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“The Woodshed” pen and ink drawing by Gail Niebrugge, collection of the artist.

On a rocky peninsula jutting out into the canyon 800 feet above a creek stood an amazing cabin with an even more amazing outhouse. This privately owned property is located many miles up the Nugget Creek trail and can be reached only by all terrain vehicle in the summer, and snow machine in the winter. To access the cabin we parked the ATV’s in a small pull-out along the trail and climbed down the cliffs using a narrow footpath to a very small ledge where the little cabin is perched on a pinnacle on the edge of the steep canyon. The outhouse shares space with the woodshed and is placed next to a sheer drop off. The view from the outhouse is spectacular and scary, from the seat inside you can see the river far below. The narrow canyon is only about 200 yards wide and its’ vertical walls are higher than the cabin. We were struck dumb by the meticulous construction at this difficult site, knowing all the materials had to be hauled in over the same trail we just traveled. Our stay at this delightful place was restful and full of wonder. I made many sketches of the area, kept a journal, and drew maps and elevations of the building site. Having permission to stay in this remarkable place is an honor and a privilege.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

“Nugget Creek Cabin” pen and ink drawing by Gail Niebrugge, collection of the artist.

One of the few trails accessible by ATV in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, is Nugget Creek. It crosses quite a few streams as it follows the Kuskulana River about 15 miles to the public use cabin at Nugget Creek. We loaded a week’s worth of gear onto the front and rear racks of our two four-wheel drive all terrain vehicles and headed down the trail. The stream crossings were fairly easy, only one was so deep that our wheels lost touch with the river bed and the ungainly vehicles floated downstream with the current. Fortunately our tires touched ground before we were swept past the trail on opposite shore. The cabin is well built and protected from bears with stout window coverings and a solid wood door. I sat on the seat and used handlebars of my ATV as an outdoor easel creating plein air pen and ink drawings and pencil sketches for use as reference for future paintings to be completed at my studio. We traveled further up the trail to spectacular views of the Kuskulana Glacier and Mt. Blackburn, finally reaching our destination at an incredible privately owned cabin perched at the top of a steep outcropping in a canyon with access only from one direction. An amazing place.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Mt. Drum; North Face acrylic original painting by Gail Niebrugge. Original painting sold, prints available.

Climbing the tundra ridges above our camp at Chelle Lake in the Wrangell Mountains, the clouds obscured the 12,010 foot peak of Mt. Drum. Each time we rested we gorged on fat juicy blueberries. The colorful ground cover was loaded with berries, staining the seat of our pants and our knees as we crawled around filling sacks with the tender fruit. Picking blueberries is one of the highlights of fall in Alaska. We watched caribou from our perch in the blueberry patch, when suddenly the clouds dissolved to reveal the stunning glacier clad peak of Mt. Drum! A day to never forget. I have painted many scenes of caribou, but none do I remember as vividly as this one.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskas Artist

Chelle Morning original acrylic on canvas by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Another popular hunting camp at the base of Mt. Drum in the Wrangell Mountains are the cabins at Chelle Lake. One fall we pitched our tents along a ridge above the lake where we enjoyed wonderful views of the mountain peak and the valley below. Every day the caribou moved soundlessly through the area, like fleeting shadows. Beautiful creatures, some with magnificent antlers. I love watching them. Early one morning as I watched for caribou I became captivated by the patterns on the ground around the cabins, long cast shadows made by trees. I was so absorbed in the magic of changing morning light that I had no idea a heard of caribou were swimming across the lake below. This original painting was purchased through the Alaska Per Cent for Art Program for the University of Alaska, Anchorage Administration Buildings.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Making Coffee original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge. Sold.

Back to my series about living and painting in the Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska. One cold winter day a well-known pilot and hunting guide commissioned me to do a painting of “Moose Camp”, a cabin located in a remote area of the Wrangell mountains. Dressed in warm clothes we climbed into his tiny super-cub, a fabric covered single-engine aircraft where the pilot fills the front seat and the passenger seat is directly behind the pilot. We flew over miles of snow covered wilderness to the base of Mt. Drum where I spotted a little cabin nestled in the trees below. The pilot guided the ski equipped plane to a smooth landing on very deep, punchy snow. Unfortunately the pilot forgot a second pair of snowshoes, only one pair were strapped to the wing struts and he graciously offered them to me. Undaunted by our situation he reached the cabin by laying on his belly, flat on the snow, and propeled himself forward using arms and legs in butterfly motions. The afternoon passed quickly as I busily sketched and photographed the subject from every perspective, my guide melted snow on the wood stove and made the best tasting cup of coffee I can remember. Just another day at the office for me!
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Our last show of the year at Colony High School, Palmer, Alaska, was a busy, bustling, successful event!  The one day event was a whirlwind.

Bob snapped this photo of me as I took a quick break from the activity.  It looks like Santa was watching over us.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Our new print, Kennicott; Stabilized, is now available in a beautiful wood frame just in time for Christmas. Pick one up today, November 24, at the Colony High School Christmas Show in Palmer, Alaska, or order yours by calling Niebrugge Studio at 907-746-3256. We ship.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Pointillism Artist

Summer Place limited edition offset lithograph by Gail Niebrugge is available to purchase at the Niebrugge Studio Booth in the Colony High School Christmas Show, Palmer, Alaska, tomorrow November 24. Today we are packing the cargo trailer for a quick set-up for this one-day show. This event provides an excellent opportunity to purchase framed artwork for Christmas. Purchases of framed artwork can also be made by calling or visiting artist Gail’s studio/residence during the month of December.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Parting Clouds original acrylic painting in pointillism 36″x48″ by Gail Niebrugge.
I stand in awe of nature today and the beauty of God’s creation, and give thanks for the opportunity to be able to live and paint these incredible places in the wilderness.

