New "Sky High" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Sky High” ©2016 Niki Gulley

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

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the joy of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by overhead. To accentuate that feeling, I chose this tall vertical canvas, giving you a sense of scale and perspective. Working with warm yellows, reds and greens and utilizing thick chunky sweeping strokes add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

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

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

New Tuscany Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

"Peaceful Pursuit," Tuscany ©2016 Niki Gulley

 30" x 48” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

This painting is inspired from a trip to Tuscany we took a few years ago when my husband, who is a professional photographer, and I spent about a week scouring every inch of the countryside for the best poppy fields and views. I was particularly drawn to this peaceful scene, even if the poppies weren’t as prolific as in other fields. I loved the calming, sweeping shapes of the hills and the vibrant reds contrasting against the softer grasses and white wildflowers. The road beckons you back to the stone farmhouse in the distance, while dramatic voluminous clouds dance across the sky, mimicking the foreground shapes and creating a sense of harmony. Repeating colors throughout, I love how the Impressionists used vibrant hues to add to the mood of a scene and create flow, so I brought my contemporary approach with broad strokes and thick texture to their traditions. I hope you, too, can feel a sense of peace and joy when you gaze into this Tuscan landscape.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Tuscany and poppy field oil paintings.

For more information on upcoming European Plein-Air Painting and Photography Art Treks workshops led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams, please visit http://www.nikigulley.com/artreks.

Just Sold - "Song of the Woods" Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Song of the Woods"  ©2016 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 30" x 40" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Shimmering colors of autumn: Aspen and Oak trees quiver, their light graceful leaves tremble and quake, silver and gold, scarlet and tangerine, with each light breeze. There is the quiet energy of change coming and vibrant color charges the woods. Crisp fall mountain air, a band of slender trunks cut bright strokes of white against a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors. Staccato strokes and shimmering hues add to the feeling of change in the air and suggest the breeze whistling through the foliage.

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

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

New "Harmonic Hues" - Aspen Tree oil painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Harmonic Hues" ©2016 Niki Gulley
36" x 36" oil on canvas

I love painting aspen trees and I usually work with a more primary color palette, but in this painting, I wanted to convey a quieter, more peaceful mood. Opting for calming grey greens, soft golds and reds with hints of teal, Harmonic Hues reminds me of the serenity I feel while walking through the forest on a cool autumn day, being totally immersed in nature, not a care in the world. I hope you are transported, too!

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

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

"Reclining Thoughts II" Textured Aspen Tree painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Reclining Thoughts II” ©2016 Niki Gulley

40" x 30” textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the joy of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing warm yellows, reds and greens and utilizing thick chunky staccato strokes add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

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

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

Just Sold - "Interplay" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Interplay" ©2016 by Niki Gulley

SOLD • 36" x 48" original textured oil painting

Flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. Contrasting short staccato strokes against blended passages with my palette knives, also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Just Sold - "Interplay" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Interplay" ©2016 by Niki Gulley

SOLD • 36" x 48" original textured oil painting

Flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this scene to be filled with movement and energy, so I incorporated a lot of diagonal and curving shapes in the design to suggest that feeling. Contrasting short staccato strokes against blended passages with my palette knives, also increase that sense of motion. I hope you, too, can feel the excitement of walking through the woods on a beautiful fall day, letting your cares slip away and your spirit being invigorated.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

New "A Touch of Gold" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“A Touch of Gold" ©2016 Niki Gulley

30" x 40" textured oil on canvas

Scrolling bark peels back like white washed parchment revealing secrets in the deeply textured wood below. A painting of grace and beauty, its verticality offset by embracing branches wound round as a sheltering arm. Each stroke is crisp, vivid, defined by thick textured oil, rich colors contrasted against subtle ivories strike a reververberating chord and creating a visual vibration that resonates in an optical song.

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

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

Columbus Arts Festival 

Fri. June 10 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sat. June 11 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sun. June 12 • 11am – 5pm 

Downtown Riverfront • Columbus, OH 

Booth #218M – on Main St. between the bridge and Civic Center Dr. 

ColumbusArtsFestival.org 

NikiGulley.com

New "Sunny Skies" Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

“Sunny Skies" ©2016 Niki Gulley

30" x 48" textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

Festive, sun-filled blossoms dance in the gentle breeze, filling the field with sweet fragrance. This textured painting captures a carefree summer morning with sunflowers overflowing the foreground, filling up the field with joy under sunny skies as voluminous clouds drift by overhead.

For more information on textured sunflower and poppy paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Columbus Arts Festival 

Fri. June 10 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sat. June 11 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sun. June 12 • 11am – 5pm 

Downtown Riverfront • Columbus, OH 

Booth #218M – on Main St. between the bridge and Civic Center Dr. 

ColumbusArtsFestival.org 

Or, check out my website at: nikigulley.com.

Just Sold - "Perseverance" by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

Perseverance ©2016 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 48" x 36" • Textured oil painting on canvas

During one of our plein air painting workshops that we lead in Santa Fe, we chose this beautiful location near Georgia O'Keefe's home of Ghost Ranch. I loved the way the sun illuminated the rocky cliffs and the robust, fluffy clouds that drifted above us. Reaching for the sky, hopeful and steadfast, this one lone tree persevered despite the odds.

If you'd like more information on my contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Columbus Arts Festival 

Fri. June 10 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sat. June 11 • 11am – 10:30pm 

Sun. June 12 • 11am – 5pm 

Downtown Riverfront • Columbus, OH 

Booth #218M – on Main St. between the bridge and Civic Center Dr. 

ColumbusArtsFestival.org 

NikiGulley.com

New "Chit Chat" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“Chit Chat" ©2016 Niki Gulley

30" x 48" textured oil painting

Shimmering in golden light, this backlit grove of aspen trees reaches tall, leaning left and then right towards the sun as it grew. The peeling trunks almost seem to move, even chatting with one another. A few trees weren't so lucky and lay fallen at their feet, while the whole scene is filled with color, texture and movement to suggest the power of nature and its ability to enhance your spirit.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her palette knife aspen tree and contemporary landscape paintings. 

See NikiGulley.com

New "Colorful Carousel" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Colorful Carousel" ©2016 by Niki Gulley

 36" x 60" original textured oil painting

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 contrasted against cool underbrush while utilizing thick staccato strokes to add to that feeling. I placed the fall foliage in curving 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 see more of my contemporary landscape paintings online, visit NikiGulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

"Reflective Radiance" textured oil painting of Monet's Garden by Niki Gulley

"Reflective Radiance" ©2016 Niki Gulley

Two 48" x 18" canvases with one 48" x 30" canvas in the middle to form a 48" x 66" triptych

Textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

I decided it would be a fun challenge to create an extremely large painting, and I wanted the final piece to be very uplifting, colorful and full of energy. Opting for warm colors and working with extremely thick paint and palette knives, I chose this lily pond reference from our visit to Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France. The grounds were breathtaking and I could actually see his paintings come to life. I was drawn to the energetic flow and yet calming serenity in this view, and I positioned the water lilies and my paint strokes in a curving pattern to add to that mood. The morning light peeking through the distant foliage added to a sense of mystery and promise that I wanted to capture in paint, and share with you that feeling of hope.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

Visit NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape paintings.