Joyful Mountainous Wildflower Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

 

"Mountain Majesty" • 36" x 48" textured acrylic painting 

 ©2026 Niki Gulley

Colorful wildflowers fill undulating grassy hills with joy and hope. Sweeping clouds dance overhead while nature's palette puts on a harmonic concert below. Making sure to not over blend my thick strokes allows you to see the marks and feel the peaceful energy. Repeating patterns and waves of greens, golds and blues create a harmony within the painting, while rendering the blooms and their surroundings abstractly plays with taking a traditional subject matter and showing it in a contemporary way.

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If you'd like to see this and more, please stop by our studio as part of the Weaverville Art Safari this weekend!

My husband and renowned photographer, Scott Williams, and I are so excited to be a part of the Weaverville Art Safari, where 85 talented artists in our town, will be opening our studios to the public Sat. Nov. 7th and Sun. Nov. 8th. 

Weaverville Art Safari - Studio Tour

Sat. Nov. 7th & Sun. Nov. 8th

10am – 5pm

More info at https://weavervilleartsafari.com/.

Scott and I are #28 on the map and would love to see you this weekend! 

Weaverville Art Safari - North Asheville Studio Tour THIS Weekend

 

"Floating Dreams" ©2026 Niki Gulley

36" x 36" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Sunlight sparkles across shimmering water, diamonds glitter the pond’s surface; lotus blooms lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the  glassy expanse.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through all while dreamy morning light reflects in the water.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

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

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

***

If you'd like to see this and more, please stop by our studio as part of the Weaverville Art Safari this weekend!

My husband and renowned photographer, Scott Williams, and I are so excited to be a part of the Weaverville Art Safari, where 85 talented artists in our town, will be opening our studios to the public Sat. Nov. 7th and Sun. Nov. 8th. 

Weaverville Art Safari - Studio Tour

Sat. Nov. 7th & Sun. Nov. 8th

10am – 5pm

More info at https://weavervilleartsafari.com/.

Scott and I are #28 on the map and would love to see you this weekend! 

"Nova" Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

 

 

                  

"Nova" ©2026 Niki Gulley

36" x 36" textured mixed media painting 

on 1.5" wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

Inspired by this gorgeous aspen grove, I wanted to capture the magical morning light casting its warm glow on the forest. Peaceful and mysterious, the sun's rays peek through the knotted trunks causing the landscape to dance with light and awaken with autumn’s kaleidoscope of colors. Loaded with texture and layers and layers of paint, the forest shimmers with hope and discovery for the new day.

To purchase Nova,  please visit The Good Art Company Gallery at https://www.goodartcompany.com/product-page/abstract-impressionism-original-art-36x36-forest-painting-nova.

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E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

 

 

"Autumn Brushstrokes" Palette Knife Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

 

"Autumn Brushstrokes" © 2026 Niki Gulley

12" x 12" textured acrylic on canvas panel

Can you feel nature's energy as cooling autumn breezes dance through the vibrant foliage? As leaves start to fall, glimpses of the distance peeks and valleys shine through and your journey is illuminated with gorgeous mountain views. Incorporating bold, broad, skipping strokes add to that feeling of joy and rejuvenation while thick, chunky texture brings this sculptural painting to life.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

"Casting Shadows" Fall Foliage Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

"Casting Shadows" ©2026 Niki Gulley

textured acrylic on canvas

30" x 40” on 1.5″ deep canvas with the painting wrapping around the edges

What a gorgeous day for a drive through the beautiful fall foliage! I hope you can feel the cool breeze and smell the fresh scent of pine and cider in the air. May this one bring joy and energy to your day, as you escape into this autumn wonderland.

If you’d like to see a photo of me painting this one and it’s 3-D texture, check out https://www.instagram.com/p/DCHGx3RRo4n/.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Autumn Aspen Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Painted Forest" ©2026 Niki Gulley

18" x 24" textured mixed media painting 

on 1.5" wrap around canvas with the painting continuing around the edges

I loved this brilliant aspen forest with its bright white aspen trunks slicing through all of the vibrant red and yellow foliage. The patterns of the trees created a sort of rhythm and I focused on the placement of the ivory sentinels, the diagonal purple shadows that they cast and the rustling of the leaves to add to that musical feeling. I hope you, too, can sense the energy and joy of being surrounded by nature as autumn is in full swing.

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

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

 

 

 

Painting Autumn in All Its Glory with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

October Orchestra ©2026 Niki Gulley

24” x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas

I love looking for scenery around Asheville that I can share with you and lift your spirits. And, the explosion of vibrant fall color here does not disappoint! The maples are displaying their full autumn glory, so I had to capture those ruby reds for you. May this kids’ perspective bring you the joy of carefree days and hopes for a bright future. 

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife travel paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Fall Foliage from the Blue Ridge Mountains by Niki Gulley

 

 

"Wandering the Woods" ©2026 Niki Gulley

24” x 48” textured acrylic painting on canvas

The Blue Ridge Parkway in all of its autumn glory! It is so beautiful exploring every hill and valley while soaking in that refreshing mountain air. What fall delights will you find around the next curve? I hope you enjoy the uplifting, vibrant colors and crisp November air as the sounds of falling leaves crunch underfoot and mother nature restores your spirit. 

