"Lucky's Cafe" by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Lucky's Cafe," Dallas, Texas © 2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 11" x 14" oil painting

Just Sold! Friends sit and gaze at the mass of beauty and indecision that is the menu. The fear of missing out on any number of delectable dishes makes it nearly impossible to chose. Their eyes waver between the menu in their hands and the massive chalk board that dominates the far wall. Mom's meatloaf? Good Luck Reuben? And who could pass up the Sleaziest, Cheesiest, Grilled Cheese in Town? But, then, it is found: Chicken Fried Steak, a delicious staple of home-style comfort food.

Every once and a while, it's nice to share a little home-town spirit. Coming from Dallas, I thought it would be nice to capture a local favorite, Lucky's Cafe, on Oaklawn Ave. Even outside, you can feel the energy that emanates from within and cuts through the heavy blanket of night. 

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about my contemporary impressionistic oil paintings, or check out my website at:

 NikiGulley.com

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

"Kid's Perspective" ©2017 Niki Gulley

SOLD • textured oil painting on canvas • 20" x 30"

Just Sold!  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.

"Fall Carnival" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

Fall 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.

"Oak Alley" Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Oak Alley" ©2017 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 16" x 20" textured oil painting

Just Sold! I painted this colorful oak lined alleyway a couple of weeks ago on location at the Fort Worth Stock Yards. I was attracted to the contrast of light and shadows and the way the oaks lined up to lead you down this dappled path into the background Spanish archway, which was illuminated in glowing whites and yellows by the sun. The colors were duller than this and I wanted a warmer feeling to the scene since it was a chilly morning, so I enhanced the hues to create an uplifting backdrop full of color and energy. Utilizing thick paint and palette knife, I also created a lot of texture and movement with my strokes to add to the joyful feeling of painting on this beautiful morning.

For more information on my textured contemporary landscape paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Tuscan Vineyard Palette Knife Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

SOLD • 48" x 60" textured oil painting

I was recently commissioned to paint this vineyard scene set against miles of rolling hills dotted with grapevines and olive trees. Working from some of my plein air sketches, photographs, and personal memories from our trips to the area, I created this large textured oil painting with palette knives and tons of paint. Full of color and movement, I arranged the planted grapevines to lead your eye back to the Tuscan villa and then to the beautiful countryside beyond.

If you would like to come along on one of our upcoming Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops to Tuscany, Italy in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como, Italy in September visit ArtTreks.org for more information. We'd love to have you join us!

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E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

To see more of my paintings from Tuscany, visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

New "Floating Expressions" Series Aspen Tree Paintings by Niki Gulley

"Floating Expressions III" ©2017 Niki Gulley

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

In this painting series, I wanted the focus to be on texture. Usually I paint with a lot of color, but I opted to use a limited palette on these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension. Choosing to come in extremely close on the subject, I played around with various strokes and paint thicknesses to add depth and energy. At the end, I had to throw in a few of my signature strokes of color – a splash of gold, some touches of purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

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 "Enduring Spirit" Palette Knife Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

“Enduring Spirit” ©2017 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 20" x 16” textured oil on canvas

Just sold! Standing tall and proud, this old soul sinks its gnarly roots into the cliff below, persistent and hopeful. I wanted you to get the feeling of staring up in wonderment like when you were a kid discovering things for the first time – noticing the unusual beauty and complexity of its infrastructure. Both grounded and reaching for the heavens, this organic skyscraper connects us to the mysteries of nature while encouraging childhood dreams.

If you have any questions about my palette knife paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

To see more of Niki Gulley's contemporary landscape paintings, visit NikiGulley.com.

New Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"Floating Expressions II" ©2017 Niki Gulley

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

In this painting series, I wanted the focus to be on texture. Usually I paint with a lot of color, but I opted to use a limited palette on these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension. Choosing to come in extremely close on the subject, I played around with various strokes and paint thicknesses to add depth and energy. At the end, I had to throw in a few of my signature strokes of color – a splash of gold, some touches of purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

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 "Floating Expressions" Palette Knife Aspen Trees by Niki Gulley

"Floating Expressions" ©2017 Niki Gulley

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

In this painting series, I wanted the focus to be on texture. Usually I paint with a lot of color, but I opted to use a limited palette on these pieces to really concentrate on the peeling bark of the aspen trees. Bordering on the edge of abstraction and the cusp of realism, Floating Expressions is loaded with layers and layers of paint, built up with thin glazes and then palette knife to create extreme dimension. Choosing to come in extremely close on the subject, I played around with various strokes and paint thicknesses to add depth and energy. At the end, I had to throw in a few of my signature strokes of color – a splash of gold, some touches of purple, and just a dab of fire-engine red for added excitement and unexpected color twists. 

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.

"Villa with a View," Lake Como, Italy oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Villa with a View" ©2014 Niki Gulley • 12" x 9" oil painting • SOLD

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

Day 7, afternoon location: Villa Babianello

Just Sold! After a busy schedule the day before, several of us opted to take it easy and join a cooking class while others visited the castle in town and one of the villages across the lake. We were whisked away to a tiny nearby hamlet where the chef, Moreno, prepares all of the dishes himself that he serves for dinner at his restaurant. He started the morning out by feeding us cappuccino and homemade cake to enjoy while he began showing us how to roll out and form pasta for cheese tortellini and marinara from scratch. Next up, was a decadent potatoes gruyere with ham slices, all of which we got to sample. The finalé was the creamiest mushroom risotto, local red wine, and don't forget the limoncello for dessert. Yum!

Late that afternoon, we visited the Botanic garden in Varenna, which is spectacular with its colorful tropical plantings, elaborate villa, sculptures and fountains, and fantastic views along the lake. What a great day!

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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!

Tuscany, Italy - Sept. 2018

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy - Sept. 2018

New England Fall Foliage - Oct. 2018

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

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

New "Spring's Glory," Texas Hill Country oil painting by Niki Gulley

"Spring’s Glory," Texas Hill Country ©2017 Niki Gulley

 36” x 60” textured oil painting on gallery wrap canvas

“Spring’s Glory” was inspired by a trip to the Texas Hill Country. The spring conditions were perfect, and the bluebonnets were amazing! While we were near Fredericksburg, we took a scenic drive along the Willow City Look and as we approached the top of a hill about half way around, we were greeted by this gorgeous view of the rolling hills and bluebonnets in full bloom. Then, to top it off the sun was setting in the distance casting its golden glow and backlighting the wildflowers. I had to capture the magical moment, enhancing the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky and along the ground. Arranging clouds, the road and rows of bluebonnets in rhythmic sweeping shapes to create a harmonious landscape that flows with light, texture and color, and suggest a feeling of optimism about what’s to come.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my Texas bluebonnet, Indian Paintbrush and wildflower oil paintings.

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Or, if you are in the Dallas, TX area, and would like to see "Spring's Glory" along with more of my palette knife oil paintings, please stop by my booth at Richardson's Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend.

Cottonwood Art Festival 

Sat. Oct 7 • 10am – 7pm

Sun. Oct. 8 • 10am – 5pm 

Cottonwood Park • 1321 W. Beltline Rd. Richardson, TX 

cottonwoodartfestival.com

New "Visions of Blue III" Palette Knife Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Visions of Blue III," Texas Hill Country ©2017 Niki Gulley

24" x 12" textured oil painting

I painted these Texas Bluebonnets and wildflowers with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve depth and texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. 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 Texas wildflowers look great hung alone or in a grouping with the rest of the "Visions of Blue" series, too!

For more information on my "Visions of Blue" series and more of my Texas hill country landscape paintings, please see my new works at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings.

New "Visions of Blue II" Palette Knife Bluebonnet Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Visions of Blue II," Texas Hill Country ©2017 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 24" x 12" textured oil painting

Just Sold! I painted these Texas Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives to achieve depth and texture. The resulting image comes to life and is loaded with color and energy. 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 Texas wildflowers look great hung alone or in a grouping with the rest of the "Visions of Blue" series, too!

For more information on my "Visions of Blue" series and more of my Texas hill country landscape paintings, please see my new works at the Good Art Company Gallery in Fredericksburg, goodartcompany.com/gac/.

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

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her Texas bluebonnet and wildflower paintings.