Artists Of Texas Contemporary Paintings and Art

“A Pause in Time” Venice, Italy ©2012 Niki Gulley 18” x 24” pastel This piece won an award at the Southwest Pastel Society's 31st National Juried Show Exhibit. It  will be on display at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX through Dec. 2nd Mysterious, enchanted, dreamlike – Venice is a fairytale at night. Evening has drawn its starry cloak over the city, the crowds and pigeons are gone and three women enjoy the evening at a café in Piazza San Marco. This changeling city, this artist’s muse now is unhurried, relaxed and romantic and this one perfect moment in time is held in artful pastels, satiated colors–rich velvet textures capture ebony/violet chairs that Peggy, Pollock or Cole Porter may have sat in, paintings of angels from old Venice and three modern women of today complete this delicate balance in a point of time. If you’d also like to experience the beauty, history and culture of Venice, join me and travel photographer, Scott Williams, for our P lein ...

"Afterglow," Venice, Italy by Niki Gulley 14" x 11" pastel As we're approaching the deadline for our plein air painting and photography workshop that my husband and I are teaching in Venice this May, I'm getting more and more excited about the trip. Venice is such a fascinating place with its architecture being 100s of years old, and the only modes of transportation being by foot or boat, that it really feels like you've stepped back in time. It's difficult not to see a painting opportunity around every corner. In "Afterglow" I wanted to capture the beautiful sunset that night over the main lagoon. The buildings in the background were kind of hazy with the sun setting, and the gondolas in front of me had just finished dropping off then final love-struck passengers and were being put away for the night. I felt like I could be in the middle of one of Claude Monet's paintings! If interested in other paintings from Venice or in more informa...

"Twilight, Venice" by Niki Gulley 11" x 14" pastel In anticipation of our upcoming painting/photography workshop that my husband and I are teaching in Venice, Italy this spring, I thought I'd put my excitement down on canvas. I can't wait to get back to the beauty and magic of Venice. I love entering a different world and time when we visit. This piece is inspired by the glow cast from the sun setting beyond the lagoon. Most of the gondolas have returned from their romantic cruises and have been put up for the night. There is a calmness to the usually bustling waterway that I thoroughly enjoy this time of day. If interested in "Twilight, Venice" or in more information about our next painting/photography workshop in Italy, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com. Or, visit my website nikigulley.com/ng2/?page_id=13 . The registration deadline of Jan. 30th is quickly approaching!