Windy December by Kay Wyne

Windy December
8" x 10" Oil on RayMar Cotton Panel
Landscape Plein Air

As I post this today the wind is howling and makes me feel as I did the day I painted this small painting.  It was a cold and windy day at White Rock Lake.  As you can imagine, it was hard keeping all of my painting equipment together.  I started with a brush, but ended up painting with a palette knife.  I was painting with a Monday morning plein air group.  Outdoor situations make you paint fast and deliberate.  I probably need to get out of the studio and paint outdoors more in 2015.  This painting is for sale....contact Kay if you have comments or questions.  Thanks for looking....Kay

"Dancing on Water" Palette Knife Water Lily Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Dancing on Water," Monet's Gardens, Giverny, France  ©2014 Niki Gulley

36" x 60" textured oil painting 

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water, diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface; water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage while azure skies reflect in the water.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

"Dancing on Water" Palette Knife Water Lily Painting by Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

"Dancing on Water," Monet's Gardens, Giverny, France  ©2014 Niki Gulley

36" x 60" textured oil painting 

Sunlight sparkles across aqua blue water, diamonds of purple glitter the pond’s surface; water lilies lift their faces toward the sun and gently dance across the water.

Golden sunlight filters through the brambles and ferns, a touch of cardinal red peeks through purple and pink foliage while azure skies reflect in the water.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

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

Lazy Afternoon by Kay Wyne

Lazy Afternoon

Contemporary Palette Knife Painting

18" x 18" Oil on Canvas

I got my palette knives out yesterday and worked on the landscape with the two cattle.  I would of put some tall grass in the foreground, but the canvas is way too wet with thick paint.  I had to use a very small knife for the the cows to get the small shapes in.  Thanks for looking at my art....email me if you are interested in purchasing.  This is Day 24 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  Thanks- Kay

Perfect Day by Kay Wyne

Perfect Day

48" x 72" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Contemporary Palette Knife Painting
I took a break from on the collaborative commission that Sharon and I have been working on for the past three weeks and put this canvas on my easel.  When I needed a break from the long hours of that job, I worked on this painting.  I wanted to paint something loose and colorful, fun and happy.  I used two different palette knives on this painting...so there is plenty of paint built up on the canvas.  Blending colors, I was mindful that it doesn't take much mixing to create MUD.  I also got brave and put my least favorite color in....green.  I usually back away from greens of any shade, but cad green was a good choice, especially when it bounces off the cad reds and oranges.  Thanks for looking at this painting.  Contact me if you have any questions about this painting....kay@kwyne.com.

Windy December by Kay Wyne

Windy December

8" x 10" Oil on RayMar Cotton Panel

En Plein Air
Yesterday was a beautiful December Monday at White Rock Lake.  I was with the Tutti group painting.  I started this 8" x 10" with two brushes, a filbert and a flat.  My vision for this painting was to nail down the colors of this beautiful fall day.  There were so many natural golds and greens and oranges in the landscape, but soon my attention went from the colors to the WIND.  It was so windy, which forced me to work quickly.  I know that the wind contributed some flecks of texture (dirt and bugs).  I pulled out my trusty #24 palette knife and started scraping and moving the paint around, making the hard edges go away and blending the oils.  Here is my finished painting, Windy December.

In this photo you can see my set-up at the lake.  My guerrilla box stood up against the wind that was whipping around us.  I used a limited palette - six colors and white - which makes it so much easier to paint quickly.  Thanks for viewing.  I start the large commission today, so my time will be focused on that project for the upcoming weeks.  Kay at kay@kwyne.com.

Bold Day by Kay Wyne

Bold Day

48" x 48" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Contemporary Palette Knife Painting

Currently hanging at The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, TX.

kay@kwyne.com

Plein Air Painting Workshop at the Dallas Arboretum with Niki Gulley

"Bamboo Forest," Dallas Arboretum ©2012 Niki Gulley

8" x 10" textured oil painting 

I created this little painting of the bamboo garden at the Arboretum last spring with palette knife and thick oil paint. It was so peaceful back there and cool from the shade, that it seemed like a perfect place to set up my easel. I liked how the warm light was trickling through the web of leaves and how it illuminated the dappled path into the distance.

If you, too, would like to paint outdoors, join me on Oct. 24th when I'll be teaching a Plein Air Painting workshop sponsored by the Dallas Arboretum. It will be a great introduction to painting outdoors for beginning artists, as well as an opportunity for advanced artists to enhance their skills. For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org/AdultEducation/index.htm.

If you'd like more information about my upcoming workshops in the US and Europe, visit nikigulley.com/artreks.

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

NikiGulley.com

Painting in Montepulciano with Niki Gulley

12x9 textured oil painting by Niki Gulley

Day 2, Montepulciano - Tuscany Art Trek

With a little more time before our afternoon winery tour, we decided to work on another painting. I chose this view of the tile rooftops below spreading out in front of the valley. I loved the puzzle piece feel of the buildings, zigzagging in all different directions, clinging to the steep drop below with the fields of crops also adding their criss crossing patterns to the jigsaw puzzle.

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.

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

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

Available Paintings - NikiGulley.com