"Heightened Awareness V" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

"Heightened Awareness V” ©2014 Niki Gulley

48” x 30” textured mixed media on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a vivid blue sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, both add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

If you're in Chicago this weekend, and you'd like to see more of Niki's aspen and birch paintings, please visit her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair.

57th Street Art Fair

Sat. June 7 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 8 • 10am – 5pm

Booth #706

Chicago, IL • on 57th St.,

between Kenwood and Kimbark Ave.

57thStreetArtFair.org

E-mail Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information about my palette knife contemporary landscape paintings.

NikiGulley.com

"Aqua Dreams" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

“Aqua Dreams” ©2014 Niki Gulley

36” x 60” textured oil on canvas

When we arrived at this tranquil spot, the early morning light was very cool in color, but as the sun began to rise from the horizon, it shone this beautiful warm light that shimmered on the water’s surface and cast its hope of what was to come from the brand new day. I remember the peacefulness I felt in that moment, and a sense that anything was possible. In Aqua Dreams, by showing the contrast in the cool aqua/blues in the foreground waters against the warm golden glow on the distant pond’s edge, I wanted to share that feeling of hope and promise communicated by nature.

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

For more information on my textured palette knife birch and aspen tree oil paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

New Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

"October Blaze" ©2014 Niki Gulley

36" x 48" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

With "October Blaze," I wanted to focus on brilliant color and simple shapes to see if I could communicate the excitement I feel when surrounded by nature. Using energetic diagonal strokes and thick, textured paint, I hope you get a sense of the motion in the leaves and the power of nature to invigorate your spirit. I just love how this piece captured that essence!

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

For more information on palette knife birch and aspen tree paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Just Sold! New Winter Aspen Tree oil painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Harmonic Hues" ©2014 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 12" x 12" textured oil on canvas

I painted this aspen grove with extremely thick oil paint and palette knife. The resulting canvas is loaded with texture, color and energy! I've painted it on 1 and 1/2 inch deep stretcher bars, with the image continuing around the edges so that it can be hung as is frameless for a contemporary look. 

This aspen and birch trees series look great hung alone to brighten up a little spot, or in a grouping with some of the other seasons I've painted to fill a larger space. Hang them horizontally (pictured below), vertically, on a diagonal or stacked like pictured above. E-mail Niki Gulley to find complimentary companion pieces.

To see more of my large textured aspen and birch tree oil paintings, please visit NikiGulley.com.

"Heightened Awareness" Palette Knife Aspen Tree Painting by Texas Artist Niki Gulley

Heightened Awareness III ©2014 Niki Gulley

48" x 36" • Textured mixed media on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. I chose vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a violet blue sky filled with big, puffy clouds. And, by arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery are enhanced.

If you'd like more information on my textured aspen and birch tree paintings, e-mail Niki Gulley.

NikiGulley.com

New Textured Birch Painting by Niki Gulley

"Fire and Gold" ©2014 Niki Gulley

textured oil on canvas • 36" x 48"

I love the first signs of fall – the crisp feel in the air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful autumn colors, and being totally immersed in nature in the middle of a forest without a care in the world. In Fire and Gold I wanted to recreate that joyful feeling, choosing warm reds and yellows of autumn and using energetic strokes with my paint to heighten that mood. Building up first thin transparent layers and then thick textured layers of oil paint also add to a certain glow and magic in the final piece.

E-mail - Niki Gulley for more information.

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

Just Sold! "Purple Perspective" New Lavender Field painting by Niki Gulley

"Purple Perspective," Provence ©2014 Niki Gulley

SOLD • 24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas
pictured in espresso floater frame

This lavender painting was inspired from our trip to Provence last summer, when our timing was perfect and we caught both the lavender and poppies in full bloom! I loved how in this photo that I took, the lavender really draws your eye back into the distance and invites you to walk down the purple rows and enjoy the heavenly aromas. I also liked the contrast in color of the poppies planted at the start of the rows against the violet and how the crimson blooms break up the long vertical format of the canvas.

To see more of Gulley's palette knife landscape paintings, check out NikiGulley.com.

To find out more about upcoming Plein Air Painting Workshops and Art Treks, including a trip to Provence this summer and again in 2015, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

E-mail - Niki Gulley