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Friday was a fun, crazy, busy day in our art booth at the Alaska State Fair. Our son, photographer Ron and his wife Janine, drove up from Seward and joined our daughter Tawny and two of our grandkids, Reilly and Sydney, for a day of fun, food and rides at the fair. They ran in and out of our booth all day full of stories to tell about thrilling rides, running into friends, and showing off face paint.

The day started off in chaos with the stunning surprise announcement that our friend, and Governor of the state of Alaska, Sarah Palin, was selected as the vice presidential running mate for Senator John McCain. We were glued to the T.V. until the very last minute before we opened the booth. Then, whenever possible we turned on the radio to hear what the political pundits were saying, stumbling and stuttering their way through the news about this relatively unknown newcomer. This should be interesting to watch knowing the families as we do, and see the attention brought to our beautiful, wonderful state. Congratulations Sarah, and God Bless your families, may God guide you with wisdom and courage during the next months of political games, savagery, and public scrutiny.

Gail Niebrugge, proud Alaska artist

The Steller sea lion in Alaska is listed under the Endangered Species Act, although the populations have been on the increase since 1980. Original painting by Gail Niebrugge “Steller Quartet” is now available as a miniature digital ink jet giclee printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, matted 8″x10″ with acid free silver gray black core and acid free backing, each print hand-signed by the artist. Price $30.00 US, to purchase please click on this link, or call Niebrugge Studio (907) 746-3256.

Melanie & J.D. Cole with their daughter, visited our booth at the Alaska State Fair and added a “Sunflower” to their growing collection of art.  Both Melanie and J.D. are teachers at Palmer Middle School, J.D. is the art instructor.  He came to my rescue a few years ago while painting the wildflower mural in Seward, Alaska, and volunteered to help.  Because of his skill for detail as an artist, I assigned him the most difficult job to paint all the veins in each Iris, and he did it beautifully.  Thank you Melanie and J.D, you are the best!

Gail Niebrugge, flower artist

“Bountiful Earth” an acrylic painting of Mt. Drum and the Klutina River in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park by Gail Niebrugge, is now available in miniature as a high quality giclee digital ink jet print on acid free paper printed with fade resistant inks. Each print is matted 8″x10″ with acid free silver gray black core and acid free backboard, hand-signed by the artist at $30.00 US each. To order click on this link, or call Niebrugge Studio (907) 746-3256.

The road through Portage valley, Alaska, is gilded with glaciers and the Byron Glacier is accessible by foot on a well maintained trail. Original painting of the Byron Glacier “Discovery”, by artist Gail Niebrugge, is now available as a miniature giclee digital ink jet print on acid free paper using fade resistant inks, matted 8″x10″ with acid free silver gray black core and acid free back board, each hand-signed by the artist. Offered at $30.00 US each, to order click on this link, or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256.

The wild Iris grows in large areas the size of football fields in the Eklutna Flats along the Glenn Highway near the Knick River bridge between Peters Creek and Palmer, Alaska. In the summer the fields are so dense with these gorgeous blue/purple blossoms, commuters will often stop to enjoy the sight. Mini digital ink jet Giclee, “Showy Iris”, printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, matted with silver gray black core acid free mat and acid free back board 8″x10″, hand-signed by artist Gail Niebrugge, from an original watercolor/acrylic painting, $30.00 US. To order call Niebrugge Studio (907) 746-3256.

Christy, my friend who worked in Bethel, Alaska, stopped in our booth to say “good bye”, she is on her way to a new job in North Carolina.  Our booth at the Palmer Fair has become a place to see old friends, catch up on news, and educate new people about my art, pointillism, and Alaska.  Today we visited with collectors who began purchasing my work in the late 1970’s when we owned the Tastee Freeze in Glennallen, and the dining room served as my gallery.  We met people fresh from cruise ships wrapping up their vacation at the state fair who have fallen in love with Alaska.  Kids who learned about pointillism in school stopped to see original art up close and have me explain how I paint.  This annual event in Alaska serves as a wonderful melting pot for people from all walks of life who love art, and paintings about this beautiful state.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist with art of Alaska

One of the best parts of having a booth at the Palmer Fair are meeting nice people. Right to left; Katherine, Vanessa, and Jenna visited the Niebrugge Studio booth and told us that they stopped at the fair on their way to Skagway to hike the Chilkoot Trail. Good luck girls, and may the sun shine on your trip!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

It poured buckets of rain at the beginning of the first day of the fair, then the sun and the people came out!  We had a wonderful first day in our new booth, and the best part was meeting several people who subscribe to my blog feed!  Everything worked great in the new booth, we have doubled our wall space and some of my favorite potted flowers decorate the front.

