Painting and Photographing Pienza with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

SOLD • 12" x 9" textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley

Day 7, Pienza:  TUSCANY FOODIE TREK

Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek, we explored the picturesque, quaint town of Pienza to enjoy its cobbled 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

We capped the night off with an amazing Michelin dinner surrounded by new friends and drifted off to sleep, full, happy and at peace.

***

For more details on my other Tuscany paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

***

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

2023 Schedule

Venice - Carnivalé 

Art Trek - Feb. 12-18

•

Tuscany

Foodie Trek - May 27 - June 3

•

Provence

Art Trek - June 24- July 1

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

Painting and Photographing Pienza with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12" x 9" textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Pienza:  TUSCANY ART TREK

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

On the last day of our Tuscany Art 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

While some of our group explored Pienza, a few of the others stayed back at the villa to take a cooking class from a Tuscan mama chef. From hand rolled pici pasta, to roasted pork, to various pizzas and appetizers and finishing with a chocolate cherry ricotta torte, they shared their homemade creations with the rest of us. While they had a great time learning, we thoroughly enjoyed tasting their new found skills in the kitchen!

***

If you're interested in joining us on one of upcoming Art Treks, please let us know. The early registration deadline of Sept. 23rd for a $600 on most trips is quickly approaching, so don't wait!

FULL - Fall in New England – Oct. 10-15, 2017

FULL - Croatia and Slovenia – May  9 – 17 (or with extended 4 days May 9 – 21 /2018

Venice, Italy (Carnival) – February 3 – 10 /2018

Tuscany, Italy – Sept 7-15, 2018

Cinque Terre and Lake Como, Italy – September  14 – 23 /2018   

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

***

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions.

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

Palette Knife Painting Demo by Texas Artist Niki Gulley for the Trinity Art Guild

"Spring's Arrival"  ©2014  Niki Gulley
24" x 12" textured oil painting on wrap around canvas

Inspired from our Art Trek to Provence, I chose to paint this stone farm house and poppy field for my palette knife demonstration for the Trinity Art Guild last week. The resulting image is loaded with thick oil paint and texture, uplifting color and energy!

If you'd like to join us in Provence for our next Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop June 26th - July 4th, please let me know soon as there are only 2 spaces left! 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

***

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

NikiGulley.com

Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams - Deadline tomorrow!

"Welcome Home," Tuscany  ©2014  Niki Gulley
12" x 9" textured oil painting

On the last day of our Tuscany Art Trek in September, we explored the nearby hill town of 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide show from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the week end.

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

Last Day, Tuscany Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

12" x 9" textured oil by Niki Gulley

Day 6, Pienza:  TUSCANY ART TREK

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

On the last day of our Tuscany Art 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 of the stone walls, the potted plants around it, and the soft light raking across it.

That afternoon we gathered back at the villa for a slide from our photographers of the trip and to see the paintings we completed, accompanied by a little wine and Italian treats. That night we enjoyed a beautiful Terrace view over dinner with amazing food and new friends. A perfect end to a perfect week! We were sad to see the night end.

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 website at NikiGulley.com.

Day 1 - Santa Fe Painting Workshop w/ Niki Gulley

9x12 oil painting by Niki Gullley

Plein Air Painting & Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, NM

Day 1, morning location: Echo Canyon

We just got back from our week long workshop we taught in Santa Fe, NM, and what a beautiful week we had! While near 90 degrees, it sure beat our 100s here in Texas, and we avoided the humidity. We lucked out all week, and it never rained while we were painting. Most everyone in the group was either new to painting or it was their first time to sketch outdoors on location, and they did great! While our group was a little nervous the first day, I started them out with an oil demo so everyone could see how easy it is to jump in and just get something down on their blank canvas.

I chose this close-up view of the cliffs because the rock formations were so unusual, and the light hitting them was beautiful. Working only 9x12 and with a quick half hour demo, I wanted to keep the scene as simple as possible. Blocking in cool, transparent purples and blues for the shadow colors and distant mountains, I then added opaque, warm, thick highlights to the rocks and clouds to capture the soft, glowing morning light.

If you'd like more information on our upcoming

Plein-Air Painting & Photography Workshops, please e-mail me at Niki Gulley,

or visit my website at nikigulley.com/?page_id=13.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings,

go to nikigulley.com,

or to purchase this plein air study from Santa Fe,

e-mail me at Niki Gulley.