My Blog – Page 237

Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

March 7, 2014

Venice Art Trek 2014
9″ x 12″ pastel by Niki Gulley

We just got back from teaching our latest Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek in Venice during Carnivalé and had the most amazing time! The weather was ideal, and we found our way to this quiet landing to paint a typical Venetian canal on our first morning. I liked the way the sunlight raked across the colorful buildings and emphasized all of the texture in the stucco and brickwork. We had to paint quickly since boats kept entering and leaving our scene, all part of the morning hustle and bustle in Venice. Luckily I loosely got the red boat in right before it took off!

If you’d like to join us on one of our upcoming Art Treks, please let me know. For more details, E-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

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www.NikiGulley.com

“Hill Country Retreat” Texas Bluebonnet oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

March 4, 2014

9″ x 12″ textured oil painting

I painted these Texas bluebonnets at a plein air painting workshop I was leading in Fredericksburg, TX. I loved the pop of red on the flag flying off this cabin’s back porch in contrast to the vibrant cobalt bluebonnets. Working with palette knife and thick oil paint, this Texas landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

For more information on my Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of Gulley’s palette knife landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Classes and Art Treks, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

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

February 28, 2014

Heightened
Awareness III ©2014 Niki Gulley

48″ x 36″ • 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. I chose vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a violet blue sky filled with big, puffy clouds. And, by arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery are enhanced.

If you’d like more information on my textured aspen and birch tree paintings, e-mail Niki Gulley.

NikiGulley.com

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

February 26, 2014

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 Spring Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

February 24, 2014

Textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas • 40″ x 30″

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing calming greens against a lavender-blue peaceful sky and arranging the two main aspens so that they meet in the middle, suggests a feeling of togetherness. While organizing the outlying trees in a circular pattern and using thick, curving, bold orange brushstrokes, creates a joyful, playful mood.

For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.To see more of my contemporary landscapes, visit NikiGulley.com.

“Natural Textures” Abstracted Aspen Tree palette knife painting by Niki Gulley

February 21, 2014

24″ x 36″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Natural Textures III is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension and depth. Hang it alone, or combine it with Natural Textures I and II to form a triptych, as pictured below.

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

Just Sold Palette Knife Sunflower oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 19, 2014

12″ x 12″ Sunflowers – textured oil on canvas by Niki Gulley • SOLD

Just Sold! I painted these sunflowers 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.

This sunflower scene looks great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of my sunflower or floral scenes. Hang them horizontally, vertically, on a diagonal or stacked.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on this piece or to find out about complimentary companion paintings.

To see more of my textured oil paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

New Sunflower Field palette knife oil painting by Niki Gulley

February 17, 2014

20″ x 30″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these cheerful sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture.

“Sun Filled Memories” and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

“Triple Passion” Red Roses palette knife oil painting by Niki Gulley

February 14, 2014

textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Can be hung horizontally 24″ x 48″ or vertically 48″ x 24″

I love the passion and energy in the color red, so I thought it would be fun to play with the still life I had set up of roses and make a painting where red was the dominant color. In person, seeing these roses at life size, I wanted the viewer to be swept up in the movement and emotion of this piece. Utilizing flowing spirals, weaving back and forth, playful thick and thin paint in bold, loose strokes, ruby petals emerging and disappearing, all meant to tease and excite your senses.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary floral paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Palette Knife Red Roses oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

February 12, 2014

12″ x 12″ Red Roses by Niki Gulley

textured oil painting on canvas

I painted these roses from the still life 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.

This floral looks great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of my other contemporary flower paintings. Hang them horizontally, vertically, on a diagonal or stacked.