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Prospect Ridge original painting acrylic/pointillism by Gail Niebrugge. Original painting sold, prints sold out.

Returning to the series about life living and painting the Wrangell-St. Elias, Prospect Ridge depicts the historic Chitistone Canyon, located between the Wrangell and the St. Elias mountain ranges. The historic cabin and wagon were not at this Glacier Creek location, I added them to give authenticity to the history of this region. A trail through this canyon was used by early prospectors as the non-glacier access to the Chisana gold fields. The opposite cliffs reveal the contact point for copper oar where Nikolai Greenstone meets Chitistone Limestone, rich in copper the Kennicott Copper Mines were built beyond the distant ridge on the left. It is a strenuous 5-8 day back pack to hike the entire route from the summit at Skolai Pass, and well worth any time spent on the ground in the area, the scenery is spectacular! In 1993 over 900 limited edition prints of this painting raised funds for KAKM Channel 7 Public Television, Anchorage, Alaska.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

The giant carving of a fat fish above is but one of the many whimsical sculptures displayed at the Chena Hot Springs Ice Museum, located about 70 miles east of Fairbanks. Our time to visit the museum was limited so we didn’t take the normal tour, instead we were allowed to wander around inside and ask questions which was great. Ordinarily guests don heavy coats at the entrance, where they are greeted by the ice carver in his workroom, then proceed on the tour. Each guest is given a champagne goblet carved from ice and drinks are served from the ice bar complete with ice bar stools and ice mirror above the ice bar counter. Everything is colorfully lit by low voltage LED lights strategically placed inside the sculptures. (more…)

“Glacier Watch” original painting acrylic/watercolor pointillism by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Located along the Copper River delta 50 miles from Cordova is the Childs Glacier, one of the most spectacular in Alaska. The Copper River separates its’ 300 foot high ice face from the opposite shore where a footpath, benches, and viewing platform make observing easy. Such close proximity is not without its dangers. One time a huge chunk of ice calved creating a 20′ tall wave that swamped the path, the benches, and continued several hundred feet into the adjoining campground! The sounds of ice calving seem to be amplified in surround, a resonance similar to a sharp crack of lightening followed by the deep vibration of thunder shatters the quiet each time ice severs and tumbles into the water. On a hot day it is a noisy exciting place.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska’s Artist

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

Returning again to my series on my life while living and painting in the Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska. Castle Peak in the Wrangell Mountains is not particularly high at 10,190 feet, but it is so steep, it looks almost vertical. I am fascinated by the straight up and down face of the peak and how glaciers cling to every crack and crevice. It is an amazing sight to see up close, the ridge along the top appears to be as sharp as the edge of a knife. Rugged country. This painting is part of the series I completed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s on the peaks of the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains, when we lived in the region.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Original painting of Alaska wildflower, Tall Jacob’s Ladder 14″x20″ acrylic, framed size 22″x27″, is donated by artist Gail Niebrugge to be auctioned for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Annual fund raising event November 3, 2007 at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel. The retail value of this original painting is $3,150.00. It is my desire to help the school raise as much money as possible, so I challenge all of you to start bidding! Bid high, and go higher! This is an excellent way to own a Gail Niebrugge original and make it tax deductable.

Thanks,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Today, October 26, I’m taking a break from my artwork and representing the Alaska State Council on the Arts at the Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities held tonight at the Riverside Princess Hotel in Fairbanks. Saturday, after breakfast with the Alaska Humanities Forum Board, and a meeting with the Arts Council I will squeeze in a quick trip to Chena Hot Springs to see the Ice Museum before flying home.

On another note, we’ve heard from almost all our relatives in San Diego County, all have survived the firestorm. I am waiting to hear the status firefighter cousin Fred Orsborne who is still somewhere on the lines. Seems funny watching the fire coverage on TV to see everyone walking around in shirtsleeves, when we have 4″ of snow already!

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

This beautifully framed Gail Niebrugge limited edition print Kennicott Mill, image size 16″x24″, has been sold-out for many years. The outside dimensions of the framed print are 30″x38″ and is in perfect condition, priced at $795.00. Call Niebrugge Studio at 907-746-3256 if you are interested in purchasing this hard-to-find collectible.

I am helpless today, glued to the television watching the terrible news unfold of the devastation of Southern California by wildfires.  I personally know so many people who are affected, some are evacuated, others waiting and hosting evacuees, and some have already been burned out.  I’m grieving for the terrible losses.

Bob and I grew up down there, it is hard to imagine that our favorite places are now littered with charred tree stumps and ashes.  One of the reasons we moved from our beautiful home in Lakeside, California, 31 years ago, was the regular occurrance of the dreaded Santa Anna winds and the threat of wildfires.  We lived on a hillside with an acre of land and were surrounded by wild lands of sagebrush.  I haven’t heard, but it is hard to imagine that our old home is still standing.

I can only pray today, pray and hope and wait.  My cousin sends regular updates via email, they have the motor home packed and pointed out the driveway, ready for a fast escape.  They are in danger.  Her husband supplies firetrucks with fuel, his crews are working around the clock.  But, she already knows of many friends who have already lost their homes, and some of her own children’s homes are in danger.  And, all I can do is pray.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

As if on cue, the migrating Trumpeter Swans showed up to the delight of our guests attending the annual Open House last weekend. It was the largest group of swans to appear so far, sixteen in number! They stayed just long enough to parade by our windows in single file, then continued on around the peninsula and out of sight. I grabbed the camera and tried to capture the scene, but the swans are hardly visible! You have to use your imagination. This photo proves that I’m a better painter than a photographer.
We had guests from all over the state; Kodiak, Fairbanks, McCarthy, Kenai, as well as visitors from as far as Germany. Quite a few originals found new homes and lots of prints were carried out the door. Early Christmas shopping and planning definitely took place.

For me the best part of the Open House was reuniting with old friends and collectors, sharing our lives, and getting caught up with each other. Today we are exhausted, but happy. It is a lot of work but definitely worth the effort.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Glacier Patterns original painting acrylic/watercolor by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

I never tire of painting the amazing shapes, patterns and colors of glaciers. Having flown over and hiked on glaciers, I think I like the aerial view the best. Because they are so immense, hiking the surface gives the opportunity to see but a tiny speck of the entire ice-scape. It is important to traverse the surface on foot so that a clear understanding of the structure and cause of the various shapes and forms exists. With this knowledge an artist can create a painting that will be true to life. In my opinion, it is nearly impossible to paint a believable scene relying only on photos without a personal study and understanding of the subject.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist Alaska

Drum’s Peak original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Mt. Drum appears to be the tallest peak in the Wrangell mountain range from the vantage point of Copper Center, even though it is only 12,010 feet in height compared its neighbors Mt. Sanford at 16,237 feet, and Mt. Blackburn at 16,390 feet. The summit of Mt. Drum is an inactive glacier-clad volcano and interesting to inspect up close from an aerial perspective. I flew around the peak of Mt. Drum at every opportunity, and after I quit piloting my own plane I’d actively seek a chance to hop a flight on a “space available” status at a moments notice. I love that mountain and have painted it countless times. This painting won the “Purchase Award” at the All Alaska Juried Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art in 1984, and was acquired by the Valdez Museum, Valdez, Alaska.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge Artist of Alaska

Ornamental Ice original painting in pointillism by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Time to continue to the series about my life while living and painting in the wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska. Above is an original painting of the lower section of the longest valley glacier in North America, the Nabesna, and is particularly interesting to me because of the color I saw in the lower moraine and water. I have often compared the patterns on glaciers to highways, the streaks of glacial moraine resembling long curving roads with many lanes. The vastness and beauty of this land is beyond description, sometimes while flying alone in my single engine Cessna I never saw another airplane or person anywhere.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

As soon as it was light enough to see we found all six Trumpeter Swans feeding near the shore next to our dock.  They stayed until human activity disturbed them, then swam away to a quieter spot. (more…)

Late in the afternoon the phones were ringing around the lake spreading the news that six Trumpeter Swan landed and were cruising the shoreline.  All eyes were glued to windows watching these gorgeous creatures!  As evening approached the swans settled comfortably in our cove, feeding and resting. (more…)

Original painting Sunflower 36″x48″ acrylic on Canvas by Gail Niebrugge.

We have had numerous requests for prints of Sunflower and are happy to announce that Niebrugge Studio is offering canvas Giclee prints in two sizes; 16″x21.5″ limited edition 200 s/n for $320.00 US, and 24″x32″ limited edition 150 s/n for $615.00 US. These Giclee’s on canvas are of the highest quality, very handsome, rich in color, and are often mistaken for the original art. We hope to have this image added to our website soon, until then place your order by phone (907)746-3256, fax (907)745-3110, or mail; Niebrugge Studio, PO Box 4187, Palmer, AK 99645.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Original Paintings

The other evening while entertaining guests, one of whom is an avid birder and wildlife biologist, I alerted everyone to watch a flight of Trumpeter Swan approaching overhead. Much to our guests delight the magnificent white birds flew across the sky perfectly framed by our big view windows, very low and easy to see. Our birder guest remarked that one of the swans had something unusual in its beak, and then exclaimed excitedly that the bird wasn’t a swan but a white pelican flying in formation with the swans! A very rare sighting, so quick and fleeting, almost as if it were a dream. day. Such a rare moment and none of us had a camera handy, drats! Entertaining guests is easy in Alaska, it seems like something interesting happens almost every day.
Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

I’ve been busy re-hanging original paintings for our annual Open House October 20-21. The big new Sunflower painting looks right at home in the living room. (more…)

A very talented artist, Teri Phister, made this adorable gift basket featuring an Artist Gail Niebrugge teddy bear with easel, paints, camera, book and much more, to be auctioned at the Salvation Army Ninth Annual Teddy Bear Tea held at the Egan Center, Anchorage, Alaska. The event that raises money for the Salvation Army will take place October 21 at 2:00PM. (more…)

Today is gray, blustery, and cloudy, golden leaves are stripped from trees and swirl about piling up in sheltered areas of our yard. Migrating waterfowl seek respite from the pounding gale and are gathered in our cove. Ten Trumpeter Swan arrive seeking protection from wind, four adults and six signets, elegant but cautious during this temporary rest stop during their annual southern migration. A unexpected, but beautiful sight to pause and watch during our busy day.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Window Box original 6″ x 8″ watercolor and acrylic painting.

Windows, flowers, and logs, this painting combines all my favorite subjects. This charming pink painted log building is located at Pioneer Park in the historic Gold Rush Town section, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Gail Niebrugge, Original Alaska Paintings