niebruggestudio.com

Above is the original underpainting of a section of the Kennicott Copper Mine painting showing the chimney stacks and some of the glacier moraine in the background. Very few dots have been applied at this point. (more…)

I will now begin a series showing close up details of the progress of the large painting of the Kennicott Copper Mine, located in the Wrangell St-Elias National Park, Alaska, shown in my Blog entry posted January 7, 2007 titled “First Layer Underpainting”. Shown above is the original underpainting with a few dots added on the grey roof, stairway, red wall under the stairs, and foliage in the lower right corner. (more…)

Photography and its equipment have improved rapidly since the early 1970’s when I used the Brownie Instamatic camera. The popularity of SLR cameras with through the lens view finders made photographing artwork easier. No more adjusting the camera to the right or left or higher so that only part of the subject showed in the viewfinder because it did not line up with the lens. With this new innovation, what you see is what you get! (more…)

“A Tree Still Grows” 30″x40″ acrylic on canvas ©Niebrugge 1972

When I began painting as a serious professional in the early 1970’s, my art photography equipment consisted of a Kodak Instamatic camera using rolled cartridge film and a cheap three legged wooden easel. My research consisted of reading current art magazines, where they instructed me in the importance of photographing art outdoors without direct sun for best color and exposure. (more…)

Technology has changed during my three plus decades as a professional artist, but what hasn’t changed is the importance of keeping a visual record of original paintings and drawings. Many artists have not considered the significance of maintaining this documentation. I have a visual record for almost all of the originals I have created and it has served me very well throughout the years. (more…)

Kennicott original painting in progress. Pointillism is beginning to cover the underpainting the lower third, the center and most of the top are just quick strokes of the first layer of under painting. The sky is pointillism, but I think I will change it after the mountains are more defined. (more…)

Scott Jensen, KTUU Channel 2, Anchorage, Alaska, making a video of Gail painting in her studio using the technique of pointillism for the 6:00 news Friday, January 5, 2007. The painting on the easel is a partially completed version of the Kennicott Copper Mine located in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska. Use this link to access Scott Jensen’s blog and see the video http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5903445

The landscape at Niebrugge Studio covered in fresh snow.

I promised to write a series on the Business of Art and the Artist and I will, but sometimes I just have to stop and “smell the roses” so to speak. The landscape outside is absolutely staggering in its beauty, and yesterday while the sun was shining, I drove all around the valley snapping photos for future painting reference material. And, today a reporter from Channel 2 News, Anchorage, will be here interviewing Bob and I for a segment in the news tonight. So, I guess, this is part of the business of art. Be flexible and don’t pass up good opportunities.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

People are surprised when I explain that the business of art requires the same organizational skills as any other small business.  It seems the perception of an artist is someone who paints when they are in the “mood” or “inspired” and then dabbles at painting between luncheons and shopping, living a life with very little responsibility and a lot of leisure.  This may be true for some who are retired and paint in their spare time as a hobby, but bears no resemblance to the intense, structured, jam packed schedule of a working professional artist. (more…)