“Fire and Gold” Contemporary birch oil painting

November 26, 2012
“Fire and Gold” ©2012 Niki Gulley
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, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Heightened Awareness” textured aspen painting

November 23, 2012
Heightened
Awareness III ©2012 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.

“Golden Transitions” textured aspen painting by Niki Gulley

November 21, 2012
“Golden Transitions” ©2012 Niki Gulley
textured oil on canvas • 36″ x 60″
In “Golden Transitions,” I wanted you to feel like you were deep in the middle of the woods surrounded by nature in all of its beautiful autumn glory. I painted these aspen trees with extremely thick oil paint so that the texture and colors leap off the canvas.


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

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Transcending Luminosity by Niki Gulley now available in Canvas Prints

November 19, 2012
“Transcending Luminosity” ©2012 Niki Gulley

I decided it would be a fun challenge to create an extremely large painting this winter, and I wanted the final piece to be very uplifting, colorful and full of energy. Opting for warm colors and working with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives, I chose this water scene for its energetic flow and yet calming serenity at the same time, and positioned the water lilies and my paint strokes in a circular pattern to enliven that mood.

Now available in canvas prints. 
I have added thick paint to the prints so they are loaded with texture. 
They are UV coated and are stretched with the painting continuing around the edges on 3/4″ stretcher bars so that they can be hung as is without a frame, or if you prefer a traditional look, they can be framed also. 
20″ x 30″ for $295 • 28″ x 40″ for $495
A close up detail of the lily pads where thick paint has been added.

Print wrapped around 3/4″ stretcher bars.
E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com with questions or to order.

Painting in Venice with Niki Gulley

November 16, 2012
“Bon Appetito” ©2012 Niki Gulley
Pastel 24” x 36”

On my first trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the locally grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 2-9. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.


Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Carnivalé – Venice, Italy
Feb. 2-9, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Final Registration deadline: Nov. 18

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Deadline this week for Venice Art Trek

November 14, 2012
“Dreamlike Journey,” Venice, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
12” x 9” pastel

I created this pastel during a workshop my husband and I taught in Venice. We love the city, and there is so much inspiration there between the art, architecture, canals and magical light that it’s really hard to narrow down what to paint! On this day, we decided to stick with a classic view of the canals. I like the way light peeks through the narrow passageway and leads your eye from building to building, and the gondola that happened into the scene created the perfect finishing detail.

If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 2-9. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Carnivalé – Venice, Italy
Feb. 2-9, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Final Registration deadline: Nov. 18

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Venice Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

November 12, 2012

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
18” x 24” pastel
This piece was selected to exhibit at the Southwest Pastel Society’s Juried Show and will be on display at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX through November 2012.

Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night.
Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco.
This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic
and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors–rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in,
paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time.
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Venice during Carnivalé, Feb. 2-9. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Carnivalé – Venice, Italy
Feb. 2-9, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Final Registration deadline: Nov. 18

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Nov. 10th deadline for Greece Art Trek

November 9, 2012

“Rooftop View” Santorini, Greece ©2012 Niki Gulley
10” x 20” oil painting
The view from our hotel that we’ll be staying at in May for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop to Greece is amazing! In this oil painting, I wanted to capture the beautiful sea below with the vertically stacked puzzle piece architecture indicative of Santorini.
If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Greece, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Athens and Santorini on May 10-18. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Athens and Santorini, Greece
May 10-18, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
Early Registration for a $500 savings: Nov. 10
Final Registration deadline: Dec. 15

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

This workshop is already over half full, so we encourage you to register soon!

Greece Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

November 7, 2012

“Doorway to Possibilities,” Santorini, Greece • by Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20” x 10” pastel

The view from our hotel that we’ll be staying at in May for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop is amazing! In this pastel, I wanted to capture not only the gorgeous Aegean below and the white-washed architecture with brilliant blue accents, but also I wanted to show off the unique Greek doorways that frame the beautiful landscape below.

If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Greece, join me and my husband / travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek to Athens and Santorini on May 10-18. Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region’s culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we’ll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we’re painting and photographing.

 

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop
Athens & Santorini, Greece
May 10-18, 2013
Taught by Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
Early Registration for a $500 savings: Nov. 10
Final Registration deadline: Dec. 15

 

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.
This workshop is already over half full, so we encourage you to register soon!

“Aqua Dreams” Textured Aspen Painting by Niki Gulley

November 5, 2012

“Aqua Dreams” ©2012 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.

This painting is available at American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas. See americanfineart.com for details.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please visit nikigulley.com.
E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.