"Aqua Dreams" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 Niki Gulley

36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

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

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"October Blaze" ©2014 Niki Gulley

36" x 48" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

With "October Blaze," I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!

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

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold! New Winter Aspen Tree oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Harmonic Hues" ©2014 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 12" x 12" textured oil on canvas

I painted this aspen grove with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife. The resulting canvas is loaded with texture, color and energy! I've painted it on 1 and 1/2 inch deep stretcher bars, with the image continuing around the edges so that it can be hung as is frameless for a contemporary look. 

This aspen and birch trees series look great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of the other seasons I've painted to fill a larger space. Hang them horizontally (pictured below), vertically, on a diagonal or stacked like pictured above. E-mail Niki Gulley to find complimentary companion pieces.

To see more of my large textured aspen and birch tree oil paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

"Heightened Awareness" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

Heightened Awareness III ©2014 Niki Gulley

48" x 36" • Textured mixed media 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. I chose vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a violet blue sky filled with big, puffy clouds. And, by arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery are enhanced.

If you'd like more information on my textured aspen and birch tree paintings, e-mail Niki Gulley.

NikiGulley.com

New Textured Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

"Fire and Gold" ©2014 Niki Gulley

textured oil on canvas • 36" x 48"

I love the first signs of fall – the crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful autumn colors, and being totally immersed in nature in the middle of a forest without a care in the world. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate that joyful feeling, choosing warm reds and yellows of autumn and using energetic strokes with my paint to heighten that mood. Building up first thin transparent layers and then thick textured layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.

E-mail - Niki Gulley for more information.

Or, please visit NikiGulley.com to see more of her contemporary landscape paintings.

Just Sold! "Purple Perspective" New Lavender Field painting by Niki Gulley

"Purple Perspective," Provence ©2014 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
pictured in espresso floater frame

This lavender painting was inspired from our trip to Provence last summer, when our timing was perfect and we caught both the lavender and poppies in full bloom! I loved how in this photo that I took, the lavender really draws your eye back into the distance and invites you to walk down the purple rows and enjoy the heavenly aromas. I also liked the contrast in color of the poppies planted at the start of the rows against the violet and how the crimson blooms break up the long vertical format of the canvas.

To see more of Gulley's palette knife landscape paintings, check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Workshops and Art Treks, including a trip to Provence this summer and again in 2015, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

E-mail - Niki Gulley

"Surrounded by Sunshine" Palette Knife Sunflower Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Surrounded by Sunshine" ©2014 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired by our travels to Provence, I painted these cheerful sunflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife so that the resulting image leaps off the canvas and is loaded with energy, color and texture.

"Surrounded by Sunshine" and several of my contemporary impressionistic landscapes are also on display at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. For more information, please contact http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, to see more of my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

For more information on my plein air paintings and workshops in Italy and France, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

"Dancing on Water" Palette Knife Water Lily Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Dancing on Water," Monet's Gardens, Giverny, France  ©2014 Niki Gulley

36" x 60" textured oil painting 

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water, diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface; water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage while azure skies reflect in the water.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.

Just Sold! "Autumn Crescendo" Birch Impasto painting by Niki Gulley

"Autumn Crescendo" ©2014 Niki Gulley • SOLD

36" x 60" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit more so than an exact replica of the forest, so I chose to use warm vivid colors and thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the foliage in diagonal sweeping shapes to create a sense of movement, so that you can feel the wind gently rustling the leaves and causing them to dance.

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

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold! "Coming Together" Palette Knife Aspen Tree painting by Niki Gulley

"Coming Together" ©2014 Niki Gulley • SOLD

Textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas • 40" x 30"

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing calming greens against a lavender-blue peaceful sky and arranging the two main aspens so that they meet in the middle, suggests a feeling of togetherness. While organizing the outlying trees in a circular pattern and using thick, curving, bold orange brushstrokes, creates a joyful, playful mood.

For more information on my palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Allen Arts Festival.

Allen Arts Festival
May 9 - 4pm - 8pm
May 10 - 10am - 8pm
May 11 - Noon - 7pm
Watters Creek • 970 Garden Park Dr., Allen, TX
allenartsalliance.org

White Rock Lake Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Golden Moment, White Rock Lake" ©2014 Niki Gulley

Textured oil on canvas • 12" x 24"

On a peaceful autumn day last fall, I went out with my camera to White Rock Lake and captured this beautiful sunset behind the Dallas skyline. I liked how the pampas grass and various plants in the foreground were back lit by the setting sun and how the water's surface was shimmering from the low light, adding to a sense of mystery and tranquility in that golden moment.

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Allen Arts Festival.

Allen Arts Festival
May 9 - 4pm - 8pm
May 10 - 10am - 8pm
May 11 - Noon - 7pm
Watters Creek • 970 Garden Park Dr., Allen, TX
allenartsalliance.org

E-mail - Niki Gulley

New Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Spring's Approach," Texas Hill Country ©2014 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
Pictured in espresso floater frame

These Texas bluebonnets were inspired from a trip to the Willow City Loop outside of Fredericksburg one spring when the fields were particularly colorful and beautiful. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, the finished painting is loaded with color, texture and energy!

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Allen Arts Festival.

Allen Arts Festival
May 9 - 4pm - 8pm
May 10 - 10am - 8pm
May 11 - Noon - 7pm
Watters Creek • 970 Garden Park Dr., Allen, TX
allenartsalliance.org

E-mail - Niki Gulley

Niki Gulley at Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, TX this Weekend

"Blue Descent," Texas Hill Country ©2014 Niki Gulley

24" x 36" textured oil painting

Inspired by a trip to the Texas hill country, I wanted you feel the warmth and beauty as sun sets over this carpet of bluebonnets and Texas wildflowers. Touched with a hint of mystery from the long shadows being cast and a sense of romanticism from the time of day and the two oaks reaching for one another, this piece is loaded with pigment and thick oil paint. In person, the painting leaps off the canvas and the colors almost dance from all of the texture and energy!

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

Or if you are in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival.

Cottonwood Art Festival (TX)
Sat. May 3 • 10am – 7pm
Sun. May 4 • 10am – 5pm
Richardson, TX
Cottonwood Park at Coit and Beltline
CottonwoodArtFestival.com

E-mail - Niki Gulley