Autumn Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Painted Forest" ©2025 Niki Gulley

18" x 24" textured mixed media painting 

on 1.5" wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

I loved this brilliant aspen forest with its bright white aspen trunks slicing through all of the vibrant red and yellow foliage. The patterns of the trees created a sort of rhythm and I focused on the placement of the ivory sentinels, the diagonal purple shadows that they cast and the rustling of the leaves to add to that musical feeling. I hope you, too, can sense the energy and joy of being surrounded by nature as autumn is in full swing.

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

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

 

 

 

New "Casting Shadows" Fall Foliage Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

 

"Casting Shadows" ©2025 Niki Gulley

textured acrylic on canvas

30" x 40” on 1.5″ deep canvas with the painting wrapping around the edges

What a gorgeous day for a drive through the beautiful fall foliage! I hope you can feel the cool breeze and smell the fresh scent of pine and cider in the air. May this one bring joy and energy to your day, as you escape into this autumn wonderland.

If you’d like to see a photo of me painting this one and it’s 3-D texture, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/DCHGx3RRo4n/.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

New "Autumn Brushstrokes" Palette Knife Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

 

 

"Autumn Brushstrokes" © 2025 Niki Gulley

12" x 12" textured acrylic on canvas panel

Can you feel nature's energy as cooling autumn breezes dance through the vibrant foliage? As leaves start to fall, glimpses of the distance peeks and valleys shine through and your journey is illuminated with gorgeous mountain views. Incorporating bold, broad, skipping strokes add to that feeling of joy and rejuvenation while thick, chunky texture brings this sculptural painting to life.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Can you feel nature's energy as cooling autumn breezes dance through the vibrant foliage? As leaves start to fall, glimpses of the distance peeks and valleys shine through and your journey is illuminated with gorgeous mountain views. Incorporating bold, broad, skipping strokes add to that feeling of joy and rejuvenation while thick, chunky texture brings this sculptural painting to life.

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.

***

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. ***