Day 2 – Paris Art Trek with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

June 11, 2012
Notre Dame • 10″ x 8″ oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 2 – Art Trek Paris with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
On day 2 of our plein-air painting and photography workshop in Paris, we led our group to Notre Dame Cathedral, known for its flying buttress and gargoyles overlooking the city. Since our group had never been before, they visited inside the church and hiked up to the clock tower for amazing views of the city, while I kept everyone’s gear down below. I found a nice, quiet bench and had enough time to paint this view of the backside of the cathedral until everyone finished touring. The church is so complex, I focused in on this view of the nave with it’s stained glass windows and the tops of a couple of the flying buttress to simplify the scene for an 8×10 canvas.
If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to
Santa Fe, NM Aug. 12 – 18 (see nikigulley.com/art-classes) or
 Tuscany, Italy Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 (visit nikigulley.com/artreks),
please e-mail Niki Gulley for more information. Registration deadlines are quickly approaching. We’d love to have you join us!
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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please go to my website at NikiGulley.com.

Day 1 – Paris Art Trek w/ Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

June 8, 2012
Eiffel Tower • 10″ x 8″ oil painting by Niki Gulley • SOLD

Day 1 – Art Trek Paris
For the first day of our painting & photography workshop in Paris, we had to visit the Eiffel Tower. After enjoying the panorama view from the tallest building in Europe, we grabbed some lunch at a Parisian café and nourished for the afternoon, set up our easels at this lovely park to paint the Eiffel Tower.
Part of our group at the Eiffel Tower.

While the morning was slightly chilly and overcast, the clouds parted and sun came out just in time to paint and shoot. All of our students agreed, this was the perfect spot to paint the Paris landmark – a little shade, a gentle path leading you to the subject, lush greenery and delicate pink, purple petals from the blooming lilac-like trees, tucked away from the crowds.
Some of our painters with their travel easels, painting the Eiffel Tower.
If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to
Santa Fe, NM Aug. 12 – 18 (see nikigulley.com/art-classes) or
 Tuscany, Italy Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 (visit nikigulley.com/artreks),
please e-mail Niki Gulley for more information. Registration deadlines are quickly approaching. We’d love to have you join us!
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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please go to my website at NikiGulley.com.

“Dancing on Water” textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

June 6, 2012
“Dancing on Water” ©2012 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” textured oil painting
Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water,
diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface;
water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.
Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns,
a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage
while azure skies reflect in the water.
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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Just Sold – “Spring’s Glory, Texas Hill Country”

June 4, 2012
“Spring’s Glory, Texas Hill Country” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 48″ x 30″ textured painting on wrap around canvasJust Sold!”Spring’s Glory” was inspired by a recent trip to the Texas Hill Country. This spring conditions were perfect, and the bluebonnets were amazing! While we were near Fredericksburg, we took a scenic drive along the Willow City Look and as we approached the top of a hill about half way around, we were greeted by this gorgeous view of the rolling hills and bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush in full bloom. Then, to top it off the sun was setting in the distance casting its golden glow and backlighting the wildflowers. I had to capture the magical moment, enhancing the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky and along the ground. Arranging clouds, the road and rows of bluebonnets in rhythmic sweeping shapes, create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

 

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her Texas bluebonnet paintings.

New Sunflower, “Bathed in Sunshine”

June 1, 2012
“Bathed in Sunshine” ©2012 Niki Gulley
30″ x 48″ textured painting on canvas

Inspired by our trip to Provence last summer, I was awestruck by these massive fields of sunflowers blooming. Seeing this brilliant carpet of gold, with its sea of faces smiling towards the sun, just made me feel happy and I wanted you to experience that joy, too. In person “Bathed in Sunshine” practically leaps off the canvas with its vibrant yellow petals and extremely thick three-dimensional paint.

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair where I will be exhibiting this sunflower painting and more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

57th Street Art Festival 

Sat. June 2 • 11am – 6pm
Sun. June 3 • 10am – 5pm
Chicago, IL • on 57th St., between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

Booth # 47 or 48


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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

Plein Air Painting in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Niki Gulley

May 30, 2012
“Rio Chama” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 9″ x 12″ textured oil

 

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico.We will transport you to different picturesque locations, where you will be painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old. This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Santa Fe Art Trek

Plein Air Painting and/or photography workshop taught by Scott Williams and Niki Gulley

Santa Fe, New Mexico

August 12 -18, 2012

Early discount registration deadline today!

See nikigulley.com/art-classes for more details

or e-mail Niki Gulley with any questions and to register.

Above: Our students painting this scenic overlook of the Rio Chama from last year’s Santa Fe Art Trek.

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To see more of Niki Gulley’s textured oil paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Niki Gulley at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago, IL this weekend

May 28, 2012
“Sun Drenched IV” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 36″ x 48″ textured painting on wrap around canvas

Sun Drenched IV was inspired by our trip to Provence, France last summer. Our timing was perfect and the sunflowers and lavender were in full bloom. While we came across many fields of lavender, we had to search a little harder for sunflowers. Of course that meant sampling more of the local cuisine and wines for much needed fuel as we looked! (My husband likes to say we have to suffer four our art.)

When we eventually came across these sunflowers, I knew immediately they would make a perfect painting. Their bright, smiling faces as big as dinner plates, the sun dappled path leading you deep into the golden field to the quaint stone farmhouse in the distance, and a beautiful summer day with a few peaceful clouds drifting by made for the ideal subject. The resulting painting is so full of color and texture, and my hope is that when you gaze into it, this piece immediately lifts your spirits and brightens up any spot in your home.

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair where I will be exhibiting more of my sunflower and contemporary landscape paintings, or if you’re in the Dallas area, American Fine Art will have about a dozen of my works on display.

57th Street Art Festival 

Sat. June 2 • 11am – 6pm
Sun. June 3 • 10am – 5pm
Chicago, IL • on 57th St., between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Sun Drenched II” textured sunflower painting

May 25, 2012
“Sun Drenched II” ©2012 Niki Gulley
30″ x 48″ • textured oil on cavan

Inspired by our trip to Provence last summer, I was awestruck by these massive fields of sunflowers blooming. Seeing this brilliant carpet of gold, with its sea of faces smiling towards the sun, just made me feel happy and I wanted you to experience that joy, too. In person “Sun Drenched II” practically leaps off the canvas with its vibrant yellow petals and extremely thick three-dimensional oil paint.

This painting and more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings are on exhibit at American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas. See americanfineart.com for details.
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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” textured oil painting

May 23, 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 and more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings are on exhibit at American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas. See americanfineart.com for details.
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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley

“Culmination” textured water lily triptych

May 21, 2012

“Culmination” ©2012 Niki Gulley
Three 48″ x 30″ canvases to form a 48″ x 90″ triptych
textured mixed media 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 circular 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.

This painting and more of Niki Gulley’s textured landscape paintings are on exhibit at American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas. See americanfineart.com for details.
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Web – NikiGulley.com • E-mail – Niki Gulley