Switzerland Art Trek Taught by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

  

12” x 9” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

Day 2: Switzerland Art Trek - Lauterbrunnen

Plein Air Painting and Photo Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

An amazing group and beautiful day painting on our Switzerland Art Trek! Especially since the weather report was predicting rain, rain and more rain. I love that we have 3 different mediums - pastel, watercolor and acrylic, and everyone has their own style and viewpoint even though we’re painting the same scene. Our subject today was this picturesque church in the quaint town of Lauterbrunnen. Surrounded by beautiful mountains with waterfalls cascading down the cliff faces, it doesn't get much more picturesque than this!

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

***

If you'd like to join us on one of our fun-filled upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/

If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Palette Knife Garden Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

  

"James' House" ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just Sold! Painted on location with the Plein Air Painters of Asheville. This was actually our host James' lovely house and garden. With dappled morning light and the prolific flowers blooming, I had to capture the beauty and peace of that morning.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Teaching Painting and Photography in Switzerland with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

12” x 9” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

Day 1: Switzerland Art Trek

Plein Air Painting and Photo Workshop Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

My husband and I just got back from leading the most amazing workshop in Switzerland with jaw-dropping scenery around every corner! Once everyone arrived at our hotel, we stayed close to home the first day. With a chance of rain, we actually painted the beautiful scenery from the front deck of our hotel since we had a nice, large covered area to keep us dry. The cutest white church was in perfect view, so that's what most of us landed on for our subject. With a beautiful mountain backdrop and colorful plantings out front, it turned out to be the ideal subject. I hope you can hear those bells ringing out the top of the hour and echoing through the valley.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

***

If you'd like to join us on one of our fun-filled upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Carnivalé Art Trek - Venice, Italy 2026 
Feb. 8-14, 2026https://www.arttreks.org/carnival-2026/

Tuscany Foodie Trek 2026 
September 26 - October 3, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
https://www.arttreks.org/cinque-terre-2026/

If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Niki Gulley Paints the Dramatic Scenery in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

  

Work in progress – 20” X 16” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

What a day painting and photographing in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland! The weather seemed ok to start so we thought we’d venture over to the next town to capture the dramatic scenery. As we ascended into the clouds on the gondola ride, we started second guessing that decision as we couldn’t see 2 feet in front of us through the fog!

Luckily on our descent into town, the rain stopped and there were actually patches of blue sky. So glad we persevered as it turned out to be a beautiful morning and absolutely stunning location. Add in a few church bells echoing through the canyon just to add to the magic of the moment.

To see me painting this one and even here the church bells, visit https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqBr7DoyYo/.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Challenges of Painting in Switzerland with NC Artist Niki Gulley

 

20” X 10” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

Painting in Switzerland. while beautiful and inspiring, presented a new bunch of challenges. One of which was the unpredictability of mountain weather and the consistent threat of rain. Which, when you're working in a water-based medium like acrylics, is really not good for the painting! Fortunately, I have a husband is sympathetic to the creative process as he is an artist/ photographer also.

Go back a couple of years and Scott was shooting this dramatic waterfall in Iceland in crazy winds and rain. I was doing my best to hold the umbrella over his camera gear so he could get the beautiful shot. Now come full circle here in Switzerland and he returned the favor by protecting my painting in the drizzle. Teamwork!!!

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Painting the Swiss Alps with Palette Knife Painter Niki Gulley

20” X 10” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel 

©2025 Niki Gulley

What a gorgeous day painting in Switzerland!!! The scenery is so stunning it barely looks real. This was the breathtaking view behind our hotel that I just had to capture. I love the Swiss chalets and those snow-capped mountains that defy gravity. Working with palette knife and thick layers of paint, I set out to recreate that beauty as best I could on a 20" x 10" canvas. I hope you are uplifted and all of your cares melt away gazing into this idyllic spot.

For details on more of my Switzerland and travel paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley Plein Air Paints Day Lilies in Asheville, NC

"Blue Ridge Day Lilies" ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 20" x 10" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Just Sold! Today I joined the Plein Air Painters of Asheville and Blue Ridge Day Lily Gardens. It was so beautiful! So many rows and rows of gorgeous lily blooms in every color, shape and size, it was hard to settle on which ones to paint. Finally I landed on this beautiful ruby red one with the farmhouse in the background. May you feel uplifted gazing into this gorgeous colorful garden.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Painting on Location in North Carolina with Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

"Nature's Curves" ©2025 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Painted on location in Western North Carolina, I fell in love with this gorgeous tree. Gnarly, voluminous and full of curves, it almost reminded me a beautiful Rubinesque figure! Dappled light illuminated its shape, bringing dimension to life, which I had fun capturing with layers of textured paint and my palette knife. Arching over the river, she greets you with much needed shade for respite on this warm, summer day.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Painting Lake Jullian by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

"Hugging the Shore" ©2025 Niki Gulley

16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Another beautiful day here in Asheville filled with beauty and serenity! Today my plan was to meet up with the Asheville Plein Air Painters at Lake Jullian. But, when I got there I couldn't find anyone. So, I could have turned around and gone home, but fortunately I am more dedicated than that! It turned out to be such a cathartic morning, that I'm very glad I decided to stay and capture this idyllic scene. With the mountain backdrop and this lovely tree hugging the scene providing much needed shade, I thoroughly enjoyed my quiet morning escape, and I hope you can feel that joy and peace, too.

At one point, I did have an admirer come up only to find out from her that there were multiple entrances to the lake! So, after adding my last strokes, I packed up and drove around to another entrance and lo and behold there was the painting group and fortunately I got to share in the camaraderie.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Plein Air Painting in Asheville, NC with Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

  

"Morning at the Botanic" ©2025 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Painted on location with the Asheville Plein Air Painters, I loved the dappled light illuminating this path through the Botanic Garden. Vibrant red wildflowers dance in the light and add a nice complimentary contrast to the cool forest greens. A bench welcomes you to sit, relax and enjoy the quiet beauty of the morning. May all of your cares float away!

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Painting Mountain Meadow Gardens in North Carolina with Niki Gulley

"Meandering Meadow II" ©2025 Niki Gulley

16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

 Just 10 minutes away from our home is the most picturesque lake set against a mountain backdrop. I thought it was so beautiful when we strolled around it this winter and spring, but then come May it even got even more spectacular when the wildflowers burst onto the scene with their rainbow-hued joy! So, I had to get out there to capture its beauty before the temps were too warm to paint in full sun. And, I wasn't the only one with that idea as another random painter came along with the same idea and joined me. What fun! I hope you enjoy taking a leisurely stroll through this uplifting meadow garden, letting all of your cares slip away.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 

Painting in the Texas Hill Country with Impressionist Niki Gulley

  

“Living History IV” ©2025 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 24" x 12" textured acrylic painting on canvas

"For me, wildflowers are joy-giving. They have enriched my life and fed my soul and given beautiful memories to sustain me."
– Lady Bird Johnson



Just Sold! Surrounded by a sea of blue – Scott captured me in my element here! Not only were the bluebonnets and wildflowers beautiful this year, but I just adore the live oaks, too. Their massive stature, their gnarly, twisting branches and the umbrella of shade they cast, just make me want to paint them over and over again. Leaving bluebonnets large and prominent in the foreground, rows and rows of cobalt lift your spirits and lead you back to the shelter of the grand old oaks. I hope you, too, can enjoy the beauty of Texas in all of its spring glory.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her textured palette knife landscape paintings.

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

New "Meandering Meadow" Painting Bursting with Colorful Wildflowers by Niki Gulley

"Meandering Meadow" ©2025 Niki Gulley

16" x 20" textured acrylic painting on canvas

I'm having so much fun painting in Asheville's certified pollinator habitat - surrounded by actual wildflowers while painting wildflowers! The purple spires you see dancing in the foreground are the real deal, keeping me company while I work.

This piece is all about capturing that feeling of wandering through a summer meadow where every color of the rainbow seems to be blooming at once. My palette knife allows me to build up those chunky, textured strokes that make the flowers feel dimensional and alive. I love how the painting evolves as I work - sometimes a stroke of yellow becomes a sunflower, sometimes purple becomes a spike of salvia.

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.