Palette Knife Garden Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

  

"James' House" ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just Sold! Painted on location with the Plein Air Painters of Asheville. This was actually our host James' lovely house and garden. With dappled morning light and the prolific flowers blooming, I had to capture the beauty and peace of that morning.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Teaching Painting and Photography in Switzerland with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

12” x 9” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

Day 1: Switzerland Art Trek

Plein Air Painting and Photo Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

My husband and I just got back from leading the most amazing workshop in Switzerland with jaw-dropping scenery around every corner! Once everyone arrived at our hotel, we stayed close to home the first day. With a chance of rain, we actually painted the beautiful scenery from the front deck of our hotel since we had a nice, large covered area to keep us dry. The cutest white church was in perfect view, so that's what most of us landed on for our subject. With a beautiful mountain backdrop and colorful plantings out front, it turned out to be the ideal subject. I hope you can hear those bells ringing out the top of the hour and echoing through the valley.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

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If you'd like to join us on one of our fun-filled upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/

If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Niki Gulley Paints the Dramatic Scenery in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

  

Work in progress – 20” X 16” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

What a day painting and photographing in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland! The weather seemed ok to start so we thought we’d venture over to the next town to capture the dramatic scenery. As we ascended into the clouds on the gondola ride, we started second guessing that decision as we couldn’t see 2 feet in front of us through the fog!

Luckily on our descent into town, the rain stopped and there were actually patches of blue sky. So glad we persevered as it turned out to be a beautiful morning and absolutely stunning location. Add in a few church bells echoing through the canyon just to add to the magic of the moment.

To see me painting this one and even here the church bells, visit https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqBr7DoyYo/.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Challenges of Painting in Switzerland with NC Artist Niki Gulley

 

20” X 10” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

Painting in Switzerland. while beautiful and inspiring, presented a new bunch of challenges. One of which was the unpredictability of mountain weather and the consistent threat of rain. Which, when you're working in a water-based medium like acrylics, is really not good for the painting! Fortunately, I have a husband is sympathetic to the creative process as he is an artist/ photographer also.

Go back a couple of years and Scott was shooting this dramatic waterfall in Iceland in crazy winds and rain. I was doing my best to hold the umbrella over his camera gear so he could get the beautiful shot. Now come full circle here in Switzerland and he returned the favor by protecting my painting in the drizzle. Teamwork!!!

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Painting the Swiss Alps with Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

20” X 10” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

What a gorgeous day painting in Switzerland!!! The scenery is so stunning it barely looks real. This was the breathtaking view behind our hotel that I just had to capture. I love the Swiss chalets and those snow-capped mountains that defy gravity. Working with palette knife and thick layers of paint, I set out to recreate that beauty as best I could on a 20" x 10" canvas. I hope you are uplifted and all of your cares melt away gazing into this idyllic spot.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley Plein Air Paints Day Lilies in Asheville, NC

"Blue Ridge Day Lilies" ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 20" x 10" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just Sold! Today I joined the Plein Air Painters of Asheville and Blue Ridge Day Lily Gardens. It was so beautiful! So many rows and rows of gorgeous lily blooms in every color, shape and size, it was hard to settle on which ones to paint. Finally I landed on this beautiful ruby red one with the farmhouse in the background. May you feel uplifted gazing into this gorgeous colorful garden.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Painting on Location in North Carolina with Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

"Nature's Curves" ©2025 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Painted on location in Western North Carolina, I fell in love with this gorgeous tree. Gnarly, voluminous and full of curves, it almost reminded me a beautiful Rubinesque figure! Dappled light illuminated its shape, bringing dimension to life, which I had fun capturing with layers of textured paint and my palette knife. Arching over the river, she greets you with much needed shade for respite on this warm, summer day.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.