New “45mph” Winter Landscape Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

June 11, 2014
“45 mph” ©2013 Niki Gulley
18” x 24” textured oil painting

On one of our first trips together, my husband and I drove to Colorado to capture the fall foliage, and were greeted by one of the earliest snowfalls on record. While not the golden aspen glory we expected, the pristine white of that first dusting was beautiful. I loved this scenic overlook as we rounded the corner, and as you can see there was no shoulder to pull over on to capture the scene. So quickly grabbing my camera, I snapped away as we whizzed past. In this shot, I particularly liked a sliver of the school-bus-yellow 45mph sign contrasting against the vivid azure sky and framing the right side of the composition to lead your eye back into the breathtaking drive.

To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Wells Street Art Festival.
Wells Street Art Fair

June 14th and 15th • 10am – 8pm

Chicago, IL • on N. Wells St.,

between North Ave. and Division

chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141 

***
E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Curves Ahead” Palette Knife oil painting by Niki Gulley

June 9, 2014
“Curves Ahead” ©2014 Niki Gulley
30″ x 40” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

On this trip, it felt like we were flying up and down these curvy mountain roads almost like we were on an adult roller coaster. So I wanted to have a little fun in my painting and capture that sense of movement and playful excitement. Choosing bright vivid colors an curving my strokes almost in a fish-eye composition, add to the youthful energy and thrill of adventure that I wanted to communicate.

To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Wells Street Art Festival.

Wells Street Art Fair
June 14th & 15th • 10am – 8pm
Chicago, IL • on N. Wells St.,
between North Ave. and Division
chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141 
***
E-mail – Niki Gulley

New “Scenic Route” Palette Knife Autumn oil painting by Niki Gulley

June 6, 2014
“Scenic Route” ©2014 Niki Gulley
Textured Oil Painting on wrap around canvas • 20” x 60”

My husband and I love exploring the back roads whenever we’re en route somewhere. We always discover such interesting places, and the scenery is so much more picturesque than along the highway. It’s fun to slow down and enjoy the journey with no agenda, which is what I had in mind when I painted “Scenic Route,” a beautiful autumn drive through the winding fall foliage.


To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm
Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm
Booth #706
Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,
between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.
57thStreetArtFair.org

***
E-mail – Niki Gulley

Just Sold! “Snake Crossing” Oil Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

June 4, 2014
“Snake Crossing” ©2014 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20″ x 24″ • textured oil on canvas
We spend a lot of time in the car, between driving across country for art shows, exploring new places for inspiration, and traveling while teaching painting and photography workshops, so in this new series I’ve felt compelled to capture my views from the passenger seat. This particular painting was inspired by one of our trips out west. Not only do I love the various rock formations in the distance and the dramatic sunset, but I relish the sense of open space after living in a city. Looking out on the expansive horizon, I get the feeling that anything is possible and a new discovery is just ahead. All lines are designed to beckon you into the distance, and an upcoming snake crossing road sign hints that you have escaped city life and are immersed in a vast unspoiled landscape. This low angle of the road combined with energetic diagonal strokes is designed to give you the feeling of freedom while driving cross country in search for whatever your journey holds next.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm
Booth #706
Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,
between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.
***

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Heightened Awareness V” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

June 2, 2014
“Heightened Awareness V” ©2014 Niki Gulley
48” x 30” textured mixed media on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a vivid blue sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, both add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, and you’d like to see more of Niki’s aspen and birch paintings, please visit her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm

Booth #706

Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,

between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

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

May 30, 2014

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 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 contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold! “Snake Crossing” Oil Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

May 28, 2014
“Snake Crossing” ©2014 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20″ x 24″ • textured oil on canvas
We spend a lot of time in the car, between driving across country for art shows, exploring new places for inspiration, and traveling while teaching painting and photography workshops, so in this new series I’ve felt compelled to capture my views from the passenger seat. This particular painting was inspired by one of our trips out west. Not only do I love the various rock formations in the distance and the dramatic sunset, but I relish the sense of open space after living in a city. Looking out on the expansive horizon, I get the feeling that anything is possible and a new discovery is just ahead. All lines are designed to beckon you into the distance, and an upcoming snake crossing road sign hints that you have escaped city life and are immersed in a vast unspoiled landscape. This low angle of the road combined with energetic diagonal strokes is designed to give you the feeling of freedom while driving cross country in search for whatever your journey holds next.
To see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com or if you are in Chicago, IL this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm
Booth #706
Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,
between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.
***

E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Heightened Awareness V” Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

May 26, 2014
“Heightened Awareness V” ©2014 Niki Gulley
48” x 30” textured mixed media on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a vivid blue sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, both add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, and you’d like to see more of Niki’s aspen and birch paintings, please visit her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm

Booth #706

Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,

between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

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

May 23, 2014

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 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 contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Textured Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

May 21, 2014
“Fire and Gold” ©2014 Niki Gulley
textured oil on canvas • 36″ x 48″

I love the first signs of fall – the crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful autumn colors, and being totally immersed in nature in the middle of a forest without a care in the world. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate that joyful feeling, choosing warm reds and yellows of autumn and using energetic strokes with my paint to heighten that mood. Building up first thin transparent layers and then thick textured layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.

E-mail – Niki Gulley for more information.
Or, please visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.