Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains by Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

 

     

"Fall's Spectrum" ©2025 Niki Gulley

24" x 30" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Here is Asheville, NC in all of its peak autumn glory the last week of October. Of course, one of the challenges of plein-air painting is you never know what is going to change in the scene you are capturing. For instance, our neighbors at our campsite chose to park their black sedan right here in the middle of our picturesque view. Oh, well! The scenery beyond was still beautiful and I was able to take some photos on my camera to finish this one up at home. It also gave us a good excuse to take a scooter ride on that beautiful 70 degree day and check out the picturesque nature trails in the North Carolina Arboretum. Not a bad way to finish up our immersive autumn trip!

 

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For more information on my textured palette knife paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

Painting in Cascais with Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

 

©2024 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 8" x 6" textured acrylic painting on panel

Portugal Art Trek: 

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 7 - Cascais

At the end of our trip, we stayed right at our home base town, Cascais. The Atlantic Ocean hugs its coastline, and there is a great walking trail all along the city. After finishing taking in the beautiful scenery along the water, we wandered the maze of tiled streets throughout town, soaking in the architecture and energy.

Here is just one of the beautiful views from everyone’s balcony on our Portugal Art Trek. I’ve always loved lighthouses so I had to capture this blue and white one as late day light caused it to pop against the blue ocean.

We finished the night with a delicious dinner of Portuguese tapas. A great way to end the trip!

View from our hotel

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Portugal painting series.

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Next year, we'll be returning to Cinque Terre with an exciting new Art Trek! If you're interested in joining us there or one one of our other workshops, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for Artists, Foodies and Travelers Led by Scott Willams and Niki Gulley 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! Iceland Art Trek Aug. 3-10, 2026 https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-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. ***

"Morning in Paradise" Palette Knife Seashore painting by Niki Gulley

 

"Morning in Paradise" ©2025 Niki Gulley

9" x 12" textured oil painting

I wanted this painting to be about the power of the ocean to lift your spirits. Painting this piece on location, I strove to capture the sparkle the sun cast across the turquoise waters as it slowly rose above the horizon. Creating bobbing diamonds of sparkling light across the surface was truly mesmerizing to watch.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Or e-mail me for more information at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

***

Next year, we'll be returning to Cinque Terre with an exciting new Art Trek! If you're interested in joining us there or one one of our other workshops, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for Artists, Foodies and Travelers Led by Scott Willams and Niki Gulley 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! Iceland Art Trek Aug. 3-10, 2026 https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-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. ***

Cinque Terre Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

"Italian Riviera" ©2025 Niki Gulley

40" x 30" oil painting on canvas 

Day 2, Riomaggiore: CINQUE TERRE

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the second day of our plein-air painting and photography workshop in Cinque Terre, Italy, the sun was shining and we rode the train to the southern-most city of Riomaggiore. Setting up our easels right near the water, we enjoyed the cathartic sounds of the waves crashing against the rocky shore as we painted. I chose this view looking back at the intricate puzzle of stacked houses lining the hills while some of my students chose to paint the rocky cliffs and ocean surf. What an amazing, gorgeous, inspiring day!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

***

Next year, we'll be returning to Cinque Terre with an exciting new Art Trek! If you're interested in joining us there or one one of our other workshops, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for Artists, Foodies and Travelers Led by Scott Willams and Niki Gulley 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! Iceland Art Trek Aug. 3-10, 2026 https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-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. ***

Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley Paints the Italian Riviera

Corniglia ©2025 Niki Gulley

9" x 12" Textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

My husband  and I are so excited to be leading an Art Trek (i.e. a plein air painting and photography workshop) to Cinque Terre, Italy next year. This string of 5 centuries-old seaside villages line the Italian Riviera coastline, dotted by colorful houses and vineyards that cling to steep cliffs. The harbors are filled with fishing boats and restaurants that serve the freshest seafood specialties along with delicious pesto pasta. An awe-inspiring hiking trail links the villages and offers sweeping sea vistas.  So, today I set up along that trail with my easel to capture this beautiful view the picturesque hill town, Corniglia, perched high about the cove.

Voluminous clouds danced by as peaceful waters lapped along the shore. Sprinkle in some vibrant wildflowers and this made for a perfect, uplifting, serene afternoon! May you enjoy the escape with me!

***

For more details on my other European paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

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!

Iceland Art Trek
Aug. 3-10, 2026

https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-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.

Painting Cinque Terre with Artist Niki Gulley

  

Vernazza ©2025 Niki Gulley

9" x 12" Textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

After my husband, Scott Williams, and I completed our research for our Art Trek we'll be leading next year to Cinque Terre, Italy, we had a little extra time to paint and photograph. So, today I set up my easel near the beautiful Vernazza harbor to capture the soft morning light. Listening to the ocean waves lapping on the shore was so cathartic and I love the colorful village across the way. If only we painted our houses that vibrantly in the U.S.! I hope you, too, are transported to this peaceful, uplifting setting.

***

For more details on my other European paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

***

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!

Iceland Art Trek
Aug. 3-10, 2026

https://www.arttreks.org/iceland-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.

Colorful Sunflower Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

    

SOLD • ©2025 Niki Gulley

16" x 16" textured mixed media painting on canvas • framed in espresso

I love how this one turned out – the colors just explode creating a visual symphony of hues that resonates into one huge smile.

May these new square textured paintings bring joy, color and energy to your day! Designed to lift your spirits and add a burst of brightness to your walls, these wildflower abstractions allow your imagination to wander and fill in your own story. These paintings look great hung alone or in a grouping. 

For details on more of my poppy, bluebonnet and sunflower paintings in this series, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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If you'd like to see this painting and more of my contemporary florals and palette knife landscape paintings, please stop by my exhibit at at Richardson's Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend.

Cottonwood Art Festival 

Sat. May 3 • 10am – 7pm

Sun. May 4 • 10am – 5pm 

Cottonwood Park • 1321 W. Beltline Rd. Richardson, TX 

cottonwoodartfestival.com

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