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9:30AM less than two weeks before the winter solstice (shortest day) with temperatures in the mid 40˚ Fahrenheit, the surface of our lake is once again thawing. One reason I choose to live in Alaska is for the wonderful winter activities. This lack of snow and above freezing temperatures are frustrating. I want to ski, ice skate, ice fish, and gather snow covered landscape research for future paintings. This warm wind condition is called a “chinook”.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska wilderness

A cropped version of “Green Aurora” by Gail Niebrugge is available as a tile mural from Pacifica Tile Art Studio.

“Rainbow of Promise” original painting by artist Gail Niebrugge now available as a tile mural from Pacifica Tile Art Studio.

“Pioneer Peak” original painting by Gail Niebrugge now available as a tile mural from Pacifica Tile Art Studio.

Unfortunately, as soon as we put Christmas lights on 12 trees in the yard, the wind began to blow with gusts up to 80mph. After three days of non-stop wind the lights look like they’ve been in a blender and are a tangled mess. At the moment aside from our scrambled tree lights, one of our tall birch trees snapped and is dangling across the fence into the neighbors yard, and a snow machine trailer blew across the thin lake ice and is temporarily held hostage by bushes on the island.

Please let it snow, let it snow, let it snow soon!

Gail Niebrugge, wind-blown Alaska artist

We decorated a total of 12 trees in the yard. Now, all we need is a big snow.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

Bob, dressed like a true Alaska sourdough, stringing extension cords for outdoor tree lights. We had several weeks of unseasonal warm temperatures, and all of the snow melted. We are hoping that a big snow will come soon, it will make the trees will look like a winter wonderland. And, it will hide a maze of extension cords.

Gail stringing lights on the tiny spruce trees in the yard.

More tomorrow,

Alaska Artist, Gail Niebrugge

“Chittitu Enamelware” original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge. Original painting sold.

From a remote airstrip at May Creek in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, we piled into an ancient rattletrap 4-wheel drive truck and lurched up the old trail to the abandoned Chittitu gold mine. Stopped by the river, access to the opposite shore was via a crudely built foot bridge, suspended by ropes that swayed wildly with each step. Today the trail is accessible only by foot and the bridge at the river is gone. We were fortunate to explore the remains of the partially collapsed dwellings, an old tool here, an enamel pot there, and a wagon wheel propped against a tree. Lots of material for future paintings. A treasure of memories almost lost.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Aritst of Alaska

“Co-Habitants” original acrylic painting pointillism by Gail Niebrugge. Original painting sold, prints available.

The air taxi pilot dropped us off at a remote location at the headwaters of the Chitina River and left us on our own for a few days of exploring and art research. From the landing strip we packed our gear a mile to the public use cabin where we were greeted by a well-worn trail of bear tracks circling the dwelling, and fresh gouges and scratches on the window shutters and door. I am a seasoned camper and comfortable in the wilderness, but this cabin, surrounded by thick, dense undergrowth and full of fresh bear sign was not a place that I wanted to stay. Fortunately we packed a tent so we made a camp in an open clearing with good visibility along a gravel bar by the river. To keep our camp site bear free, we locked our food inside the cabin away from the tent. (more…)

“Dean Wilson’s Trapping Cabin” original acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge, sold.

Scattered throughout the Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska, are many rustic hand-hewn log cabins built by fur trappers to use as winter shelter while traveling by snowmachine to tend trap lines. We found this one near the end of an abandoned mining road after a rough four wheel drive over washed out gullies and stream beds. I fell in love with the hand made helicopter wind vane mounted on the roof. We made camp nearby and explored. This is the kind of research for future paintings that I relish and the reason we settled in this remote region. Seeing places where very few people have been or will ever venture. The real wilderness of Alaska.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska