New "Flowing into Spring" Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Flowing into Spring" ©2017 Niki Gulley
24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas, Dallas Arboretum

I painted this scene from the Dallas Arboretum on location a few weeks ago when the weather was beautiful and the spring buds were in full bloom. I was attracted to this Azalea trail with the vivid fuchsia blossoms tucked away in this cool, shady, peaceful garden. Choosing a vertical panoramic format leads your eye from the azaleas to wander up the trail towards the light and the beautiful dogwood tree in the distance, all while lifting your spirits.

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

E-mail - Niki Gulley

New "Popping Color II" Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Niki Gulley

"Popping Color II" ©2017 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting

I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of color and energy. Set beneath a colorful sky on a beautiful day in springtime with the poppies and wildflowers in full bloom, I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.

In this vertical wildflower series, I've framed the paintings in espresso floater frames so that you can still see the textured oil paint continuing around the edges of the canvas. These poppies look great hung alone or in a grouping, too!

To see more of Niki Gulley's textured landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com,

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her poppy, sunflower, lavender and wildflower paintings.

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For more information on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshops in Italy, Ireland,  and Vermont, please visit www.ArtTreks.org or e-mail Niki Gulley.

New "Springtime in Tuscany" Palette Knife Poppy Painting by Niki Gulley

"Springtime in Tuscany" ©2017 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting

I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of color and energy. Set beneath a colorful sky on a beautiful day in springtime with the poppies and wildflowers in full bloom, I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.

In this vertical wildflower series, I've framed the paintings in espresso floater frames so that you can still see the textured oil paint continuing around the edges of the canvas. These poppies look great hung alone or in a grouping, too!

To see more of Niki Gulley's textured landscape paintings please check out NikiGulley.com,

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her poppy, sunflower, lavender and wildflower paintings.

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For more information on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshops in Tuscany, Ireland and Vermont next year, please visit www.ArtTreks.org or e-mail Niki Gulley. 

We have just 2 spaces left in our Tuscany Art Trek in May.

New "Visions of Azaleas" Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

"Visions of Azaleas" ©2017 Niki Gulley
24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Painted on location, I set up my easel in front of these prolific azalea bushes along Turtle Creek near my home. The vibrant pinks and fuchsia were so full of life set against the cool green leaves, that I wanted to capture not only that vivid spring color but also the elegant sycamore tree in the distance with its speckled white bark.  Contrasting the height of the vertical tree against the horizontal blooms, I chose this vertical panoramic canvas, and repeating shapes throughout creates a harmony to the overall scene. Painted with palette knife and lots of texture, I hope you can feel the beauty and energy of a perfect spring day.

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

E-mail - Niki Gulley

New Sunflower Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Happy Thoughts III" ©2017 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.

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

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For more information on our plein air painting and photography Art Treks workshops in Europe, please check out ArtTreks.org.

E-mail - Niki Gulley

"Vertical Aromas" Palette Knife Lavender Field Painting by Niki Gulley

"Vertical Aromas" ©2017 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured mixed media painting on wrap around canvas

The lavender fields in Provence are incredible – perfectly manicured rows and rows of an explosion of violet as far as the eye can see. I wanted to try something different in this painting, arranging the purple waves vertically to draw your eye up to the stone farmhouse in the distance. Meanwhile wispy clouds drift by and perspective lines all converge, leading you to this joyful, peaceful spot. I hope you can smell the amazing aromas and  feel your spirits lifted while gazing into this scene!

For information on Vertical Aromas or more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, please see my new works at the Good Art Company Gallery, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

To view more of my lavender, poppy and sunflower field paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my palette knife wildflower paintings.

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For more information on our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshops in Italy, France, England and Ireland, please visit www.ArtTreks.org or e-mail Niki Gulley.

New "Party of One" Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

“Party of One” ©2017 Niki Gulley

20” x 30” textured oil painting

This sturdy trunk and agile tree limbs reach to the heavens above and invite you to gaze in wonderment like a kid again at the kaleidoscope of fall spectrum above. Painted with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint, this painting is loaded with texture, color, energy and movement!

