Wednesday, June 29, 2011

"Dancing on Water" textured water lilies oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Dancing on Water” © 2011 Niki Gulley
36” x 60” • textured oil on wrap around canvas

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water, diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface;
water lilies lift their faces toward the sky. Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage while azure heavens reflect in the water. Placing the lilies in arcing patterns and staggering where they are floating about, adds to the flow and energy in the moment, and gives you the sense that they are gently dancing on water.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.




Monday, June 27, 2011

"Bountiful Bulbs" textured tulip oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Bountiful Bulbs” ©2011 Niki Gulley
Textured oil on wrap around canvas • 18” x 48”

Sometimes I like to paint places that I dream about and hope to one day experience, as is the case in “Bountiful Bulbs.” The tulip farms that I’ve seen in photos look so magnificent with their perfect vibrant rows of color combined with hearing my friends’ descriptions of seeing the overwhelming explosion of blooms both inspire me to paint a strawberry-and-lemon-lollipop-dipped world where all of your cares melt away.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my textured floral and contemporary landscape paintings.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Textured Poppy painting by Niki Gulley

“Dreams Revisted” ©2011 Niki Gulley
36” x 48” textured acrylic on canvas

In this painting I wanted to create a dream-like feeling using one of my favorite flowers, the poppy, so I chose to paint this landscape at dusk as the sun is starting to set over the distant hills to add to that mood. I love the wildflower masses in the foreground creating waves of color, and the curving shapes adding to the sense of tranquility. I was mesmerized what the cinematography in the movie “What Dreams May Come” and my painting reminded me a little of those magical graphics, so I decided to title my piece the same.

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

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Textured Aspen Trees oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Autumn Splendor” ©2011 Niki Gulley
36” x 48” textured oil on wrap around canvas

Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, silver and gold with each light breeze.

There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, clean bright skies overhead, a band of slender straight trucks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling tumble of green, crimson and gold.

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

Monday, June 20, 2011

"Notes a Flutter" New aspen tree oil painting by Niki Gulley


“Notes a Flutter” ©2011 Niki Gulley
24” x 18” traditional oil in Espresso Frame with Inner Gold Trim

Colorado’s celebrated quaking aspen trees stand arrow straight in the valleys and
up and down the hills.
Slim white trunks sing out against the forest background and each leaf provides
a sparkling symphony of notes whispering through the mountains.
Flames of yellow leaves flicker against autumn’s burning reds
and the deep, cool blue mountain streaked with early banks of snow.
This painting captures the breathtaking colors of
Colorado in the fall, the Aspens at their most beautiful, the peaceful snow-banked mountain, the rustling murmur and musical sigh of the fluttering leaves.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

Friday, June 17, 2011

"Long Shadows" oil painting by Niki Gulley at White Rock Lake, Dallas


“Long Shadows” White Rock Lake ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” oil on canvas

Sunset draws lengthening shadows across the grassy waters edge at Sunset Bay, White Rock. The lake shimmers in the evening glow as sky high above fills with deep blues and before you the soft, moody colors stretch out, long lines beckoning you into the complex diagonal composition. Rich texture models the leaves, branches and tree trunk rimmed in the sunset and shadow. Vivid masses of color form the foliage on the opposite bank, fall at its peak. The long cast shadows draw you into the tranquil landscape and the peaceful, dreamy sunset at
White Rock Lake.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.




Wednesday, June 15, 2011

"Turtle Creek Morning" oil painting by Niki Gulley


“Turtle Creek Morning” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” oil on wrap around canvas

Early on a fall morning the sun breaks softly, dreamlike, through leafy branches and casts early autumn’s golden palette across the creek. Silent water is ruffled by a gentle breeze. Arching over, bending into the quiet waters, a tree is mirrored encompassing, embracing –this painting captures the dreamy reflections and tranquil landscape of one of my favorite spots to paint near my home. It is painted in the traditional plein air oil manner, incorporating some heavy texture.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

Monday, June 13, 2011

"Cascading Rhythms" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley


“Cascading Rhythms” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” textured oil on canvas

Water pounds its way down the falls: cascading, rushing, charging into the riverbed -- flowing over rocks, swiftly moving forward. Untamed, the water finds its way over, under, around the boulder-strewn river. Tumbling waters drive up mists above the falls, the rhythmic sounds create a soothing harmony below. Autumn’s low light casts long lines through the Aspen trees and glowing verge.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

Friday, June 10, 2011

"Choices Await" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley of White Rock Lake

“Choices Await” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” textured oil on wrap around canvas

Every day brings a choice – where should you go? Which path should you take? Life awaits you and this artwork says that you have everything before you: your “Choices Await” you. This masterful V shaped composition pulls you into the painting of still waters, reflected reeds and trees creating a sense of calm and meditation. Bring home this beautiful memory of White Rock Lake and each day it will challenge you to be bold, be decisive.

To see the contemplative "Choices Await" and more of Niki Gulley’s textured palette knife oil paintings in person, please stop by her booth at Wells Street Art Show.

Saturday June 10 from 11 am to 8 pm and
Sunday June 11 from noon to 6 pm.
Chicago, IL • On N. Wells St., between North Ave. & Division
Booth #118 & 120

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

"Vertical Aspirations" New textured aspen oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Vertical Aspirations” ©2011 Niki Gulley
48” x 36” textured oil on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a crystal blue sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, both add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

To see Vertical Aspirations and more of Niki Gulley’s textured aspen and birch oil paintings, visit her booth, #120, at the Wells Street Art Show this weekend in downtown Chicago.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

Monday, June 6, 2011

"Rushing Desires" New textured waterfall oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Rushing Desires” ©2011 Niki Gulley
60” x 36” textured oil on canvas

Charging down its stone cut course, torrents of water rush through grey boulders past green and gold bracken. Headlong and unrestrained the waters crash downstream, while above they splash into the airy distance a glowing, hazy tiara of misty sunlight. Thick brushstrokes of radiant oils define the powerful landscape carrying your eye through a complex composition of dynamic diagonals cleaved with the vertical cascade, caressed with a delicate crossing of gold dusted branches. A painting of power and energy balanced by graceful strokes of beauty, I wanted “Rushing Desires” to be about texture, movement, mystery and the cathartic feeling in nature.

To see Rushing Desires and more of Niki Gulley’s textured oil paintings, visit her booth, #120, at the Wells Street Art Show this weekend in downtown Chicago.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.




Friday, June 3, 2011

Last Day to Sign Up for Painting / Photo Workshop in Santa Fe, NM

"Outskirts of Santa Fe" ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 8” x 16” oil on board

Painted with thick oil paint and palette knives, I wanted to capture the craggy mountains and dense sage brush indicative of the unique New Mexico landscape.

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Reservation deadline: June 4th
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Deadline Approaching for Santa Fe Workshop with Niki Gulley & Scott Williams

“Afternoon in Taos” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 14” x 11” • oil

Not the traditional view of Rancho de Taos, but I loved this adobe wall and archway and how the colors set against the turquoise blue sky contrasted beautifully. I liked how the hollyhocks angled into the scene and softened up the adobe mass, while continuing the theme of rounded edges found in the architecture and again in the gorgeous fluffy clouds.

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Reservation deadline: June 4th
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.

To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at