Pastel Demonstration by Texas Artist Niki Gulley for the Mid Cities Art League

"Tuscan Dreams" ©2014  Niki Gulley
14" x 11" pastel

Inspired from one of our Art Treks to Tuscany, I chose to paint this cypress grove for my pastel demonstration for the Mid Cities Art League last week. First creating an underpainting in the complimentary reds and oranges, I then layered and cross hatched my pastels allowing some of the underneath layers to show through. The resulting image is loaded with uplifting color, energy and movement!

If you'd like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

NikiGulley.com

"Autumn Morning," Tuscany Plein Air Painting by Niki Gulley

"Autumn Morning," Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley
9" x 12" textured oil painting

Created on our Tuscany Art Trek in September, I decided to paint this view from villa, since I'd been admiring it every day of the trip. It was a gorgeous morning with beautiful puffy white clouds that gave the landscape a beautiful soft filtered light. Working with palette knife, this Tuscan landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

For lunch that afternoon, we feasted on fresh local fruit and vegees, pecorinos, cured meats and a little wine and prosecco at the villa. Bon appetito!

If you'd like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. The final registration deadline of Jan. 25th is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

NikiGulley.com

"Autumn Morning," Tuscany Plein Air Painting by Niki Gulley

"Autumn Morning," Tuscany ©2014 Niki Gulley
9" x 12" textured oil painting

Created on our Tuscany Art Trek in September, I decided to paint this view from villa, since I'd been admiring it every day of the trip. It was a gorgeous morning with beautiful puffy white clouds that gave the landscape a beautiful soft filtered light. Working with palette knife, this Tuscan landscape is loaded with texture, color and movement!

For lunch that afternoon, we feasted on fresh local fruit and vegees, pecorinos, cured meats and a little wine and prosecco at the villa. Bon appetito!

If you'd like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. The final registration deadline of Jan. 25th is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

NikiGulley.com

Tuscany Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9" x 12" textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 4:  TUSCANY ART TREK

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the next day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we took it easy and painted right at the villa while the photographers and the rest of the group went exploring in Montalcino. I decided to paint this view from our breakfast table, since I'd been admiring it every day of the trip. It was a gorgeous morning with beautiful puffy white clouds that gave the landscape a beautiful soft filtered light. Working with palette knife, this rolling hills scene is loaded with texture, color and movement!

For lunch we feasted on fresh local fruit and vegees, pecorinos, cured meats and a little wine and prosecco at the villa. Bon appetito!

If you'd like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

***

To see more of my contemporary landscape paintings and plein air oil paintings, please visit my booth

at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, TX this weekend.

Cottonwood Art Festival

Sat. Oct. 5th • 10am – 7pm

Sun. Oct. 6th • 10am – 6pm

 Cottonwood Park at Beltline Rd. and Coit • Richardson, TX

cottonwoodartfestival.com

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NikiGulley.com

Painting in Montepulciano with Niki Gulley

"Morning Overlook," Montepulciano
9" x 12" oil by Niki Gulley

 TUSCANY ART TREK

Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

During our Tuscany Art Trek, we visit the picturesque hill town of Montepulciano, known for its delicious red wines. We set up at this beautiful scenic overlook to paint the valley below. Narrowing down a subject to paint is challenging since the whole scene is amazing, but impossible to capture all of it on our small travel canvases. An amazing morning!

If you'd like to join us in Tuscany for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop Sept. 5th-13th, please let me know. Early registration deadline of Nov. 16th for a $600 savings is quickly approaching! For more details, e-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

Upcoming Art Treks

Venice, Italy – Carnivalé – Feb. 22-Mar. 1, 2014

Paris, France – June 19-27, 2014

 Provence, France – June 26 – July 4, 2014

Tuscany, Italy – Sept. 5-13, 2014

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – Sept. 12-21, 2014

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshops

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

E-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

To see more of my Italy and European paintings, please visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

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

"Peaceful Harbor," Lake Como, Italy ©2013 Niki Gulley

SOLD • oil on canvas • 24" x 36"

Lake Como, Italy is probably my favorite spot from all of our travels. The vistas are simply breathtaking with the alps in the background, the gorgeous blue of the lake, the brightly colored unique buildings and the lush foliage dotting the magnificent gardens. I love this little laid back town of Varenna, which is so peaceful that all of your cares just melt away. 

Now we can't wait to share the Italian experience with other painters, photographers and anyone interested in traveling, so we are leading an Art Trek to Lake Como and Cinque Terre this September. If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Italy, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop to Cinque Terre and Lake Como from Sept. 6th - Sept. 14th.

Our unique Art Treks afford you the option to choose which aspects interest you, whether it is painting, photography, both or neither, thereby giving you an opportunity to make the most of your experience. Our trips are designed to hone your skills and expand your creativity, all while you further your artistic voice and immerse yourself in the region's culture and lifestyle. Non-participating partners are encouraged to join us for a reduced price, and we'll help with travel arrangements, tours, transportation, etc. while we're painting and photographing.

ArtTreks – Cinque Teere and Lake Como, Italy

Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop

Sept. 13-22, 2013

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

Early Registration Deadline for a $500 Savings: Jan. 11

Final Registration Deadline: March 1

Add on a second Art Trek back to back with the Cinque Terre / Lake Como trip, and join us in Tuscany Sept. 6-14 for a 2 week Italian adventure!

For more details, E-mail Niki Gulley or go to nikigulley.com/artreks.

These workshops are filling up quickly, so we encourage you to register soon!

***

NikiGulley.com

Deadline for Niki Gulley's "Coloring Outside the Lines" Workshop

"Room with a View," Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley

10" x 30" textured oil painting of our villa in Tuscany

Last night - Tuscany Art Trek

On the last evening of our Tuscany Art Trek, we gathered for show and tell (which everyone prefers calling it over a critique) with some wine and treats that we'd picked out throughout the week. It was so much fun seeing the spiral "stairway of art" grow each day as my student's added their completed paintings to the display, and amazing to watch the progression in each's work as they got more confident with their paint and letting their individual voices out. Scott assembled a slide show for each of the photography student's top shots, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to see Tuscany through each photographer's unique perspective. It's always fascinating to me how two artists (or in this case 9) can stand in the same place, and capture something completely different. 

We ended the night with one last delicious Italian meal, complete with truffles, bruschetta, homemade pastas and vin santo for dessert, enjoying the company of new friends. A perfect end to the trip!

My student's paintings from the week on the spiral stairway of art.

If you'd like to join us for next year's Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. Registration deadlines for some of the trips are less than a month away!

If you'd like to learn how to paint with more color and freedom, please join me for my upcoming workshop, "Coloring Outside the Lines," in Fredericksburg, TX, Nov. 2-4. Registration deadline is Oct. 15th. For details, visit nikigulley.com/art-classes.

If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

NikiGulley.com

Discount Registration Deadline for February's Venice Art Trek

"La Foce" Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 5" x 7" textured oil painting

Day 4, afternoon location, La Foce - Tuscany Art Trek

That afternoon, we were planning on painting this unique winding road dotted with cypress trees, but it started drizzling. So we decided to tour the gardens next door instead. Extremely formal and organized with clipped boxwoods and plantings in symmetrical stone urns, impressive travertine column staircases, and the largest indoor potted citrus grove in the area, it was interesting to see the contrast between an Italian garden and an American garden, and the challenges of getting irrigation to the remote property. That evening we hung out at the villa again, enjoying the beautiful views and sunset while sampling some delicious authentic Italian pizza. A perfect end to the day!

If you'd like to see my paintings from Tuscany and more of my contemporary landscape paintings, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Oct. 6th and 7th, from 10am - 6pm. Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com for details.

Enjoying the dramatic views from our villa over a leisurely dinner that evening.

If you'd like to join us for next year's Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is today!

If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

***

US Classes and Workshops - nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops - nikigulley.com/artreks/

Available Paintings - NikiGulley.com

Niki Gulley at Cottonwood Art Festival this Weekend

"Lemon Tree" Tuscany ©2012 Niki Gulley

12" x 9" textured oil painting

Day 4 - Tuscany Art Trek

On Day 4 of our Tuscany painting and photography workshop, we decide to take it easy after a busy day in Siena the day before and paint again at the villa. It was a gorgeous morning with bright puffy clouds and soft golden sunlight hitting the back of our villa. So while we set up our easels just a few feet away from one another, each painter picked a different subject. From the highly textured stone farm house, to this lemon tree that was so lush and tall that I chose for my painting, to a random bed that was on the property, to the terra cotta steps and quintessential Tuscan architectural details, to the ancient well and delicate geraniums, each student's paintings turned out beautifully. After a peaceful morning of painting and photographing, we all reconvened on the patio of the villa for another delicious lunch of locally grown fruits, meats, cheeses and Vino Nobile.

If you'd like to see "Lemon Tree" and more of my travel plein-air paintings, please stop by my booth at the Cottonwood Art Festival this weekend, Oct. 6th and 7th, from 10am - 6pm. Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com for details.

Enjoying a delicious lunch at our villa, overlooking the surrounding rolling hills and distant Tuscan hill towns.

If you'd like to join us for next year's Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is this Saturday!

If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

***

US Classes and Workshops - nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops - nikigulley.com/artreks/

Available Paintings - NikiGulley.com

Day 2, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley

12x9 oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 2, Montepulciano - Tuscany Art Trek

We woke up the next morning to beautiful blue skies with gorgeous puffy white clouds. We set up our easels at this amazing overlook in Montepulciano, with the whole valley spreading out before us. With so much to choose from for our subject, we decided to focus in on the church below. Our light was constantly changing from the beautiful clouds above so we had to paint quickly, and consequently each of our reactions to the scene came out differently on our canvases. I loved the variety in each artist's work!

Pat Lautner and Sheri Jones painting at the gorgeous Montepulciano overloook.

If you'd like to join us for next year's Art Trek to Venice in February, Greece in May, Tuscany in September or Cinque Terre / Lake Como in September, please visit NikiGulley.com/Artreks for more information. Workshops fill up quickly, so please let us know if you are interested. The early deadline and to receive a $500 savings for the Venice workshop is less than a month away.

If you have questions about the Art Treks workshops or are interested in purchasing any of my plein air paintings, please e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

***

US Classes and Workshops - nikigulley.com/art-classes.

Travel Art Treks and Plein Air Workshops - nikigulley.com/artreks/

Available Paintings - NikiGulley.com

Three Days Left for Tuscany Painting Workshop w/ Niki Gulley

"View from Montepulciano" Tuscany, Italy

SOLD • 14" x 11" pastel by Niki Gulley

Join us for our next Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Tuscany, Sept. 2 -10. In addition to daily painting and/or photography excursions, there will also be day trips into the surrounding hill towns, along with winery tours, museum visits in Florence and plenty of gorgeous Italian countryside. The villa we stay at sits atop a hill with 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding area, it has all modern convinces, plus wifi and a swimming pool. This truly is La Dolce Vita, so don’t wait until the last minute to sign up.

The early deadline for a $400 discount is just a couple days away!

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information, or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

From our last Tuscany workshop, everyone enjoying a delicious Italian dinner al fresco after a fun-filled day of painting, photographing and sightseeing in the Tuscan countryside.

NikiGulley.com

"Villa View," Tuscany Painting Workshop with Niki Gulley

“Villa View,” Tuscany ©2011 Niki Gulley

Oil on canvas • 8” x 24”

When we teach our workshop in Tuscany, the villa and its views are so beautiful that I just had to paint it. The quintessential stone farmhouse is surrounded by these unobstructed amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding valleys and hill towns. I decided to go with a panorama format because it seemed the only way to communicate the expansive landscape around the property, and even that doesn’t begin to do it justice. I chose to work with extremely thick oil paint and palette knives since you don’t see Tuscany painted that way very often and it’s so much fun to play with all of that paint.

Another view from the villa by one of my students. Very talented!

If you'd like to join us for our next Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshop, Sept. 2 -10, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information, or visit nikigulley.com/?page_id=13. The early deadline for a $400 discount is just a week away!

NikiGulley.com