Azure Dreams oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Azure Dreams” ©2010 Niki Gulley

30” x 40” oil painting

When I painted Azure Dreams, I wanted you to feel like you’d just stepped into a fairytale. Loosely based on the castles and gardens we visited in England, I was awestruck by the size, scope and lushness of their gorgeous gardens – something I can’t achieve in my own wilting backyard in Texas thanks to our heat and drought. So with hope and longing, I painted this idyllic lily pond that you can escape to, enjoy the cool spring air and get lost in the beauty of this tranquil place.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

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

Transitional Tones IV oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones III” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil painting

I created these aspen trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and dimension. I love how the bright colors pop and brighten up any room, and how the strokes contain so much movement and energy. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky aspen paintings look great in pairs or threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings

or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions.

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Transitional Tones III oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones III” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil painting

I created these aspen trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and dimension. I love how the bright colors pop and brighten up any room, and how the strokes contain so much movement and energy. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky aspen paintings look great in pairs or threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings or visit my booth at the Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend in Evanston, IL to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For details on the show, go to chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions or comments.

NikiGulley.com

Spinning through Time by Niki Gulley

"Spinning through Time" ©2010 Niki Gulley

36" x 60" oil on canvas

In "Spinning through Time," I wanted you to escape from the heat of summer and life's day to day responsibilities and enjoy a peaceful lake retreat. I purposely chose cool colors to add to this feeling of tranquility and I liked how the arrangement of the trees framed the lake in almost a circular pattern, suggesting the cyclical flow of nature. Soothing waters and being immersed in natural surroundings can have such a cathartic effect, and I hope you experience that relaxing moment in "Spinning through Time."

I'll be exhibiting this painting and several of my other new chunky oil paintings at Evanston's Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend. If you're in the Chicago area, I hope you can stop by the show. For more information, see chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Transitional Tones II oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones II” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil painting

I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings or visit my art booth at the Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend in Evanston, IL to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For details on the show, go to chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions or comments.

NikiGulley.com

Transitional Tones oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil painting

I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.

See NikiGulley.com for companion paintings or visit my art booth at the Stone Arch Art Festival in Minneapolis this weekend to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For details, go to StoneArchFestival.com.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions or comments.

Natural Rhythms oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Natural Rhythms" ©2010 Niki Gulley

36" x 48" oil painting

I find being immersed in nature can have such an uplifting effect, and I wanted to share that feeling with you in Natural Rhythms so I chose pure, intense colors to create a vibrant autumn scene that just makes you feel happy and alive when you look at it. The repetition in the birch trunks and fallen leaves, combined with the flickering sounds of the breeze rustling the foliage reminded me of a symphony in the forest so I titled this painting Natural Rhythms.

If you’re in the Minneapolis area this weekend, visit my art booth at the Stone Arch Art Festival. See StoneArchFestival.com for details on the art show.

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

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Zen Garden oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Zen Garden" ©2010 Niki Gulley

10" x 8" oil painting

Having grown up in Chicago, this painting is inspired by the Japanese Garden at the Chicago Botanic Gardens since I've always loved their grounds ever since I was a little kid. In fact, I painted this piece from a photo I took in high school and have held onto all of these years! I thought it would be fun to paint the scene in thick oil with palette knives. I especially like how the broken color strokes on the water make it look like its surface is shimmering in the sun.

To purchase Zen Garden, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Or, if you're in the Chicago area, stop by my booth at Evanston's Fountain Square Art Festival June 26th & 27th, chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

NikiGulley.com

Nightfall III, Chicago pastel by Niki Gulley

"Nightfall III," Chicago ©2010 Niki Gulley

10" x 8" pastel

In contrast to the ghost town downtown Dallas can sometimes be at night, I love the energy pulsing through downtown Chicago, especially near Michigan Avenue. Besides the excitement in all of the activity, I like how everything is illuminated and the way the lights sparkle. In Nightfall III, I wanted to contrast the deep purple I saw in the John Hancock building against the glowing Water Tower in front of it, and am pleased with the dreamy effect.

To view this pastel in person, visit my booth at the Wells Street Art Show in Chicago this weekend. See chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141 for more information.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

NikiGulley.com

Nightfall II, Chicago pastel by Niki Gulley

"Nightfall II," Chicago ©2010 Niki Gulley

10" x 8" pastel

I wanted to paint a Chicago landmark in a unique way, so I chose this photo of mine to work from of Buckingham Fountain at night. I love how the lights after dark create a dreamy, romantic feel to most scenes, especially when reflecting on water. I remember hearing the symphony in the background synchronizing with the lights on the fountain and creating such a magical night.

To purchase this painting, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Or, stop by my booth at the Wells Street Art Show in Chicago this weekend to see it in person, chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

Twilight Sail, Chicago pastel by Niki Gulley

"Twilight Sail" ©2010 Niki Gulley

pastel • 8" x 10"

The idea for Twilight Sail came from taking a river boat cruise on Lake Michigan just as the sun was starting to set behind the Chicago skyline. The buildings became slightly silouetted and the sunlight created a beautiful shimmer on the water's surface that I had to capture.

If you'd like to see this pastel in person and you're in Chicago this weekend, stop by my booth at the Wells Street Art Festival, chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141.

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

NikiGulley.com

Autumn Birch Study II by Niki Gulley

7" x 5" oil by Niki Gulley

This autumn birch study is painted with extremely thick oil paint and a palette knife. I like how the staccato strokes add to the sense of movement in the leaves and grasses, and even makes it feel like the forest is dancing with life.

To purchase this painting, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Autumn Birch Study by Niki Gulley

7" x 5" oil by Niki Gulley

I painted this fall birch study with extremely thick oil paint and a palette knife. I love the movement in the strokes which contribute to the feeling of the leaves blowing in the breeze and the energy found in nature.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

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

Birch tree oil painting by Niki Gulley

Birch trees oil painting by Niki Gulley • 5" x 7"

This birch tree study was painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

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