Summer Aspens oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Summer Aspens" ©2010 Niki Gulley

12" x 12" oil on canvas

I painted these summer aspen trees with palette knife and extremely thick paint. I love how the chunky paint adds to the texture of the bark and the movement in the leaves, and how the painting continues around the edges of the wrap around canvas for a sculptural-like frameless piece of art.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more or

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Texas Bluebonnets oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Rhapsody in Bloom V" ©2010 Niki Gulley

12" x 12" oil painting

These Texas bluebonnets and Indian Blanket are painted with extremely thick oil paint applied with palette knife on wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges. I love how the extreme texture causes the paint and colors to jump off the canvas and come to life.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more or

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Sunflower oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Rhapsody in Bloom" ©2010 Niki Gulley
Oil painting • 12” x 12”

These sunflowers were painted from a gorgeous bouquet in my studio with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife. I love the contrast in the colors and how the texture of the paint causes them to leap off the canvas and come to life.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com to see more paintings or

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

Texas Bluebonnets oil painting by Niki Gulley

Texas Bluebonnets oil painting by Niki Gulley

7" x 5"

I created this bluebonnet painting with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint,

up to 1/4" in thickness. I love the texture and how these wildflowers leap off the canvas and really come to life.

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

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com

Bluebonnet oil painting by Niki Gulley

Texas Bluebonnets & Indian Paintbrush oil painting by Niki Gulley

7" x 5"

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

My Website - NikiGulley.com

Sunflower oil painting by Niki Gulley

Sunflower study by Niki Gulley

5" x 7" oil painting

Created with palette knife and extremely thick paint.

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

Or, visit my website at - NikiGulley.com

Idyllic Village oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Idyllic Village,” Austria ©2010 Niki Gulley

8” x 10” oil painting

After teaching our plein air painting / photography workshop in Venice, my husband and I ventured north into Austria and Bavaria, the land of castles and fairytale villages. We found this sleepy little town south of Salzburg and I fell in love with its beauty and charm, and I just had to paint it!

To see “Idyllic Village” and my other recent paintings stop by my studio in Dallas as part of the White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour - Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the Studio Tour, see WhiteRockArtists.com.

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

My Website - NikiGulley.com

White Rock Lake Artists' Studio Tour - Oct. 16 & 17

"Long Shadows," Tuscany ©2010 Niki Gulley

8" x 10" pastel

After a delicious lunch of prosciutto and pecorinos on day three of our painting / photography workshop in Tuscany, we decided to venture into the countryside and paint this lone clump of cypress trees. With the simpler subject (and maybe a little Chianti at lunch!), everyone could relax and play, having fun pushing their colors and experimenting with their strokes. I liked how the late afternoon sun was casting such long dramatic shadows on the ground and I decide to accentuate the cool blues and violets I saw in the darks to contrast with the gold rolling hills.

If you’ve dreamt about painting in Tuscany, join us for our next Plein Air Painting Workshop in Sept. 2011. Visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

To see my paintings, my husband’s (Scott Williams’) photographs, and our students’ creations from this year’s Venice & Tuscany painting and photography classes, stop by our “From Pasta to Schnitzel” art party Friday night at our studio in Dallas or the check out the White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the Studio Tour, see WhiteRockArtists.com.

My Website - NikiGulley.com

Tuscany Plein Air Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley

“Chasing the Light” ©2010 Niki Gulley
8” x 10” oil painting

We just got back from teaching our plein air painting / photography workshop in Tuscany, and everyone had a fabulous time! Of course it would be hard not to when immersed in such beautiful scenery – gorgeous rolling hills that stretch for miles and mysteriously change shapes from the Tuscan sun light. I painted this piece right outside the front door of our villa, which was surrounded by amazing 360 degree views of the valleys and distant hill towns. Truly beautiful! With the constantly moving clouds causing the light to change minute to minute, our challenge was to paint the scene quickly and yet capture the mood created by the soft dramatic morning light.

If you’d like to see my recent Italian inspired landscapes, along with my students’ work, stop by my studio as part of the White Rock Artists’ Studio Tour this weekend in Dallas. WhiteRockArtists.com

If you’d like more information on our next painting / photography workshop in Greece this May or Tuscany September 2011, visit my website at

nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information

or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

www.NikiGulley.com

Moment of Reflection pastel by Niki Gulley

“Moment of Reflection” ©2010 Niki Gulley

Pastel • 24” x 36”

When we visited London, it rained pretty much all day every day but somehow that added to the experience and was actually quite beautiful at night when the city lights reflected off the wet cobbled streets. A few raindrops never slow the English down, so in “Moment of Reflection,” I wanted to capture that energy of the moving masses and I liked how that contrasted against the one non-mobile person on the corner. What are they waiting for or thinking about? I their contemplative state adds to the mystery and magic of the moment.

To see “Moment of Reflection” in person, stop by the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston this weekend. I’ll be displaying my latest paintings and night scenes at booth #480 – on Walker St. between Bagby & Smith Streets facing City Hall. See BayouCityArtFestival.com for more information.

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

NikiGulley.com

Table for Two pastel by Niki Gulley

“Table for Two” by Niki Gulley

Pastel • 24” x 36”

My husband and I honeymooned in Greece and fell in love with the island of Santorini. It has to be one of the most romantic spots we’ve ever seen. The views from the top of the caldera were absolutely stunning with the blue Aegean below, and the white-washed stacked architecture is truly unique. We easily segued into the the relaxed laissez faire Greek pace after a day or two and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the moment, dining seaside on delicious Mediterranean food and watching the sun set on the distant horizon.

If you’d like to join us next May on our Painting / Photography workshop in Greece, visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more information. Or, closer to home I also teach in Dallas, with the next set of classes starting in January 2011. If you’d like more details, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

If you’re in Houston, TX this weekend, please stop by the Bayou City Art Festival to and my pastels in person. I’ll be displaying my work at booth #480 - on Walker St. between Bagby & Smith Streets facing City Hall. See BayouCityArtFestival.com for more information.

NikiGulley.com

Bayou City Art Festival - Houston, TX - Oct. 9 & 10

“Bon Appetito” ©2010 Niki Gulley Pastel 24” x 36”

On my second trip to Europe, my husband wanted to take me to Venice since it was one of his favorite cities, and I fell in love with almost everything about it. The timeless quality created by living on canals free of cars, the history in the architecture and even the cobbled walkways, the beauty of the scenery and the magical quality created by the light to name just a few of my favorite things. I love how food and meals play such an important role in Italian culture – a time to slow down and enjoy friendships while savoring the local grown cuisine and wines over the course of the evening. In this pastel I wanted to communicate all of those joyful feelings in addition to capturing the energy and romance of the city at night. Bon Appetito!

If you’re in Houston, TX this weekend, please stop by the Bayou City Art Festival to see Bon Appetito and my other recent pastels. I’ll be displaying my work at booth #480C - on Walker St. between Bagby & Smith Streets facing City Hall. See BayouCityArtFestival.com for more information.

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

NikiGulley.com

Moment of Reflection oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Moment of Reflection" ©2010 Niki Gulley

24" x 18" oil on canvas

This is another one of my favorite spots in Dallas. Once you climb down the creek’s banks, you’re treated to the peaceful trickling sounds of the gently moving water and you’re surrounded by a canopy of trees, completely eliminating all signs of traffic and city life above. This location reminds me so much of the woods I’d hike through with my parents as a kid on a beautiful, crisp autumn day and all of those happy memories come flowing back. In “Moment of Reflection,” I wanted to share that joy and calm I feel being surrounded by nature.

To see this painting and my latest work in person, visit my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, TX this weekend, CottonwoodArtFestival.com.

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

Visit my website at - NikiGulley.com