"Reclining Thoughts" New Textured Aspen Tree Painting by Niki Gulley

“Reclining Thoughts” ©2013 Niki Gulley

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

In this painting, I wanted you to you to experience the wonderment of looking up into the treetops – just like you did when you were a kid. Lying on the ground, not a care in the world, you gaze in wonderment as the clouds drift by. Choosing playful colors and thick chunky staccato strokes add to that childlike whimsy and I hope you are transported back to a happy, carefree time and place.

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

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

If you're in the Chicago area, please stop by my booth at the 57th Street Art Fair:
Sat. June 1 • 11am – 6pm

Sun. June 2 • 10am – 5pm

On S. Kimbark, between 56th and 57th Streets • Booth # 827 (close to 56th St.) • Chicago, IL 

57thstreetartfair.org

Sounds of Autumn

“Sounds of Autumn” ©2010 Niki Gulley

Pastel • 14” x 11”

The Chicago Botanic Garden is always beautiful, but in this pastel I wanted to capture it on a perfect autumn day when the native grasses and fall foliage have turned their vibrant autumn colors. I like this view looking across the peaceful lake towards the carillon chiming in the distance, playing in time with the trickling sounds of the wind flickering the fall leaves.

If you’re in the Chicago area, stop by my booth at the Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational to see “Sounds of Autumn” and more of my recent paintings. oakbrookcenter.com

To learn how to paint with pastels, join me in my Adult Art Lessons, Playing with Color, this fall. Classes fill up quickly, so visit NikiGulley.com for more information.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com to register or with any questions.

NikiGulley.com

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshops - Tuscany with Niki Gulley

"Poppy Passion" ©2010 Niki Gulley

18" x 36" oil painting

Our upcoming workshop that we're teaching in Tuscany makes me think about the gorgeous poppy fields blooming along the rolling Italian hills in springtime. To think that such a delicate flower can produce that powerful explosion of color when planted in mass boggles my senses. Seeing that sudden burst of intense orange or red against the azure blue sky after miles of green countryside is quite amazing. I love how complimentary colors, like blue and orange, vibrate when placed next to each other and I wanted to communicate that beauty and excitement in "Poppy Passion," while reliving some of my favorite vacation memories from Tuscany – the warmth of the people, the beauty of the rolling hills and vineyards, the delicious, savory slow-grown food and wine and enjoying the laid-back, smell-the-roses time with my loved ones.

If you like to see "Poppy Passion" in person and you're in the Chicago area, stop by my booth #89 at the Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational this weekend. Visit oakbrookcenter.com for more information or check out my website NikiGulley.com.

If you'd like to find out more about our upcoming Painting & Photography Workshops in Europe, go to nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 or e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com for more information.

Adult Art Classes with Niki Gulley

“Peaceful Harbor” ©2010 Niki Gulley

24” x 36” oil on canvas

Out of the 16 countries that I’ve visited, Lake Como, Italy is definitely one of my favorites places in the world. When we stepped off the train and wandered down to the water’s edge, my eyes started filling with tears being overwhelmed by the stunning scenery. Between the beautiful, peaceful lake, the awesome snow-capped alps in the distance, and the brightly colored stacked houses, we relished every minute we spent in this sleepy Lake Como town.

To see “Peaceful Harbor” in person along with my other most recent paintings, visit my booth #355 at the Gold Coast Art Show in Chicago, IL this weekend. For more information on the show, go to amdurproductions.com/f-goldcoast-public.html.

Or, if you’d like to learn how to paint luscious landscapes, join me this fall in my

Adult Art Classes. Thanks to the overwhelming response to my Tuesday session, I am adding two more classes on Wednesdays. If you’re interested in joining us, visit my website at NikiGulley.com for more information,

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Transitional Tones oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil on canvas

I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.

See NikiGulley.com for companion paintings or stop by my painting booth this weekend in Chicago at the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For more details, go to chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=189.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions or comments.

Spinning through Time by Niki Gulley

"Spinning through Time" ©2010 Niki Gulley

36" x 60" oil on canvas

In "Spinning through Time," I wanted you to escape from the heat of summer and life's day to day responsibilities and enjoy a peaceful lake retreat. I purposely chose cool colors to add to this feeling of tranquility and I liked how the arrangement of the trees framed the lake in almost a circular pattern, suggesting the cyclical flow of nature. Soothing waters and being immersed in natural surroundings can have such a cathartic effect, and I hope you experience that relaxing moment in "Spinning through Time."

I'll be exhibiting this painting and several of my other new chunky oil paintings at Evanston's Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend. If you're in the Chicago area, I hope you can stop by the show. For more information, see chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions.

Visit my website at NikiGulley.com.

Transitional Tones II oil painting by Niki Gulley

“Transitional Tones II” ©2010 Niki Gulley

12” x 12” oil painting

I created these birch trees with palette knife and extremely thick oil paint to achieve texture and suggest the energy found in nature. The image is painted around the sides of the 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas so that it looks three-dimensional and can be hung as is without a frame for a contemporary look. These chunky birch paintings look great in pairs and threes.

See NikiGulley.com/?page_id=229 for companion paintings or visit my art booth at the Fountain Square Art Festival this weekend in Evanston, IL to see more of my textured palette knife paintings in person. For details on the show, go to chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=123.

Or, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com with any questions or comments.

NikiGulley.com