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Even though we have traversed the Panama Canal before, the experience is always facinating and enjoyable. Our ship, the Regal Princess, had very little room to spare in the locks and was just about the biggest vessel that can be accomodated. We enjoyed spending all day in the hot sun during the trip though the canal where I used lots of sun screen, by this time my white body was turning a ripe shade of red, but it felt so good!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

An artist painting at the ox cart factory in the lovely city of Sarchi, Costa Rica. We were fortunate to have enough time in Costa Rica to travel to the Poas Volcano National Park, and to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens where we saw a butterfly observatory and a humingbird aviary. The vibrant colors of the tropical flowers were fantastic, and I loved the beautiful butterflies. Now I want to paint butterflies! I liked Costa Rica very much.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Boats are still built by hand in the coastal town of Quito (Manta), Ecuador. The weather was hot and humid, just what our lily white, sun deprived bodies needed. We traveled overland to Montecristi and visited an artisans market and watched women make Panama hats by hand. The living conditions in this region were squalid and sparse, fortunately the climate is warm and shelter from the sun is all that is really needed.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

The Alaska winter was very, very cold this year, and by March a visit to warmer climates was in order.  Bob took this photo of me at the Parque del Amor in Lima, Peru, in the beautiful Miraflores Park above the Pacific Ocean, standing by the famous statue dedicated to love.  We enjoyed artistic pathway walls decorated with mosaics and lush flower gardens at this park near downtown Lima. There are many interesting subjects for an artist to paint in this South American city.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

A few weeks ago students who are taking drawing classes at Matanuska Susitna College, Palmer, Alaska, took a field trip and visited my studio. The day before their visit I had the pleasure of serving as the Juror for the Matanuska Susitna College Juried Student Art Show. I felt that I knew many of these budding artists personally from seeing their work. It was a joy to share my art and my life as an artist with them. God Bless each and every one of you, keep painting and drawing, and remember to follow your dream. Never be discouraged, do what you love, and keep trying because somewhere out there is a special place for you and your art. Thank you for the honor of your visit and for the privilege of serving as Juror for your student work.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

The finished original painting “High Country” in pointillism.

This original painting is available as a giclee on canvas and can be ordered on my website. The giclee is slightly smaller (22′x44″) than the original painting, but can be custom ordered larger or smaller. My technique of pointillism is slow and painstaking, but very satisfying. I am very proud of this painting. It is a view north to the Alaska Mountain Range from the Denali Highway in interior Alaska, a place that I spent many, many years exploring when I lived in the rural wilderness of Copper Center.

Thank you for following my Blog.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Close-up detail showing a section of the original painting “High Country”.

The pointillism on the midground ridges is shown here as shown in my previous Blog entry Painting with Pointillism 11. You can also see the detail in the lake.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Finishing details are added in pointillism to original painting “High Country”.

I’ve been concentrating on the lakes and the ridges directly behind the lakes, adding detail in pointillism. I’ve also added more detail to the distant mountains, the painting is nearly finished.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Partially finished painting in pointillism “High Country”.

At this stage I’m adding detail, more in the immediate foreground and much more to the midground valley. You can see patches of snow in the greyed back valley tundra. The dark ridge in the distance is taking on structure with details of forests of trees creating interesting patterns. Detail and pointillism have been applied to the distant mountains, and more work has been done to the clouds in the sky. The painting is taking shape at this point.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Close-up detail of a section of the original painting “High Country”.

Another detail from a previous blog entry Painting with Pointillism 7. This illustrates how I achieved depth between the foreground ridge and the midground valley by using greyed back colors in the valley applied in pointillism.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

A close-up detail of the center section of the original painting “High Country”.

This is a detail of the previous blog entry “Painting with Pointillism 7″.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Partially completed pointillism on original painting “High Country”.

I’ve begun to define the distant mountains with pointillism, and have applied several layers of dots to the sky. The midground is greyed back giving a distinct illusion of a foreground ridge rolling down hill. I’m working hard to create depth in the painting at this stage. Underpainting still exists on the distant mountain to the right and the very far mountains on the left, as well as the ridges behind the lake.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Karen Snead, owner of the newly remodeled Sassafras Cafe downtown Anchorage, Alaska, is pictured with “Fireweed Meadow” one of the many Gail Niebrugge art prints that decorate the cafe’s beautifully colored walls. Conveniently located across the street from Nordstroms, this is THE place for a lovely lunch, light snack or coffee. I am proud to have my work represented at Sassafras.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Original painting “High Country”.

I’ve applied pointillism to the foreground in multiple layers and it is partially finished at this point. The midground is in the beginning stages of development, and the distant mountains and sky are still the original underpainting. Notice that the blues in the lake have been toned down and greyed back to create the illusion of distance.
More tomorrow.

Gaill Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Close up detail of pointillism in the foreground of original painting “High Country”.

This is a detail of the previous blog entry “Painting with Pointillism 4″. As you can see, several layers of dots have been applied, underpainting is still showing through along the tops of the orange, brown and gold bushes.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Progress of pointillism on the original acrylic painting “High Country”.

I’ve added more pointillsm to the foreground to define the vegetation, and I’ve started the first layer of pointillism in the midground. The lake is underpainted with shades of blue.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Underpainting and first layer of pointillism on original painting “High Country”

At this point I’m establishing the shapes of the bushes and areas of scattered snow with the first layer of dots (pointillism) in the lower third of the painting. Much of the underpainting is still visible under the dots in the foreground.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Second layer of underpainting with acrylic on “High Country” original painting.

I continue to rough-in the image with several layers of acrylic paint, and work very fast at this stage. I’m extablishing stronger areas of dark and light and intensifying the colors.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

Acrylic underpainting for “High Country” original painting.

First I sketch the subject with pencil onto the painting surface, in this case a 22″ x 48″ Sintra PVC plastic board.  Then I begin to quickly apply underpainting, establishing the light and dark areas and base colors that will show through beneath the hundreds of dots of pointillism that will be applied during the course of the painting.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

I designed the logo for the Copper Basin 300 sled dog race in 1989 using research from my visit to the village of Atmutluak, Alaska. (more…)