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife seasonal paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Tuscany Poppy Field Painting by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

  

"Ruby Expanse" ©2026 Niki Gulley

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

Before we started teaching in Provence, we first took a direct flight to Rome and explored more of Tuscany for a few days before we flew onto France. Remembering from the past that May is usually a perfect time to find poppy fields, we thought we'd find the ruby beauties everywhere. Wrong! Thus began our crazy quest in search of the elusive poppy. And, after a week of scouring the countryside, we finally found them! Of course, they were right next to our b and b, but in a direction we hadn't explored all week. 

But, once we did finally discover them, the vibrant pops of red just lifted my spirits. Combined with gorgeous skies and dramatic lighting, it was truly inspiring and so much fun to paint after 2 solid rainy days. Hope you can feel and experience all of that joy, too!

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Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you're in luck if you've always wanted to go! We've had a couple of spots open up for our trip next September. Please let us know if you would like to join us. Spaces fill up quickly! 

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.

***

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

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

 

New Autumn Glory Painting of the Blue Ridge Parkway by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

  

"Tomorrow's Adventure" ©2026 Niki Gulley

24” x 48” textured acrylic painting on canvas

I am in love with my new studio! The mountain views from my windows are just stunning. We’re unpacked and it feels so good to finally be settled, so that I can focus on creating again. First canvas — of course it’s of that inspiring vista right out my studio! When I started this last week, the fall color was breathtaking. Now, since the polar vortex there aren’t many leaves left. But, thankfully I was able to capture those hues before they dropped and now my imagination can fill in the gaps to recreate that joyful feeling for you. I hope you are transported with me to the catharsis of being surrounded by mother nature and this mountain majesty!

To see a video of this one, follow https://www.facebook.com/reel/736555692796606.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions about her palette knife seasonal paintings.

To see more of Niki's contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

Autumn Palette Knife Waterfall Painting by Niki Gulley

 

 

“Flowing Fall” ©2026 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas

Water pounds its way down the falls: cascading, rushing, charging into the riverbed -- flowing over rocks, swiftly moving forward. Untamed, the surge finds its way over, under, around the boulder-strewn river. Tumbling waters drive through, the rhythmic sounds create a soothing harmony below, while autumn colors glow as we peer through the tangle of textured fall foliage

If you have any questions about Flowing Fall or my palette knife Aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

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

Painting in Venice with Painting Teacher Niki Gulley

 

  

"Laundry Day IV" Burano ©2026 Niki Gulley

5" x 7" textured oil painting on panel

On the second day of our Venice Art Trek, we headed to the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is known as a fishing community (and for the homemade lace that they make there), and to help the fisherman find their houses while coming back from sea, they painted their homes every color of the rainbow. With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it's hard to pick a single subject matter! We were drawn to this quiet location, however, and the vibrant yellow stucco wall with that morning's laundry being hung out to dry and the bicycle waiting for a ride. Today I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.

www.NikiGulley.com

E-mail - Niki Gulley

***

 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you're in luck if you've always wanted to go! We've had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026

Just A Few Spots left!

Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027

Registration Now Open

 

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.

***

New "Playtime" Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

"Playtime" ©2026 Niki Gulley

14" x 11" textured acrylic painting on canvas

Filled with whimsy and movement, I hope "Playtime" captures the memories of swinging from sturdy branches on a lazy summer day. Using staccato strokes, adds to the energy of the moment while fun pops of color build excitement. Not a care in the world, I hope you can feel the joy as you fly high and soar on a dream. 

To view more of my palette knife impressionist landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.

Or, e-mail me at Niki Gulley for more information.

New Cheerful Sunflower Painting of the Blue Ridge Mountains by Niki Gulley

 

 

"Springing with Joy" ©2026 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 48" x 36" textured acrylic painting on wrap around canvas

Just sold! 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. Painting the sunflowers full-sized in the foreground helps to bring them to life and hopefully transport you to this happy location. Including surprising pops of vivid reds and purples keeps your eye moving throughout the scene, seeing new things each time you look at it, and adds to the joyful feeling.

Or, if you would prefer a print on canvas, please e-mail Niki Gulley for details.

NikiGulley.com 

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"Pretty in Pink" Victorian Home Painting by Artist Niki Gulley

“Pretty in Pink” ©2026 Niki Gulley

9" x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel

Filled with beautiful homes built in the late 1800s, I was attracted to the detailed craftsmanship and historic architecture of this estate. Each homeowner had taken great care in decorating their porches and yards to create a warm welcome, and I wanted to capture that beauty and pride in my paintings. 

Here you can see this beautiful pink Victorian surrounded by more beautiful rose and scarlet blooms. I loved the play of complimentary colors, even down to the green detailing and scrollwork on the house. 

For more information on my textured palette knife oil paintings, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley.

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

 

  

Painting in Venice with Painting Teacher Niki Gulley

 

  

"Laundry Day IV" Burano ©2026 Niki Gulley

5" x 7" textured oil painting on panel

On the second day of our Venice Art Trek, we headed to the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is known as a fishing community (and for the homemade lace that they make there), and to help the fisherman find their houses while coming back from sea, they painted their homes every color of the rainbow. With the picturesque canals and so many great colored buildings to choose from, it's hard to pick a single subject matter! We were drawn to this quiet location, however, and the vibrant yellow stucco wall with that morning's laundry being hung out to dry and the bicycle waiting for a ride. Today I chose to work with thick oil paint and palette knife to capture the rough surface of the walls, resulting in a final painting which is loaded with texture and color.

www.NikiGulley.com

E-mail - Niki Gulley

***

Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!

https://www.arttreks.org/tuscany-foodie-2026/

Cinque Terre & Lake Como, Italy
October 4-11, 2026
Only 4 spots left!
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.

***