“Autumn Emergence” new birch tree oil painting

January 18, 2012



“Autumn Gems” ©2012 Niki Gulley

36” x 60” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit, so I chose to use warm vivid colors and thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the foliage in diagonal sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, and so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil paintings of aspen and birch trees.
Or, to see more of her work, visit NikiGulley.com.

Kaleidoscope of Dreams – new oil painting

January 16, 2012



“Kaleidoscope of Dreams” ©2012 by Niki Gulley

textured oil painting
Four 36″ x 36″ canvases to form a 72″ x 72″ quadriptych

In this painting, I wanted you to feel like a little kid again – laying on the ground and staring up into the treetops without a care in the world. I hope you experience the joy of being surrounded by nature and the beauty in this autumn kaleidoscope of colors.

Email me for more information on “Kaleidoscope of Dreams.”

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary oil paintings.

Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

January 13, 2012
“Bellagio,” Lake Como, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 8″ x 10″
Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly painted buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I liked how the flowers framing this view of Bellagio mimicked the hues of the town’s architecture and added a colorful contrast to the blues of the lake and distant mountains.

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. If you sign up by Jan. 13th, you’ll save $500 off the cost of the trip!
To see more of my paintings from Italy visit NikiGulley.com.

“Riomaggiore” pastel

January 11, 2012
“Riomaggiore,” Cinque Terre, Italy ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel 5″ x 7″
From our trip to the Cinque Terre along Italy’s west coast, Riomaggiore is one of my favorite harbors. I love the colorful buildings and the amazing way they are stair-stepped and stacked one on top of each other along this hilly coastline. The view from up top is amazing, too!

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. Sign up by Jan. 13th and save $500!
To see more of my travel landscapes and Italy paintings visit NikiGulley.com.

“Tuscan Drive” pastel

January 9, 2012
“Tuscan Drive” ©2012 Niki Gulley
pastel • 14″ x 11″
This quintessential Tuscan farmhouse framed by the cone-shaped cypress trees is so indicative of Tuscany and the area that we stay in that it’s hard not to paint it! This scene is just around the corner from where we stay while we’re teaching our Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop each September and I’ve always liked how the curving lines of the gravel driveway lead you up the hill. I wanted to add a lot of color and energy to the foreground grasses to create a joyful feeling, much like most everyone experiences being in Tuscany.

If you’d like to come along Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 for our next Tuscany Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. Register by Jan. 13th for a $500 discount. We’d love to have you join us!
To see more of my plein-air paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

Lake Como, Italy oil painting

January 6, 2012
“Peaceful Harbor,” Lake Como, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley
oil on canvas • 24″ x 36″
Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly colored unique buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I love this little laid back town of Varenna, which is so peaceful that all of your cares just melt away. 

If you’d like to join us in Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy this Sept. 8th – 16th for our next Plein-Air Painting / Photography Workshop, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1420. If you sign up by Jan. 13th, you’ll save $500 off the cost of the trip!
To see more of my paintings from Italy visit NikiGulley.com.

Birch Tree textured paintings

December 30, 2011
5×7 birch study II ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board

I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.

Pictured above, Monday’s 5″ x 7″ birches next to Wednesday’s and today’s birches.
The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes! To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343. 

Autumn Birch painting series

December 28, 2011
5×7 birch study II ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board

I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.


Pictured above, Monday’s 5″ x 7″ birches next to today’s birches.
To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343. The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes!

5×7 birch study

December 26, 2011


5×7 birch study ©2011 Niki Gulley
textured painting on board
I painted these autumn birches with extremely thick paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. This birch series can be propped up on an easel without a frame, or I have a 5″ black frame with a gold inner lip or a solid gold plein air frame that sets the small painting off beautifully. To purchase or see examples framed, e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of my 12″ x12″ and large scale contemporary birch and aspen tree paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=1343. The 5″ x 7″ and 12″ x 12″ squares look great hung in pairs and threes!

Textured Bluebonnet oil painting series

December 23, 2011
“Texas Treats” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas

I painted these Texas bluebonnets and with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. In this wildflower series, I’ve painted the scene around the edges of the canvas on 1 and 1/2″ deep stretcher bars so that the paintings can be hung without a frame for a unique sculptural effect.

These 12″ x 12″ squares look great in pairs and threes! Hang them horizontally to fill space, vertically for a small wall or diagonally to lead your eye upwards, such as in a staircase. Pictured below are today’s “Texas Treats” next to Monday’s “Texas Treats V” canvas. If interested in purchasing one or both of these bluebonnets, e-mail Niki Gulley.
To see more of my bluebonnet and Texas paintings, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=898.