"Gondola Ride II" Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

   

"Gondola Ride II," Venice ©2024 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" oil painting

SOLD!

I painted this piece on location during our Art Trek we taught in Venice while their infamous Carnival celebration was taking place. Since St. Mark's Square can get overrun with tourists, we chose to set up our easels along a side street to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the city. I love the magical light that comes flooding in through the canals and is so distinctive of Venice. The simple brick bridge and the one yellow building in the distance sets a perfect backdrop to the gondolier rowing his enchanted passengers through the romantic back canals.

To see more of my travel paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

***

We are excited to announce a new Art Trek for next year, where you will feel like you've stepped into a different time and world, like right out of a movie set. We're elated to be returning to Venice, Italy in February 2026 for the costumed fantasy that occurs during Carnival. We're already about half full, so let us know if you'd like to come along. 

And, while our Switzerland Trek is completely booked this month, we actually have 2 spots open in our Tuscany Foodie Trek this coming September. Always everyone's favorite trip, please let us know if you would like to join us on that delicious gastronomic journey!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.

"Venetian Reflections" Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

   

"Venetian Reflections" Venice ©2025 Niki Gulley

8" x 10" textured oil painting on panel

Inspired by a trip to Venice right after a heavy rain, St. Mark's Square was flooded under a foot of water. Amazingly, business went on as usual and residents donned their knee high goulashes and continued to prepare for the day. The water actually created beautiful reflections and I had to capture that shimmering morning light contrasted against these vibrant red café chairs.

To see more of my travel paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Or, E-mail Niki Gulley for more details.

***

***

We are excited to announce a new Art Trek for next year, where you will feel like you've stepped into a different time and world, like right out of a movie set. We're elated to be returning to Venice, Italy in February 2026 for the costumed fantasy that occurs during Carnival. We're already about half full, so let us know if you'd like to come along. 

And, while our Switzerland Trek is completely booked this month, we actually have 2 spots open in our Tuscany Foodie Trek this coming September. Always everyone's favorite trip, please let us know if you would like to join us on that delicious gastronomic journey!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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 in Venice with Painting Teacher Niki Gulley

  

"Laundry Day IV" Burano ©2025 Niki Gulley

5" x 7" textured oil painting on panel

On the second day of our Venice Art Trek, we headed to the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is known as a fishing community (and for the homemade lace that they make there), and to help the fisherman find their houses while coming back from sea, they painted their homes every color of the rainbow. With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it's hard to pick a single subject matter! We were drawn to this quiet location, however, and the vibrant yellow stucco wall with that morning's laundry being hung out to dry and the bicycle waiting for a ride. Today I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.

www.NikiGulley.com

E-mail - Niki Gulley

***

We are excited to announce a new Art Trek for next year, where you will feel like you've stepped into a different time and world, like right out of a movie set. We're elated to be returning to Venice, Italy in February 2026 for the costumed fantasy that occurs during Carnival. We're already about half full, so let us know if you'd like to come along. 

And, while our Switzerland Trek is completely booked this month, we actually have 2 spots open in our Tuscany Foodie Trek this coming September. Always everyone's favorite trip, please let us know if you would like to join us on that delicious gastronomic journey!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.

***

"Laundry Day II" Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Laundry Day II" ©2025 Niki Gulley

5" x 7" textured oil painting on panel

I had to capture this laundry drying with a cool morning breeze set against a peeling paint backdrop in the back canals of Venice. Dramatic lighting made the sheets glow in the morning sun. I love the rich colors Europeans paint their houses!

We are excited to announce a new Art Trek for next year, where you will feel like you've stepped into a different time and world, like right out of a movie set. We're elated to be returning to Venice, Italy in February 2026 for the costumed fantasy that occurs during Carnival. We're already about half full, so let us know if you'd like to come along. 

And, while our Switzerland Trek is completely booked this month, we actually have 2 spots open in our Tuscany Foodie Trek this coming September. Always everyone's favorite trip, please let us know if you would like to join us on that delicious gastronomic journey!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.

__________________________________

 NikiGulley.com

E-mail - Niki Gulley

Visiting Siena, Italy - Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Passageway," Siena ©2025 Niki Gulley

7" x 5" oil painting on panel

Day 3:  TUSCANY ART TREK - Siena

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

On the fourth day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we visited the Medieval hill town of Siena, with its incredible marble Duomo, great people-watching plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the campo with something new to discover around every turn. While some of our group shopped, some photographed and others relaxed on the square, I set up in one of the quiet cobble streets to capture the textures of these ancient walls and mood of this unique city. For dinner that night, we treated ourselves to a delicious home-made Italian meal of pastas, truffles, pecorino cheese and some amazing red wine!

That night we had a Tuscan chef prepare us an amazing 7 course meal at the villa - Buon Appetito!

 NikiGulley.com

E-mail Niki Gulley

•••

Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you're in luck if you've always wanted to go! We've had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2025. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.

Dining al Fresco in Tuscany with Impressionist Landscape Painter Niki Gulley

"Picnic Under the Pine"

20" x 10" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

by Niki Gulley 

SOLD 

I loved this antique table set up underneath the shade of this gnarly umbrella pine in Tuscany. The setting was so warm and inviting – we just wanted to have a lovely picnic there. Throw in a bottle of wine and you have the perfect backdrop for a relaxing lunch!

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

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

•••

Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you're in luck if you've always wanted to go! We've had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2025. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.

Palette Knife Painting of the Piazza in Siena, Italy by Niki Gulley

"Piazza" Siena, Italy ©2025 Niki Gulley

7" x 5" textured oil painting on panel

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon in Siena, is to just sit in the Piazza and paint from different vantage points. Studying the architecture and experiencing the buzzing energy as residents co-mingle with tourists in the square is so fun to witness!

E-mail Niki Gulley.

 NikiGulley.com

•••

Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you're in luck if you've always wanted to go! We've had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2025. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek Trek 
September 27 - October 4, 2025
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2025/

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026
Early Registration Deadline for $600 savings - Aug. 9th

https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 6 spots left!
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.