethyst and topaz lead your eye around the canvas. I hope you can feel the energy found in nature and its power to invigorate your spirit.

I painted these aspen trees with extremely thick paint and palette knife. The resulting canvas is loaded with texture, color and energy! I’ve painted it on 1 and 1/2 inch deep stretcher bars, with the image continuing around the edges so that it can be hung as is frameless for a contemporary look. 

If interested in more information, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of my textured aspen and birch paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

“Aqua Dreams” Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 25, 2016

“Aqua Dreams” ©2016 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

To see more of my aspen and birch tree paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail – Niki Gulley

New “What Dreams Are Made Of” Quadriptych Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

May 23, 2016
“What Dreams Are Made Of” ©2016 by Niki Gulley
Four 36″ x 36″ canvases to form a 72″ x 72″ quadriptych • textured oil painting

In this painting, I wanted you to feel like a little kid again – laying on the ground and staring up into the treetops without a care in the world. I hope you experience the joy of being surrounded by nature and the beauty in this autumn kaleidoscope of colors.

Canvas Prints now Available:  Four 24″ x 24″ canvases are stretched on 3/4 inch stretcher bars with the image continuing around the edges to form a 48″ x 48″ quadriptych that does not need to be framed, just like the original . I have also added thick paint in some of the leaves and trunks to add even more texture and making each print one of a kind. Finally, I have coated the canvases with a UV varnish to protect the paintings. The canvases can be hung right up next to each other or spread apart by a few inches to come out to a maximum of 53″ x 53″. I can also make other sizes or stretch What Dreams Are Made Of on deep 1 and 1/2 inch stretcher bars for an additional fee. Please contact me at Niki Gulley for more information on the original painting or canvas prints.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings online, visit NikiGulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my available palette knife birch and aspen tree 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.
***
To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Just Sold – French Riviera Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

May 18, 2016
Villefranche and Monte Carlo – French Riviera Art Trek
SOLD • 12″ x 9″ oil by Niki Gulley

Just Sold! On our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop that my husband, Scott Williams, and I led in the French Riviera we all went in different directions on the third day. I took the painters to this beautiful scenic overlook while Scott drove the photographers along the corniches in search of the best vantages and photographs, while others relaxed at the pool at the hotel.
That afternoon, we explored the bustling old city of Monaco and later that evening tried our hand at the casinos. One person in our group even won $336 on the slot machines! That evening we dined al fresco on a delicious three course meal, enjoying the company of new friends.
A delicious dinner in Monaco.

Next summer we will be leading an Art Trek to Spain and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, England and Ireland, so if you’ve always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! For more details, visit  art treks.org.

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.