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This is the view from my studio this morning, the fall colors are nearing their peak. Totally gorgeous!

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Several hundred guests attended and eight artists displayed their work during the opening reception at the Valley Friday Invitational Art Exhibit at Mat-Su College.  Pictured are guests browsing the Niebrugge Studio print bins during the event.  I enjoyed renewing my friendship with featured artist James Belcher whom I have known for many years, but seldom see.  Live music, food, and a relaxed atmosphere made an enjoyable evening for all.

Gail

Grassy Wetlands original 22″x 30″ acrylic/watercolor painting on rag paper.

Tonight, September 28 from 5:00PM-8:00PM, I will be attending the opening reception of Mat-Su Valley Friday Invitational and exhibiting my prints. Twenty artists from the valley will be represented in the show held at the Upstairs Gallery and art classrooms at the Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer. The original painting, Grassy Wetlands, will hang in the gallery until October 5. Fine Arts Coordinator, Suzanne Bach, says it is a very strong show.

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

Sunflower 36″x48″ acrylic on canvas original pointillism painting.

The finished painting Sunflower. Next, the completed work will be photographed and digitized for my records, once the photography is complete I will apply several coats of Gloss Acrylic Gel to the entire surface. The gel will intensify color and give a nice tough finish to the surface. Since I prefer to use gloss gel I wait until after the painting is photographed before applying the finish coat, because the photo lighting reflects off the glossy surface and creates tiny white sparkles on the painting. When the gel coat is dry I take the painting to the frame shop for framing. Meanwhile I enter the title and vital information into my original painting database and original painting price lists. The image will be submitted for registration with the U.S. Government Copyright Office. The painting should be ready to exhibit at our annual Open House, October 20-21.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Pointillism Artist

A beautiful fall evening at our studio/residence on the lake. Our family all gathered to say “goodbye” to photographer son Ron and wife Janine the night before they flew to the lower forty-eight to tour Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and other scenic places for their fall photo shoot. Good luck Ron and Janine, stay safe!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Fine Artist

“Tanada Peak” original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

One of my goals while living in the Copper River Basin was to paint as many of the mountain peaks in the Wrangell-St. Elias as possible, and I keep a sharp eye for a unique point of view or a different angle to approach this project. Tanada Peak is located to the southwest of Nabesna Road, one of only two roads into the park. One cold winter day I saw the mountain back lit, it was perfect because it caused the peak to stand out in the white on white landscape. This painting is owned by the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and hangs in the Slana Ranger Station.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska’s Artist

“Ultima Thule Experience” original acrylic painting in pointillism by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Many years ago we became friends with a young couple, Paul & Donna Claus, who operate an adventure guide service and lodge, Ultima Thule Outfitters, in a very remote part of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Located 100 miles from the Chitina Airport with no road access, visiting this lodge is indeed a wilderness experience. (more…)

“McCarthy Terminal” original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

One of my favorite places in Alaska is McCarthy/Kennicott in the Wrangell Mountains, and I visited often in my own single engine Cessna 170B. It was a short flight from my home in Copper Center and in bad weather access via the Chitina River route was usually open. I made many good friends in this remote settlement during the late 1970’s and early 80’s. One friend in particular, Flo Hegland, invited me to stay in her home where we painted together plein air. It was not unusual to find us working at a scenic location with canvas, easels, and palettes full of paint executing our newest creations. My little airplane opened up the world in the Wrangell Mountains to me. This painting depicts the Post Office and terminal at McCarthy in 1977, a new, bigger airstrip serves the community today.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska’s Artist

I’m beginning to add details to the lower leaves. This is the fun part of painting, details make the whole piece come together!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

I’ve made some changes to the composition to keep your eye traveling around inside the painting. In the upside down photo posted a few days ago the strong diagonal lines and highlights on the leaves caused the viewers eye to be drawn off the picture plane in the upper left corner. By darkening the leaves near the upper left corner and darkening the purple/blue spaces between the leaves the composition seems to be working a bit better. I’m still planning to refine the composition as I develop the details. Sometimes the devil is in details, and can throw a very good painting off balance quickly. Constantly checking the painting upside down, sideways, and using a mirror to reverse the image are handy tricks I use to keep the composition flowing.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

I have harvested and cleared out most of the vegetable garden raised beds this week, then a good frost signaled time to finally harvest the brussels sprouts. Next I plan to amend the soil, it definitely needs lime and I’m not sure what else. This year our vegetables were tender and tasty, but small. Now that I know what to expect from this new garden site, I’m going to experiment until I get a bumper crop! But first it must rest and wait out the winter.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

I am nearing the finish of the Sunflower original painting and it is time to add details, a part of painting that I enjoy very much! The photo above shows highlights and shadows on the seeds in the center of the sunflower. Next I will complete the detail on the yellow petals, and finally the leaves. Detail is saved for the very last.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Art

At this point in the progress of the Sunflower original painting I evaluate the composition while the canvas is upside down. Compositional flaws will be quite obvious from this perspective. The upside down view shows me that the upper left portion of this painting is too light, and the diagonal lines of the leaves draw your eyes off the canvas at the corner. Otherwise, the rest of the composition is quite comfortable at this point.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

I found the perfect place to ride the train from Seward to Anchorage, the Tiki Bar car! I really enjoyed sitting in the balcony sipping my favorite libation while watching the landscape roll past the picture windows. Better still, it was pouring rain and we didn’t have to worry about traffic and the poor nighttime visibility that comes after a summer of daylight when our eyes haven’t adjusted yet to darkness. Once it snows, it won’t be so hard to see in the dark the plowed snow creates white shoulders that help define the dark road. But for now the road and shoulders are black on black and the rain makes it hard to see with headlights reflecting glare on the wet surface. So, ride the rails whenever you can.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

New photos to share. Here I am doing a giant signature with big fat unruly brushes on the wildflower mural in Seward. I didn’t have my brushes, so I improvised. Later in the day it rained cats and dogs, I hope the signature didn’t bleed all over the mural. Anyway, it was really fun to see the finished product.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

Close-up of the center of the Sunflower original painting viewed upside down. I am developing the shadows between the seeds in the center of the flower. It is easier to reach this area of the painting by placing it upside down on the easel.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

More visitors to the studio, this time my cousin and his wife Bob and Netia Manning from Mountain Home Idaho. Cousin Bob and I are standing next to the partially finished sunflower painting. The center seed area requires a lot more work, but the rest of the painting needs only highlights, darks and details. I’ll keep you posted.

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

Close-up detail of underpainting where several layers of dots have been applied to the leaves in the lower left section of the Sunflower original painting. (more…)

Our round trip on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward was wonderful.  What I liked best is eating in the dining car.  The food was good, the service excellent and the view unsurpassed!  I heartily recommend this trip.

Gail Niebrugge, Art for Alaska

We rode the Alaska Railroad train from Anchorage to Seward today and saw that the wildflower mural, painted a year ago, was installed downtown in Kawabe Park.  It looks fantastic!  Well worth the wait.  Next time you are in Seward be sure to take a look.  It will be especially nice to have those colorful flowers gracing the downtown in the middle of winter when the landscape is frozen white.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist