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“Salty Dawg Saloon” original pen and ink drawing by Gail Niebrugge, to purchase original call for price and availability.

Another small original pen and ink drawing for my First Friday Show in August at Homer’s Art Shop Gallery. This famous historic landmark named the Salty Dawg Saloon is located near the tip of the Homer Spit, and today is known as a raucous, wild, crazy saloon and bar. The original log cabin built in 1897 has undergone numerous additions and the lighthouse tower was added to hide a water storage tank. I employed many techniques with pen and ink including crosshatch, stipple, lines, and scribbles to obtain the shapes and values in the drawing.

Gail Niebrugge, pen and ink artist

“Cafe Cups” original pen and ink drawing by Gail Niebrugge, to purchase original call for price and availability.

I’m working on some new small originals for my First Friday in August show at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. This drawing is of one of my favorite places to eat, Cafe Cups, located next door to the gallery. It is a charming, eclectic place, fun to see and the food is great! The front of the building is decorated with wild, whimsical cups and crazy memorabilia, one walk is made of colorful chunks of broken pottery, as is the unusual mosaic on the front right corner. I used the techniques of crosshatch and stipple to create the shapes and values in this pen and ink drawing.

Gail Niebrugge, pen and ink artist

One must always draw, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil. (Balthus)

This quote really applies to me. Looking back over my last few Blog entries I can see that I have been storing images in my brain from the stimulus of my garden and nature. Even as a child I was often reprimanded in school for “daydreaming” instead of being busy, and I always felt embarrassed so I tried to hide my seemingly lazy behavior. It was years before I realized that I was memorizing “things;” objects, shadows, sunlight, tree branches, the arch of someone’s neck, the placement of a hand a rest or at work, the patterns of leaves on the ground or pebbles…… I was drawing without a pencil.

I’ve been drawing without a pencil for weeks now, and today I feel the strong need to draw with a pencil, or a pen and ink, or maybe add a splash or two of watercolor for emphasis. Drawing satisfies a part of me that wants to “loosen-up” and play. It is quick and results are immediate, yes, I find immediate gratification seeing an idea emerge and take shape, and change, and fill a page. Painting for me is much slower, although none the less rewarding. But, somehow there seems to be a time and a place where drawing is more appropriate, or a better vehicle to sharpen one’s ability to see and understand something.

It is hard to explain. If I look at a tree, and start to draw it with my eyes, I find so many more details and characteristics that were not evident on first glance, or will ever be visible in a photograph of the same subject. Drawing from life unravels the complexities of structure, reveals the truth, the flaws and the singularity of an object or place and allows the artists feelings to emerge.

One must always draw, without drawing we soon forget and loose understanding, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil. These words bring great comfort to me and make me very eager to actually draw with a pen and ink today. Immersed in my visual memory, uninterrupted by the world of business, totally connected to the line on the paper, I’m in my zone.

Gail Niebrugge, pen and ink artist

The pair of Tree Swallows nesting in the box on the birch tree are almost always in constant motion now, it is hard to catch a photo because when one returns the other flys out in a blink of the eye. I hear chirping from the nest, I’m guessing the eggs started hatching Tuesday, June 24 and the flying frenzy is to keep the hungry chicks fed.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wildlife artist

Last year we noticed our first Rednecked Grebe chicks around July 1, that means we might see babies soon. With the nest located next to our dock, we should have ringside seats.

Well, it rained hard all day long Monday June 23 so we didn’t get outdoors, but the partly sunny skies on Tuesday June 24 drew us outside. While sitting in the sun on the dock we noticed the father Grebe being extremely attentive to the nest and suddenly realized that two chicks were cozily tucked under the mother’s wings. It is hard to see in this photo but the head of one chick is on the mom’s back to the right of her head and the second chick is further to the right just above one of the lily leaves. The father swam to and fro feeding the tiny brood. When we last counted she was sitting on five eggs, so more chicks may hatch soon! Tomorrow I’m going to use my kayak and get closer for better photos.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Oh, how I’m loving summer and growing flowers.  The Foxglove is a new perennial I’ve added to my garden this year, some say it will not do well in this region.  I’m trying it and will let you know if it survives the winter.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, flower artist

The Sugar Snaps are thriving, most are well over a foot in height.  Alongside the peas, near the edge of the raised bed I planted a few rows of carrots.  So far, all are doing well.  Most of my time tending the gardens now is spent pulling weeds.  My biggest invader is the Horsetail Weeds.  They grow in acidic wet soils and that describes most of my yard.  The raised beds have helped, but it looks like I need to use more lime and mulch to help control their invasive behavior.  I found this forum on “How do I get rid of Horsetail Weeds” informative, and will try some of the ideas suggested.  Meanwhile, time to go outside and tend to the garden.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Landscape painter

Another new vegetable I’m growing this year is turnips. These plants sprouted from seeds and seem to be doing very well. As with the beets, I will need to thin these soon. Our raised beds are providing warm soil, and using water from the olive barrel, or pumping from the lake is giving the option of using warm water for the garden. I think this is making a huge difference. Our well water is very, very cold!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Landscape Paintings

Tiny green sprouts from the seeds of red beets are emerging from the rich, dark soil in the raised beds of the vegetable garden.  I’ve never grown beets before, so this is a learning experience.  The seed packet states to thin the plants until they are about 3″ apart, and the green leafy tops of the pulled plants make an excellent addition to a salad.  This is fun!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Landscape Artist

Wow, my beautiful perennial Shooting Star is blooming profusely this year. I don’t know what made the difference, maybe the cool spring weather or warmer water, whatever the cause I’m certainly enjoying them. They make a great splash of early color along the front walk. One trick I’m trying is to fill a huge olive barrel with water from our well, adding one packet of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food then allow the water warm overnight or for a few days. A small sump pump gives enough pressure to fill the garden hose and the barrel provides enough water to give a drink to my whole garden. I’m doing this once a week. Maybe my plants are loving the warm water!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Wildflower Artist

While in Homer Alaska, the Board of Directors of the Alaska State Council on the Arts attended a production of the musical production “The Fantasticks” presented at the Pier One Theater on the spit. Pictured in the first row are members Ben Brown, Peggy Ferguson, and director Charlotte Fox. All thoroughly enjoyed the performance and send kudos to the hard working actors and volunteers.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska State Council on the Arts

The Board of Directors for the Alaska State Council on the Arts met in Homer, Alaska last weekend, and held two days of meetings in the beautiful gallery of the Homer Council on the Arts. Board members pictured (back of their heads), president Ben Brown, Aryne Randall, me (in blue), Mickey Becker, Nancy Harbour, Peggy Ferguson and Vera Crews. Others present in the photo are guests. Beautifully hosted by the members of the Homer Arts Council and surrounded by gorgeous paintings, our meeting was enjoyable and productive. Homer is a wonderful place to visit and full of extremely talented artists; actors, musicians, sculptors, potters, photographers, quilters, and painters.  We were also hosted by and visited the Pratt Museum and the Bunnell Street Gallery.   I am having a show on the first Friday in August at the Art Shop Gallery, so I used this visit to spend my few free moments finding research for new paintings for that event.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Vice Chair Alaska State Council on the Arts

“Fun Day” original watercolor/ink painting by Gail Niebrugge, Sold.

It is not dark all winter in Alaska, just during the six weeks around the solstice in December and January. Once the daylight grows longer, temperatures warm slightly and the winter fun begins. People emerge from everywhere, like ants crawling from under rocks, and use any and all means to slide, ride, skate, ski, and move about on the snow. Fun Day in Copper Center is when all the neighbors gather at the top of a small hill and “tube”, careening every which way at out of control speeds on truck tire inner tubes. Here, I’ve painted a moment in time capturing a record breaking number of people on one tube. Unfortunately the load was so heavy, the tube hardly moved! Another day in the Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

This is one kind of painting that I do not enjoy, my arms, neck, and back are screaming from the pain of hoisting scaffolding, climbing ladders, and painting overhead on our new art booth for the state fair.  A coat of primer, then a coat of the chosen paint.  Today we moved the scaffolding inside to begin the same procedure all over again.  By the end of the week, the painting should be finished.  We made everything harder by trying to paint after the booth was moved to storage at the fairgrounds, because we didn’t have access to power or water, thereby eliminating the possibility of using a paint sprayer.  So, the whole thing is taking much longer than we’d planned.  Oh well, it will be done soon and we’ll move on to the next phase; building print racks, finish electrical, and what to do for the floor.  Just another day in the life of an actual living artist

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Painter of Booths

“Star Lights” original acrylic and watercolor painting in pointillism by Gail Niebrugge, Sold.

With the cost of electricity the highest in the nation, home owners in the Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness of Alaska conserve energy. Most heat systems are supplemented with wood burning stoves, and at Christmas very few, if any, outdoor decoration lighting is used. But, as an artist I can fantasize and paint the way a place could look if electricity was affordable. Ordinarily this lodge would be dimly lit, a small glow emanating from the windows and the cabins would be dark, boarded up for winter. I brought the whole scene to life using my imagination. It is fun to create and live my own little world. The fantasy life of an artist.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska wilderness art

“Midday Moon” original painting in pointillism using acrylic and watercolor by Gail Niebrugge, Sold.

Another scene from the woods that surrounded my studio in Copper Center, Alaska. During the few short hours of daylight during winter I often cross country skied through the snow laden trees to the Copper River. The frozen river became my personal playground, opening up new areas to explore that could not even be reached by raft or boat during the summer. Fast moving currents, white water rapids and steep banks that prohibit the safe beaching of a water craft are tamed when the water recedes in the fall and freezes solid in the winter. And the prettiest time is when the full moon shines and lights up the semi darkness of the short day.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska winter art

Original miniature acrylic painting in pointillism “Fresh Snow” by Gail Niebrugge, Sold.

One of the advantages of living and painting in the Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness is; I never run out of subject matter. My yard in Copper Center is a source for many of my works. Nestled in the forest a few scant acres from the mighty Copper River, winter is a time for quiet contemplation and nothing can be more silent and magical than walking outdoors in falling snow. Every sound is muffled, it is so hushed that you can almost hear the feather light flakes landing on the frozen talcum powder fluff of fresh snow. It is a truly spiritual experience and one that I have often labored to capture in paint.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wilderness landscape painter

The mama Grebe with a nest next to the dock is incubating four eggs.  She is patient, and doesn’t seem concerned when we walk to and fro.  She sits there and watches, very alert but not alarmed.  Occasionally she will swim a short distance from the eggs and on her return will carefully check each each one, tucking a grass in here and there before she adjusts herself carefully into to a sitting position covering them completely with her fluffy white down.  Papa stays nearby, finding food and bringing gifts of twigs and leaves to build the floating home sturdier.

The lake shore is teaming with nesting waterfowl and birds.  Last evening I watched a pair of American Wigeons emerge from the tall grasses along the shore with three tiny chicks in tow.  Another Grebe is incubating eggs further into the cove, and a pair of Tree Swallows have claimed the nest box in the birch tree along the fence.

Ah, Spring……even though it has been cold and windy……life goes on.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska wildlife artist

The construction of our new booth is complete and as soon as the road weight restrictions were lifted we had the building moved from the construction site to the booth storage area at the Palmer Fairgrounds. Now our part of the work begins. We will start by painting the outside then paint the inside. We’ve ordered a banner sign for the outside above the door, and found a used counter and large used bin for the big prints at a liquidation outlet. Bob will build wall bins for the prints and mount them along the inside walls. Our electrician will install halogen spot lights and florescent fixtures. We made the walls 10′ tall so that there will be a lot of room to hang large paintings. I intend to exhibit original paintings as well as prints and giclee’s. There is still lot’s of work to be done, and miles to go before we sleep. Thank goodness we started early, time just seems to slip away these days.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist