Tuscan Hills and Valleys Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Autumnal Colors IV" ©2026 Niki Gulley 

18" x 24" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

The views in Tuscany are just gorgeous - Straight out of “Under the Tuscan Sun” beauty! Today I was drawn to this villa surrounded by olive trees and jaw-dropping vistas of the valley stretching for miles. The best part of the day was getting to meet the homeowner and her pride that I chose to paint her house! I hope you enjoy the peaceful escape with me.

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.

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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.

New Contemporary Wildflower Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

“Delightful Anticipation" ©2026 Niki Gulley

60" x 30"" textured acrylic painting on wrap around canvas

Moving through the fear of starting a new large project – so exciting and yet intimidating! To help me paint more from my soul and less from my head, I first created an abstract "mess" of color. Then, allowing the canvas to guide me to tell its story and where to place my strokes and colors, the fun began. Truly exhilarating and just a little scary letting go of all control, like magic the landscape starts to emerge. I relish that freedom just playing and the aha moment where you feel everything coming together. After days, weeks, and even months of building layer upon layer of thick, textured paint, your subconscious vision comes to life. The canvas dances with color, sings with energy and my heart feels full. That's when I know it is complete and I can't wait to share that with you so you can get lost in the joy of luscious paint and nature's beauty, too! Filled with so many layers and surprising pops of color all over the canvas, you'll never get bored looking into "Delightful Anticipation" as there is always something new to discover. 

Check out a close-up video of the texture here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUTa4eZiZ6I/.

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For more details on my other wildflower 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 Iceland's Gorgeous Coastline in Palette Knife by Niki Gulley

  

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

Every day when we left our Iceland hotel to explore the country’s other worldly scenery, we would pass this house situated next to the ocean. Nestled between the Atlantic and inland estuaries, I could just imagine what the idyllic views would be like staying there. So today we stopped so I could capture this serene escape, and bring you along with us.    

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! Spaces fill up quickly! 

2026

Iceland
August 3-10, 2026

Only 2 spots left!
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 

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 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.

Strolling through a birch forest painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

"Woodland Stroll" ©2026 Niki Gulley

10" x 20” textured oil painting

Today we continued our counterclockwise adventure around Iceland to arrive in the north, near the massive, impressive Godafoss waterfall. Unfortunately, our weather turned for the worse, and it was way too wet to paint the falls. However, just over the mountain, 20 minutes away at our b and b, the skies were fairly clear with even occasional glimpses of sunshine. I loved these birch trees all over their property, leading you down to the gorgeous view of the mountains in the distance. Sprinkled with summer wildflowers, I set out to capture the light casting long shadows from the trunks and causing the grasses to glow in the foreground, leading to a feeling of joy and serenity in this beautiful spot.

Close up texture detail of Woodland Stroll: 

If you'd like to own "Woodland Stroll," please visit https://www.nikigulley.com/woodland-stroll/.

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If you're interested in joining us on our upcoming Art Trek to Iceland this August, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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

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

  

Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

“Brushes with Blue" ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 30" x 48"" textured acrylic painting on wrap around canvas

Just sold through the Good Art Company Gallery! I am so ready for spring! I keep dreaming about the bumper crop of bluebonnets the forecasters are predicting this year. But why wait? That is the beauty of being an artist. I can bring us the glee of springtime right now. Painting these Texas wildflowers larger than life, I wanted them to leap off the canvas, bringing joy and energy to your home. I built up so many layers in this one so that there is a richness in depth, a little mystery and various hidden surprises so that every time you gaze at it you see something new. Happy spring!

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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.

"Meandering Meadow" Painting Bursting with Colorful Wildflowers by Niki Gulley

"Meandering Meadow" ©2026 Niki Gulley

16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

I'm having so much fun painting in Asheville's certified pollinator habitat - surrounded by actual wildflowers while painting wildflowers! The purple spires you see dancing in the foreground are the real deal, keeping me company while I work.

This piece is all about capturing that feeling of wandering through a summer meadow where every color of the rainbow seems to be blooming at once. My palette knife allows me to build up those chunky, textured strokes that make the flowers feel dimensional and alive. I love how the painting evolves as I work - sometimes a stroke of yellow becomes a sunflower, sometimes purple becomes a spike of salvia.

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.

  

Plein Air Painting Texas Bluebonnets and Wildflowers with Niki Gulley

 

“Springtime at the Lake" ©2026 Niki Gulley

12" x 16" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Recently I found this prolific patch of bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush at Lake Bardwell in Ennis, TX, and I had to capture all of those beautiful blooms before they were gone. This morning started out slightly overcast, and the sun kept peeking in and out of the clouds, creating a soft glow to everything it touched. I wanted to capture that magical light illuminating the lake and accentuating the rows of wildflowers along the hill. It was such a peaceful spot and I wanted that emotion to come through, too. I hope you can feel the joy and tranquility of springtime with the wildflowers abloom in the Texas!

For more details on "Springtime at the Lake" and my other bluebonnet 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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To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my palette floral paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.