The inside is colorful and cheery, pictured above is the main booth operator Bob standing on our beautiful “Sue Blue” floors.  The floor is named after a very good friend and even better artist, Sue Zajac, who suggested the color.  Thank you Sue!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Gail incorporated this design into the large outdoor mural in Seward’s Kawabe Park downtown, the mural is 8′ high and 32′ long. “Iris, Forget-me-not & Fireweed” is now available as a miniature digital ink jet giclee print on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, matted 8″x10″ with acid free silver gray black core and acid free backing, each print is hand-signed by the artist. Price $30.00 US, to purchase please click on this link, or call Niebrugge Studio (907) 746-3256.

At an elevation of 20,320 feet, Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain on the North American continent. Because the mountain creates its own weather, visitors to Alaska’s Denali National Park rarely see this impressive sight.

“Mirror Image” original painting by Gail Niebrugge offered in a miniature giclee digital ink jet print on acid free paper with fade resistant ink, matted 8″x10″ with silver gray black core and acid free backing, each hand-signed by the artist, price $30.00 US. To purchase please click on this link, or call Niebrugge Studio at (907)746-3256.

It is the first week of August, and most of the young waterfowl born on our lake this summer are nearly full grown. It has been a joy and a pleasure to watch the young chicks nurtured under the watchful eye of their parents. We got a chuckle when an American Widgeon with eight chicks discovered the stray sunflower seeds from our bird feeder and made regular trips from the lake creating a well-worn trail through the shoreline weeds, waddled in a straight line across the lawn to feast. Soon they will all fly south for the winter and it will be quiet on the lake. I will miss the ducks.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Last week our booth was moved into place at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, located on the Purple Road the second space from Pioneer Square, a very good location.  We are right next to a brightly painted red booth called the “Pastie Shack”.  We are surrounded by food booths and that can be good and bad, we may find that the temptation to eat will put on weight but we will be easy to locate!

Bob pictured with two energetic grandchildren as helpers as he works to finish the interior space.  The fair opens in two days and as you can see we have much to do and little time left to get ready.  Come see us.

Gail Niebrugge, Niebrugge Studio fine art

The constant rain and cloud cover this summer has produced a bonanza growth of mushrooms in our yard. The other day I decided to photograph them and found many old, ugly, grotesquely shaped fungus. The photo above is one of the weirdest pair that emerged. I found every kind of mushroom imaginable, from tiny white ones no more than an inch wide, to these big brownish/orange monsters that are 6-8″ across and equally as tall. Unfortunately, most of them are not edible and some are quite poisonous.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape painter

A few days ago these heads were only 3″ in diameter, they’ve doubled in size. I’m not covering them with leaves yet this year, because we haven’t had any sun to damage them. If the sun should emerge, I’ll take one of the large exterior leaves and tuck it around the white head to keep it from turning brown. So far this summer, our garden is producing tender, tasty vegetables, and more than we can consume. It is time to start vaccum sealing them for the freezer.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

Two zuchini plants survived the soggy summer and the vegetables are finally ripening to a mature size for picking.  If I had built tents over the tender starts back in May, using hoops of thin PVC pipe and Visqueen, we would have had a lot of squash all summer.  The tents will keep the plant warm at night, and can be pulled back during the day.  Maybe I’ll try that next year.  Meanwhile, my zuchini are looking good!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

My ornamental kale is starting to go to seed.  This cool, wet summer is the perfect climate for these colorful plants and they have added color and texture to my garden.  We have about two or three weeks before the first frost when most of my plants will die.  Kale can withstand temperatures as low as 5 degrees so it will be a bright spot among the brown, dying leaves of other plants.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

I’m thrilled that my delicate Morden Blush rose bushes are producing blooms, they are slow to grow this year barely surviving last winter and are a third their normal size. Their color and shape are a delight to see and I’m yearning to paint them. Even with the record breaking cold, rain, and clouds this summer, my garden is still producing. A bit late, but yielding none the less. I hope we don’t have an early frost.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, flower painter

Thundershowers, lightening, and hail storms have kept summer at bay in Alaska, the latest hail made lace doilies out of the leaves in the garden.

Oh, if only we could string 3-4 days together with sunshine.  How nice would that be?

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

Although slow to grow this summer, tiny yellow squash are beginning to form in my garden.  Hopefully they will grow to maturity and make a great meal or two.  It is a joy and pleasure to walk through the garden each day and find new growth, watching the flowers and vegetables mature.  Sometimes, if more than a day goes by without visiting, the changes can be huge!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist