Day 2, Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Painted Houses," Riomaggiore ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9" x 12" Textured oil painting

Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 2, Morning Location: Riomaggiore

After a good night's rest, we took the train that connects the five cities along the Italian coast to the southern most town of Riomaggiore. This morning the temperature was perfect, but we had more cloud cover with only occasional breaks of sunshine. Our painters set up our easels to capture this beautiful view of the colorful town and their ocean overlook while the photographers and tourists checked out the town and surroundings. 

When we had finished painting and exploring and eaten a delicious seafood lunch, we caught the scenic boat ride back to Vernazza, enjoying the ocean view of each town and its colorful architecture perched along the coast way. 

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Day 1, Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Table for Two" ©2014 Niki Gulley • 12" x 9" oil painting

Cinque Terre and Lake Como Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Day 1: Monterosso / the 5 Village Hike

We were greeted in Cinque Terre with gorgeous sunny weather, so the photographers and tourists headed out on our first morning on the 5 mile scenic hike high above, linking the five cities of the Cinque Terre, taking in breathtaking scenery along the way. With our paint gear, we opted to stay in Monterosso and capture this beautiful quiet courtyard, with its soft dappled light and lovely plantings.

That evening we connected with the hikers and enjoyed a delicious dinner of fresh caught seafood, local pesto and pasta, and tasty Italian wine. A great end to a perfect first day!

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Last Day, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Villa with a View" ©2014 Niki Gulley • 10" x 8" Textured oil painting

Day 7, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek, the morning started out a little drizzly so some of us stayed and painted from inside the villa while others went into town to explore, shop and photograph. The architecture of the farmhouse is so interesting with its 6 inch wood beams, solid wood shutters, stuccoed walls, stone exterior and even the radiator below the window that I wanted to capture some of its charm with part of our view out the window. Luckily for a few minutes the sun tried peeking through the clouds, so I tried to capture some of that warmth in my painting.

While usually in the 70s and 80s when we lead the trips to Tuscany, for some reason this year it got really chilly that afternoon. So turning rain into sunshine, we lit a fire and relaxed with new friends, sharing stories, paintings and photographs from the trip. We capped the night off with an amazing dinner and drifted off to sleep, full, happy and at peace.

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

A Day in Florence with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, Tuscany Art Trek 2014

"Evening Stroll," Florence ©2014 Niki Gulley • 25" x 19" pastel

Day 6, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the next day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we hit the ground running by spending a full day in Florence. Visiting the Uffizi and Academy Museums with their incredible collections of Renaissance art, the impressive marble Duomo and famous Bronze Baptistry doors, wandering the cobble stone streets and admiring the stone architecture, fountains and sculptures, and allowing extra time for shopping.

Florence ©2014 Scott Williams photograph

We ended the day with you guessed it – another delicious meal! Then we wandered back through the romantic golden-lit streets to see the beautiful view of the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno at night. 

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Day 5, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Pienza ©2014 Niki Gulley • 6" x 12" textured oil painting • SOLD

Day 5, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

After a busy day in Siena, we took it easy the next day staying closer to home base. While some painted the beautiful view of Pienza from our villa in the morning, the photographers and sightseers visited more of the nearby hill towns. We relaxed that afternoon and went for a delicious meal in town that night. A rejuvenating day!

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Visiting Siena Italy with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams on their Tuscany Art Trek

"Wishing Well," Siena ©2014 Niki Gulley • 7" x 5" oil painting 

Day 4, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the fourth day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we headed to the Medieval hill town of Siena, with its incredible marble Duomo, great people-watching plaza, and interesting alleyways radiating out from the campo with something new to discover around every turn. While some of our group shopped, some photographed and others relaxed on the square, I set up in one of the quiet cobble streets to capture the textures of their ancient walls and this unique old well. For dinner that night, we treated ourselves to a delicious dinner of Tuscan pizza, fresh local vegetables and of course, some amazing wines!

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

Spaces are filling up quickly, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Day 3, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

"Cypress Shadows," Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9" x 12" textured oil painting

Day 3, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the third day of our Tuscany Art Trek, several of us attended a cooking class in Montepulciano from a Michelin-rated chef. We made hand-rolled pasta with a flavor-packed tomato sauce, osso buco, cheese soufflés and a delicious creamy tiramisu. After we were finished cooking, we sat down to sample our creations and wash it down with a little red wine. What an amazing experience! 

Later that afternoon, some of our group went onto see the formal Italian garden at La Foce while  some of us stayed and painted at the villa again. The late afternoon light was so beautiful how it cast its golden glow on the landscape and stone farmhouse, that we had to capture it before it was gone. Long deep shadows from the surrounding cypress trees draw your eye into the composition and set the peaceful mood of the evening.

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. 

The registration deadline of Nov. 15th for most trips is quickly approaching, so don't wait! 

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

Or if interested in purchasing "Cypress Shadows," please contact the Good Art Company Gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

Visiting Montepulciano and Tuscan Wineries with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Montepulciano ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9" x 12" textured oil painting

Day 2, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

The next morning of our Tuscany Art Trek, we headed to the wine town of Montepulciano. Perched atop a giant hill with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards below, we set up our easels at this breathtaking overlook. We had to work quickly to capture the morning light and soft clouds before they disappeared, while the photographers and the others explored ancient wine cellars, quiet back alleys and even got in a little shopping.

After lunch, we visited two wineries nearby to sample their Rossos, Vino Nobiles and the delicious sweet dessert wine, Vin Santo. Full from the local meats and cheeses and tasty red wines, we headed back to the villa for a quiet night of relaxing and soaking in the evening scenery.

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The registration deadline of Nov. 15th for most trips is quickly approaching, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Day 1, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

View from our Villa, Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley • 9" x 12" textured oil painting • SOLD

Day 1, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the first morning of our Tuscany Art Trek, my husband went over camera functions and tips with his photography students while my painters set up to capture this gorgeous view of the distant hills and farmhouse that we see from our breakfast table each morning. With a few clouds drifting by, there was a beautiful soft light and a symphony of autumn colors framed by the quintessential Tuscan cypress tree in the foreground. What a perfect morning!

That afternoon we continued painting at the villa while the photographers explored the scenic countryside, and we all gathered that evening for a delicious meal of melted pecorino and homemade rustic bread, pici (hand rolled pasta) with wild boar sauce or truffle ravioli for others, fresh organic vegetables and of course the local red wine to top it off!

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The early registration deadline for a $600 of Sept. 23rd for most trips is quickly approaching, so don't wait!

Athens and Santorini, Greece - May 8-16, 2015

The French Riviera - June 18-26, 2015

Provence, France - June 25-July 3, 2015

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 4-12, 2015

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 11-19, 2015

For more information on upcoming Art Treks, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

New Colorado Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

“Aspen Concerto” ©2014 Niki Gulley

24” x 18” textured oil painting

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.

To purchase "Aspen Concerto," please contact the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX. http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

NikiGulley.com

New Autumn Aspen Trees Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Embracing the Moment" ©2013 Niki Gulley

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

I wanted this painting to be about the power and energy in nature to invigorate your spirit, so I chose to use warm vivid colors and thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the fall 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 on a beautiful fall day.

To purchase "Embracing the Moment," please contact the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX. http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

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

New "October Reflections" Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

"October Reflections" ©2014 Niki Gulley

30" x 40" textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

Living in Dallas we are surrounded by concrete, but I have a couple of favorite spots that I go to when I want to be immersed in nature. This pond is always filled with lily pads that I enjoy painting in the spring, but I wanted to paint them in the autumn this time surrounded by the beautiful fall colors. I loved the contrast of the bright azure sky being reflected an inky blue in the water against the fiery reds in the foliage. Arranging the composition in a circular pattern to suggest harmony and tranquility, I hope you feel energized and rejuvenated gazing upon this peaceful oasis.

Just Sold

This photo was sold at the Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX.   To see more of my pieces at the Good Art Company visit http://www.goodartcompany.com/gac/

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

E-mail - Niki Gulley