"Texas Twist" Whimsical Live Oak Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

 

“Texas Twist” ©2026 Niki Gulley

48" x 24" Textured Acrylic on Canvas

I am fascinated by our Texas live oaks. Their gnarly, tangled branches are unlike other trees and tell such a story of their life – twists, turns and all. Standing tall and branching wide, they offer shelter and respite from the hot Texas sun and grow where few other sentinels can survive such drought conditions. Their deep, etched bark gave me the perfect opportunity to play with color and texture. Add in the whimsical swirling sk and you get a modern take on Van Gogh!

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more details on this live oak piece.

Texas Bluebonnet Landscape by Contemporary Impressionistic Niki Gulley

   

“Harmonic Refrain" ©2026 Niki Gulley

48" x 60" textured acrylic painting on wrap around canvas

My labor of love these past two months! With the canvas as wide as I am tall, and so many ups and downs my step ladder painting it, this one was quite the workout. But, it was important for me to completely immerse you in the energy found amongst nature. This painting is best seen in person so that you can step into this life-size canvas and feel our' landscape's beauty yourself.

I made sure to not over blend my thick strokes so that you could see the marks and feel the vivacity found in nature. Repeating patterns and waves of color create a harmony within the painting. Rendering the wildflowers along with their surroundings loosely plays with taking a traditional subject matter and putting a new twist on it.  Surprising pops of color invite your eyes to dance around the canvas, feeling the excitement of the moment. Voluminous and dramatic clouds surround your journey into this uplifting harmonic expression of joy and hope.

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

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

Plein Air Painting in Iceland with Artist Niki Gulley

    

"Relaxing View" 9" x 12” textured acrylic painting on panel by Niki Gulley

Today the painters in our Art Treks group stayed right on the beautiful grounds of our hotel to paint the dramatic scenery. Meanwhile, our photographers and tourists went off exploring. We had the day all to ourselves with the exception of the curious hotel staff, who loved our paintings so much, they featured us on their Instagram page!

For our second painting that day, I chose this relaxing view from our patio. The Atlantic sits in the distance and the two chairs invite you to have a seat, take in nature's beauty and leave all of your worries behind.

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

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

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 NikiGulley.com

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If you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks! We have just a couple of spots for Iceland this August.

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only a couple of spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

September 26 - October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-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. 

Tuscany Foodie Trek Sadly Concludes with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

20" x 10" textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley

Day 7, Pienza:  TUSCANY FOODIE TREK

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

SOLD! On the last day of our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we explored nearby Pienza to enjoy its picturesque alleyways and amazing views of the valleys below. Having been home to Pope Pius II, the town is filled with interesting historical sites, great shopping, delicious lunch spots and plenty of inspirational scenery to paint. From one of the overlooks, I chose this beautiful vineyard perched above the rolling hills for my subject. Diagonally planted grapevines lead your eye to the quintessential Tuscan farmhouse, surrounded by cypress and jaw-dropping views. May this one transport you to this magical place!

We capped the night off with an amazing Michelin dinner surrounded by new friends and drifted off to sleep, full, happy and at peace.

Making pasta memories!

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For more details on my other Tuscany 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 a couple of spots open up for our trip this September. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Spaces fill up quickly! 

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 1 spot left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

September 26 - October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-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.

Last Day of Our Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Viking Village" 9" x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 7 - Kirkjufell

We completed our Iceland Art Trek that we taught on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with its other worldly scenery. Our last stop was Kirkjufell, the cone shaped “church” mountain and its waterfall on the north side of the peninsula, and also the most photographed spot in Iceland. We had just enough time while the photographers were capturing its beauty to start one last painting. Everyone chose a different subject today, and I focused in on this cute town across the bay. Dramatic clouds caused the village to glow against the shadowed mountain, and I had fun playing with shapes and light with my palette knife.

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

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

***

If you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks! We have just a couple of spots for Iceland this August.

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only a couple of spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

September 26 - October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-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 in Iceland with Niki Gulley

20" x 10” textured acrylic painting on panel by Niki Gulley

Another quaint house in this idyllic Icelandic landscape. Another challenging painting day in 40 mph winds! And yet another painting created from the rental car’s front seat. Are you picking up a trend??? I really did love their picturesque front yard, the beautiful golden afternoon light, and how flattered the home owner was that I was capturing his house!

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

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

***

 NikiGulley.com

 

***

If you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks! We have just a couple of spots for Iceland this August.

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only a couple of spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

September 26 - October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-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 Waterfall Painting by Niki Gulley

"Cascading" 20" x 10" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

So many waterfalls, so little time! The weather dried out, warmed up and the “breeze” calmed down in Iceland today. Yeah!!! I was in my element getting to paint this amazing 500 foot tall, mult-tiered cascade. I hope you, too, can feel the joy, peace and energy of this beautiful location.

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

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

***

If you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing Art Treks! We have just a couple of spots for Iceland this August.

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only a couple of spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

September 26 - October 3, 2026

Only a couple spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026

Only 4 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-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.