God Bless you today on this day of Thanksgiving,

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism artist of Alaska

Sunflower Giclee limited edition on canvas by Gail Niebrugge is now available for purchase. We can ship this beautiful print for Christmas. Medium size 16″x21.5″ limited 200 signed and numbered is priced at $320.00 US, large size 24″x32″ limited 150 signed and numbered sells for $615.00 US. These stretched canvases can be ordered with a “gallery wrap” so that they do not need to be framed. We have ordered one with a “mirror gallery wrap” where a 1″ strip of the edge of the image is printed down the sides of the canvas. I think I’m going to like the look of this. Call for quotes for Gallery Wrap and Mirror Gallery Wrap. Order now for the holidays.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Last Sunday morning I opened the Anchorage Daily News and there on the front page was a photo of the smiling face of my littlest granddaughter, Sydney Buck!  You’ve got to see this, I guarantee it will make you smile.   She is fearless, articulate and of course, cute!  Forgive this proud grandmother for bragging just a bit.

Gail Niebrugge, pointillism artist and grandma

Gail hanging artwork in the Niebrugge Studio booth for the Christmas Arts and Crafts Exhibit in the Egan Center, downtown Anchorage.  We had a great show, very busy with many sales.  It snowed outside all day long on Sunday.  Our booth faces windows with a view of the downtown park, it is very festive with all the trees decorated in tiny white lights, and more beautiful with the fresh snow!  It was great to see everyone and talk to folks who read my blog regularly.  Thank you everyone!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

Today is the last day of the Arts and Crafts Emporium at the Egan Center, downtown Anchorage. Our booth is located in the lobby and we will be there until 5:00PM.

November 24, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is the date of the Colony High School Arts and Crafts Show and is our last show of the year. This one day event is held at the school located in Palmer, Alaska, and our booth is conveniently situated in the main hall. Artwork can also be purchased directly from our studio, and visitors are welcome by appointment.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

Another very popular Giclee limited edition print is Spirit of Flight. This lovely pointillism painting of Trumpeter Swan is printed on heavy rag watercolor paper with hand-torn deckled edges and floated on a back mat with acid free foam core. This framed print is available in the Niebrugge Studio booth located in the lobby of the Egan Center this weekend at the Arts and Crafts Emporium in Anchorage.

A corner detail of Spirit of Flight Giclee floated on an acid free back mat. Framed prints can also be purchased by calling Niebrugge Studio at 907-746-3256.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism artist of Alaska

Paper Birch is a popular Gail Niebrugge Giclee limited edition print and is available framed as shown above at the Niebrugge Studio booth during the Arts and Crafts Emporium this weekend at the Egan Center in Anchorage. This Giclee is printed on heavy rag watercolor paper with hand torn deckled edges and should be “floated” from the back mat on acid free foam board. Floating creates an interesting three dimensional appearance and enhances the framing.

The detail above shows Paper Birch Giclee with hand torn edges floated on the back mat. Framed prints can be ordered by contacting Niebrugge Studio at 907-746-3256.

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

It seems like every day now we deal with snow. The photo above was taken during first light at 9:30AM just after Bob cleared the driveway with the snow blower. Wind drifts continually foil our progress and harden to concrete if left untended. Friday we tow the Niebrugge Studio cargo trailer to Anchorage and set-up for the weekend Arts and Crafts Emporium at the Egan Center. We hope for dry roads, clear calm weather, and a pause in the daily snow storms.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

Our booth at the Holiday Market Place, Carlson Center, Fairbanks last weekend. We love our new lit sign made by our friend, Mark Alger. If you are interested in talking to Mark about a sign you can contact him through his website at the Moosewood Squash Centre, Palmer, Alaska. The weather was mild in Fairbanks during our three day stay, and the long drive up and back was uneventful. But, when we returned home we were surprised to see nearly 8″ of fresh snow in the yard! Winter is definitely here.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

My client is delighted with the painting. After a little discussion about adding more color to the planter rocks she agreed. So, I added more color and definition to the rocks, punched up detail and contrast in the flowers, softened the tree shadows on the driveway and checked that all vertical lines on the house were straight. I am finally satisfied and the painting is finished!
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

After contemplating the nearly finished painting for a few days, I’ve made some subtle changes; darkening the shadows on the garage, highlighting the rock trim on the house, and defining details throughout. I refined the gradation in the sky from light to dark, emphasized shadows in the gardens, perfected shading on the figure, and gave three dimensional values to the rocks around foreground planter. The planter rocks could use more work, but at this point need to show my client and involve her in the final decisions.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

This week end we are in Fairbanks participating in the holiday arts and crafts show held annually at the Carlson Center. Today is the last day of the three day event, tomorrow we hitch up the cargo trailer and head home to Palmer. We try to schedule our driving times during the short daylight hours, gone are the days of tearing down the booth and driving home on the ice and snow in the dark, arriving exhausted in the early hours of morning. Next Friday, November 16, we set up our booth for the weekend at the Egan Center, downtown Anchorage. Our final show of the year will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Colony High School Art and Crafts Fair. This is a fun, one day show, only two miles from the studio. It is always busy for us during this time of the year when shoppers begin to make Christmas purchases. I’ll try to post some photos of these events later.
Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist