New "Golden Textures" from Tuscany by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

"Golden Textures," Tuscany ©2020 Niki Gulley 

12" x 9" textured oil painting

On the last day of our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we explored nearby Pienza to enjoy its picturesque alleyways and amazing views of the valleys below. Having been home to Pope Pius II, the town is filled with interesting historical sites, great shopping, delicious lunch spots and plenty of interesting corners to paint. I chose this doorway since I loved the texture and color of the walls, the prolific potted ivy turning red in the fall sun, and the soft light raking across the scene. Welcome home!

Close up texture detail:

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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

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

New "Serpentine Drive" in Tuscany by Palette Knife Artist Niki Gulley

"Serpentine Drive" ©2020 Niki Gulley 

12" x 16" textured oil painting

Before we taught our Tuscany Foodie Trek, my husband and I spent a few days exploring the Tuscan countryside, painting and photographing the iconic scenery. "Serpentine Drive" illustrates one of the fascinating places we stopped with its mile long cypress lined drive. It felt like the trees snaked back and forth to infinity! Setting up my easel in late afternoon, I was able to capture the dramatic light as the setting sun illuminated the tops of the rolling hills and created long, dramatic shadows. Between the repetition of the vertical arbors and the horizontally flowing hills, the scene created a rhythmic harmony that added to the joy and serenity of the moment. 

Close up texture detail:

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

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

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

New "Golden Hour" Oil Painting from Tuscany by Niki Gulley

"Golden Hour," Tuscany ©2020 Niki Gulley

 16" x 20” textured oil painting

During our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we visit the wine mecca of Montepulciano and tour a couple of wineries while sampling their delicious Rosso and Vino Nobile wines. Besides loving their red grapes, I also have fallen in love with the beautiful landscape around there. One night we stopped to capture the setting sun and the golden hour before sunset where everything the sun touches gets bathed in a gorgeous yellow orange glow, creating dramatic highlights and long shadows. 

Close up texture detail:

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

****

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

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

New "Autumn in Tuscany" Palette Knife Oil Painting by Niki Gulley

"Autumn in Tuscany" ©2020 Niki Gulley

 10" x 20” textured oil painting

During our Tuscany Foodie Trek, we stay in the middle of the countryside at a villa surrounded by 360 degree views of the rolling hills and valleys and nearby hill towns. One of the best vantage points and probably my favorite town in Tuscany is Pienza. Perched on high, the city towers over everything around and seems to actually draw the passing clouds to its bell tower and church steeple. This was a particularly gorgeous morning with beautiful puffy white clouds drifting by that created dramatic shadows in the recesses and golden light as it hit the autumn fields. 

Close up texture detail:

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

****

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

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

New "Positano Overlook" Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Positano Overlook" ©2020 Niki Gulley

 16" x 20” textured oil painting

My husband and I recently visited Positano situated along the Amalfi Coast of Italy and were awestruck by its beauty. Since it hugs the coast, there are gorgeous views around every turn of the colorful houses and rooftops overlooking the tranquil blue harbor. With this amazing view on our walk into town every day with its iconic tiled church, I decided I had to stop and paint it! Loaded with color and texture, I hope my painting transports you to this idyllic location and brings back wonderful vacation memories.

Close up texture detail:

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

****

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

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

New "Amalfi Coast Memories" Oil Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Amalfi Coast Memories" ©2020 Niki Gulley

 16" x 20” textured oil painting

My husband and I recently visited the Amalfi Coast of Italy and were awestruck by its beauty. Since it hugs the coast, there are gorgeous views around every turn of the colorful houses and rooftops overlooking the tranquil blue harbor. With this amazing view out our hotel window, I decided I had to paint it one day! Loaded with color and texture, I hope my painting transports you to this idyllic location and brings back wonderful vacation memories.

Close up texture detail:

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - June 2021

Portugal - Aug./Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

****

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

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

New "Rural View IV" Palette Knife Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Rural View IV" ©2019 Niki Gulley

 9" x 12” textured oil painting

Continuing our journey along the west coast of Iceland, I was taken by their simplistic architecture, often topped with bright red roofs to add a pop of color to the natural landscape. In the next several paintings, you’ll see I chose a different house or barn each day and set out to capture its shape, the colors and light hitting the structure, and the picturesque, idyllic, quiet scenery surrounding the building in all directions. Here is my last one, where we got up to capture sunrise. The setting had such a beautiful glow to it that I wanted to recreate that warmth in the foreground and sky contrasted against the cool distant mountains. Created with palette knife and oil paint, this piece is full of surprising pops of color, texture, energy and joy.

Close up texture detail of "Rural Life IV"

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If you're interested in joining us on one of our upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks to Iceland or Tuscany, please let us know. Spaces fill up quickly!

Iceland - Aug. 2020

Foodie Trek - Tuscany - Oct. 2020

Paris - May 2021

Portugal - Sept. 2021

For more information on upcoming Treks, please visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

****

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

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