“Autumn Splendor” textured aspen oil painting

“Autumn Splendor” ©2011 Niki Gulley
36” x 48” textured oil on wrap around canvas

Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, silver and gold with each light breeze.

There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, clean bright skies overhead, a band of slender straight trucks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling tumble of green, crimson and gold.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured oil aspen and birch tree paintings.

“Passage of Illumination” ©2011 Niki Gulley
48” x 60” textured oil on canvas

Wander down this path that beckons you and lift your eyes heavenward to that cobalt vault lined by a rainbow of vivid greens and golds and gleaming crimson, purposely choosing these warm vibrant colors to suggest a hopeful future. Like an ancient chorus these joyful trees sing with dazzling colors, a call and respond to each other across the enticing path that traces verses of light and dark, hue and color, an alluring siren song leading you into the depths of this radiant, vanishing horizon. A painting rich in color and light, joy and energy its double bowed composition gently leads gently you into this magical, blissful destination.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

“Texas Treats” textured bluebonnet oil painting

“Texas Treats” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12″ x 12″ textured oil painting on canvas
I painted these Texas bluebonnets 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 1/2″ deep stretcher bars so that the paintings can be hung without a frame for a unique sculptural effect.
To see more of my bluebonnet and Texas paintings, visit NikiGulley.com /?page_id=229.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured oil paintings.

Bluebonnets & Texas Wildflowers painting by Niki Gulley

“Texas Treats IV” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 12″ x 12″ oil painting on canvas
Just Sold! I painted these Texas bluebonnets & Indian Blanket with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve extreme texture so that the image comes to life and leaps off the canvas! In this wildflower painting series, I’ve painted the scene around the edges of the canvas on 1 1/2″ deep stretcher bars so that the paintings can be hung without a frame for a unique sculptural effect.
To see more of my bluebonnet and Texas paintings, visit NikiGulley.com /?page_id=229.
E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured oil paintings.

“Aqua Dreams” textured oil painting

“Aqua Dreams” ©2011 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.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured oil aspen and birch tree paintings.
Or, to see more of her artwork, go to NikiGulley.com/?page_id=33.

New Textured Birch Oil Painting

“Colorful Transformation” ©2011 by Niki Gulley
textured oil painting • 36″ x 48″

Rather than create an exact replica of the forest, I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!

For more information on this birch painting, e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
Or, to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, go to NikiGulley.com/?page_id=33.

Just Sold – “Rushing Desires” textured oil painting

“Rushing Desires” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 60” x 36” textured oil on canvas

Just Sold! Charging down its stone cut course, torrents of water rush through grey boulders past green and gold bracken. Headlong and unrestrained the waters crash downstream, while above they splash into the airy distance a glowing, hazy tiara of misty sunlight. Thick brushstrokes of radiant oils define the powerful landscape carrying your eye through a complex composition of dynamic diagonals cleaved with the vertical cascade, caressed with a delicate crossing of gold dusted branches. A painting of power and energy balanced by graceful strokes of beauty, I wanted “Rushing Desires” to be about texture, movement, mystery and the cathartic feeling in nature.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s textured oil paintings, visit NikiGulley.com/?page_id=33,

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscapes.

Final Critique & Dinner – Santa Fe Painting & Photo Workshop

Some of our painters and their wonderful paintings from our Santa Fe Workshop.

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, NM
with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams
Day 5, afternoon Show & Tell
After some free-time sightseeing, gallery hopping and shopping in downtown Santa Fe, we gathered later that afternoon for a final critique and to show off our work. Students get so nervous about the word critique, that I really prefer Show and Tell. Everyone gets so into their work on location that they don’t always get an opportunity to see what others are doing, so this is a great way to share what we did, offer pointers and praise! For the painters, we chose our best 3 or 4 paintings from the week, and for the photographers, Scott put together slide shows of their strongest shots. And, for a perfect ending to the week, we celebrated with a delicious New Mexican dinner at La Choza.
Some of our group celebrating a successful workshop over an authentic New Mexican dinner.

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If you’d like more information on our upcoming
Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshops, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley,
or visit my website at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.
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To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, go to nikigulley.com/?page_id=33,
or to purchase this plein air study from Santa Fe, e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
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Day 5 – Plein Air Painting Workshop in Santa Fe

9×12 pastel by Niki Gullley
Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, NM
Day 5, location: downtown Santa Fe
On our last morning of our Santa Fe workshop, we headed back to downtown Santa Fe and settled in a quiet shady spot to paint the geometric adobe architecture of the Loretto Inn. After a week of painting everyday, everyone was loosened up and jumped right into their paintings, creating some of their best work and in a matter of a few short hours!
Some of our group enjoying the shade on the last day of our Santa Fe workshop.

Nancy Standlee, thinking outside the box, painted the Loretto with this eye-catching yellow umbrella at the café next door. Beautiful!

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If you’d like more information on our upcoming
Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshops, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley,
or visit my website at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.
•
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, go to nikigulley.com/?page_id=33,
or to purchase this plein air study from Santa Fe, e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
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Santa Fe Painting Workshop – Day 4

7×5 textured oil by Niki Gullley
Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, NM
Day 4, afternoon location: Red Rocks
After painting the scenic overlook in the morning, we headed a little north of our location and focused in on this lone clump of unusual, striking rocks (scene below.) The distinct coloring and striations, made for a fun but challenging exercise in texture, light and shadow, and shape. By day 4, everybody was past their jitters from earlier in the week and thoroughly enjoying painting outdoors. With more confidence, they quickly sketched in these rock formations and complete some amazing pieces in just a couple of hours.
Some of our group painting on our day 4 of our Santa Fe Painting & Photography Workshop.

One of my students putting in the final touches of her painting.

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If you’d like more information on our upcoming
Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshops, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley,
or visit my website at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.
•
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, go to nikigulley.com,
or to purchase this plein air study from Santa Fe, e-mail me at Niki Gulley.
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