Feb. 18th Painting Workshop

February 10, 2012

“Turquoise Vortex” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 30” x 30” textured oil on canvas

Growing up in Chicago, our brutally cold winters would feel like they lasted forever so my family tried to vacation along our tropical coasts whenever possible. I loved this week we spent together – the cathartic rhythm of the ocean waves lapping against the shore as dad and I tried to ride each crest as close to the beach as possible, feeling the cool sand squish between my toes and fingers while building sand castles together, and enjoying the peacefulness at sunset as the gorgeous fireball dropped down from the sky and cast diamond-like reflections across the ocean’s surface.

If you’d like to create paintings with more freedom and expression, please join me Feb. 18th and 19th for a workshop I’m teaching on “Loosening Up,” at my studio in Dallas, TX. See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.
If you have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

“Vertical Aspirations” textured aspen oil painting

February 8, 2012
“Vertical Aspirations” ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 48” x 36” textured oil painting

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 and reds contrasted against a deep violet sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, all add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.
If you’d like to create paintings with more freedom and expression, please join me Feb. 18th and 19th for a workshop I’m teaching on “Loosening Up.” 
“Loosening Up” Painting Workshop
Feb. 18 and / or Feb. 19
Dallas, TX
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for details and to register.
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If you have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

“Loosening Up” Painting workshop

February 6, 2012
“Flowing Radiance,” Monet’s Gardens ©2012 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” textured oil on wrap around canvas

My initial study for a 48″ x 90″ triptych, but I love how this small oil turned out, too! Inspired by Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France, I wanted to paint a contemporary rendition of his lily pond, which would be flowing with color, light, warmth and energy.

If you’d like more information on this painting, please me at Niki Gulley. Or, if you’d like to create paintings with more freedom and expression, please join me Feb. 18th and 19th for a workshop I’m teaching on “Loosening Up.” 
“Loosening Up” Painting Workshop
Feb. 18 and / or Feb. 19
Dallas, TX
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for details and to register.
Also, Scott Williams and I will be leading a plein air painting / photography workshop in Paris, France this May. If you join us, you too could paint Monet’s Gardens in person! Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420, which goes into detail on our Paris, Italy, and Santa Fe Art Treks. Paris and Tuscany are filling up quickly, so let us know if you would like to come along for one of these amazing trips!
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If you have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

“Coming Together” textured aspen tree painting

February 3, 2012
“Coming Together” ©2012 Niki Gulley
textured oil painting • 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.

To see this aspen tree painting in person, please join Dallas artists, Niki Gulley and Elizabeth Padgett, for an exciting Two Woman Show. “Opposites Attract” will feature their paintings from two different perspectives – realism and abstraction.

Artist Reception is Sun. Feb. 5 from 2 to 4 pm at the Jaycee Center for the Arts –
1975 Puritan Dr. between Story Rd. and MacArthur in Irving, TX.

Exhibit runs Jan. 29 – Feb 23, 2012.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

 

“Triple Passion” textured oil rose painting

February 1, 2012
“Triple Passion” ©2012 Niki Gulley
textured oil painting

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.

To see Triple Passion in person, please join Dallas artists, Niki Gulley and Elizabeth Padgett, for an exciting Two Woman Show. “Opposites Attract” will feature their paintings from two different perspectives – realism and abstraction.

Artist Reception is Sun. Feb. 5 from 2 to 4 pm at the Jaycee Center for the Arts,
1975 Puritan Dr. between Story Rd. and MacArthur in Irving, TX.

Exhibit runs Jan. 29 – Feb 23, 2012.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary floral paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

 

“Opposites Attract” Two Woman Show w/ Gulley & Padgett

January 30, 2012

“Passionate Embrace” ©2012 Niki Gulley
textured oil painting • 36″ x 36″
I wanted this birch painting to be very colorful and whimsical, like through the eyes of a child looking into the treetops with fascination. I also like how sometimes the difference between realism and abstraction isn’t that great at all, and in this case, by just inverting and adding tree trunks to Elizabeth Padgett’s abstract painting, the result can become a realistic scene in “Passionate Embrace.” 

Please join Dallas artists, Niki Gulley and Elizabeth Padgett, for this Two Woman Show “Opposites Attract,” featuring their paintings from two different perspectives – realism and abstraction. Artist Reception is Sun. Feb. 5 from 2 to 4 pm at the Jaycee Center for the Arts,
1975 Puritan Dr. between Story Rd. and MacArthur in Irving, TX. Exhibit runs Jan. 29 – Feb 23, 2012.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Landscape Painting at the Dallas Arboretum with Niki Gulley

January 27, 2012
“Spring Blooms,” Dallas Arboretum ©2012 by Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting

Another beautiful spring day at the Arboretum during Dallas Blooms last year.

Please join me on  Feb. 4th at the Dallas Arboretum where I’ll be teaching a Painting Workshop covering tips and guidance for creating gorgeous landscape paintings.

For more information, go to dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/CreativeArts.htm. 


If you’d have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

NikiGulley.com


Or, to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

“Spring Blooms,” Dallas Arboretum oil painting

January 25, 2012

“Spring Blooms II,” Dallas Arboretum ©2012 by Niki Gulley
9″ x 12″ oil painting

A beautiful spring day at the Arboretum during Dallas Blooms last year.

Please join me on  Feb. 4th at the Dallas Arboretum where I’ll be teaching a Painting Workshop covering tips and guidance for creating gorgeous landscape paintings.

For more information, go to dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/CreativeArts.htm. 


If you’d have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

NikiGulley.com


Or, to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum taught by Niki Gulley

January 23, 2012

“Reflective Moment,” Dallas Arboretum ©2012 by Niki Gulley
18″ x 24″ oil on canvas

This painting was inspired by a gorgeous autumn day at the Dallas Arboretum. I was drawn to this magical little spot because it was so tranquil there that day, that you just wanted to sit and enjoy the scenery on this bench nestled across the water. The brilliant colors of the fall foliage, the crystal clear sky, and the soft light raking across the lily pond caught my eye. I liked how the late afternoon shadows were being cast and golden highlights were forming, adding to a peaceful, but happy feeling.

On  Feb. 4th, I’ll be teaching a Landscape Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, go to dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/CreativeArts.htm. 

If you’d have any questions, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
Or, to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

“Golden Aura” new textured birch tree painting

January 20, 2012
“Golden Aura” ©2012 Niki Gulley
48″ x 60″ textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. While combining short staccato strokes along with long sweeping passes with my palette knives also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

Email me for more information on this birch painting.

Or, visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.