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

NikiGulley.com

New "Kid's Perspective" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Kid's Perspective" ©2017 Niki Gulley

textured oil painting on canvas • 20" x 30"

In "Kid's Perspective" I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and heavens above. Choosing uplifting golds and soft shades of tangerine contrasted against a blue sky with gentle clouds drifting by, I've arranged the aspens in a circular pattern to give you a sense of laying on the ground, surrounded by the forest and to direct your eye to the focal point. Utilizing thick, curving paint strokes adds to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

To see more of my impressionist palette knife paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

If you have any questions about my aspen and birch tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New "Fall's Carnival" by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Fall's Carnival" ©2017 Niki Gulley

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

Painted with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives so that this canvas is loaded with texture and bursting with color, flickering autumn leaves seem to almost dance in a gentle breeze. I wanted this landscape to be filled with movement and vivacity, 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. One zig zag passage of crimson foliage creates a focal point in the tangle of leaves and turnks while adding energy to the scene. 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.

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

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

New "Tuscan Dreams" Palette Knife Poppy Field Painting by Niki Gulley

“Tuscan Dreams" ©2017 Niki Gulley

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

Inspired from a wonderful trip to Tuscany, I wanted this piece to be uplifting and full of joy and energy. Set beneath a colorful sky with a few clouds drifting by on a beautiful day in springtime, the poppies and wildflowers are in full bloom. Using broken impressionistic strokes in surprising hues, causes the landscape to dance and flow, and I hope all of your cares drift away while gazing into this cheerful scene.

You can paint and photograph these very views if you join us for our Tuscany Workshop in 2017. Don’t miss out on an amazing trip! There are just a two spaces left. See art treks.org for details or e-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

To view more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my poppy and wildflower palette knife paintings.

New "Secret Garden" Provence Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Secret Garden," Provence ©2017 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" oil painting

I painted this peaceful courtyard while my husband and I were leading our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Treks Workshop in Provence, France. I loved the peach archway framing the picture window in the distance, creating a frame within a frame. The complimentary colors juxtaposed against each other created such an exciting contrast. While the light was a little tricky to capture going in and out of the clouds, I tried to convey its soft illumination on the walkway and distant wall. Painted with palette knife, this painting is loaded with texture and color, and I hope you are transported to this picturesque spot.

Photo by Sheri Jones

If you'd like more information or a brochure on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshops, please let me know. We are taking reservations now, so please let us know if you would like to join us. This year's trip filled up in less than a week! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to ArtTreks.org.

For more information on "Secret Garden", please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company Gallery, in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, visit NikiGulley.com (www.NikiGulley.com) to see more of my impressionistic plein air oil paintings.

"Diagonal Patterns" Palette Knife Lavender Field Painting by Niki Gulley

"Diagonal Patterns," Provence ©2015 Niki Gulley

9" x 12" textured oil painting

I painted "Diagonal Patterns" on location in Provence during our Plein Air Painting and Photography Art Trek Workshop my husband and I led in France. The lavender fields were amazing, and stretched as far as the eye could see! I wanted to focus on these perfectly planted purple rows, contrasted against the vibrant yellow sunflowers in the distance. I loved how those colors popped next to each other! I chose to lower the horizon line so that I could include these amazing clouds drifting by in diagonal patterns that mimicked the lavender aisles.  That also gave the painting an idea of space so that you could sense the fragrant purple beauties stretching for miles. Painted with palette knife and thick oil paint, the final image is loaded with color, texture and movement! 

This summer we will be leading Art Treks to Tuscany and Ireland, and the following year we will be headed to Tuscany, Croatia, Slovenia, Venice, Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy, so if you've always dreamed of painting, photographing and sightseeing in Europe, please join us for one of these amazing trip! See details on ArtTreks.org.

For more information on "Diagonal Patterns", please contact my gallery, the Good Art Company Gallery, in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

Or, check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.