niebruggestudio.com

October 11-12 I will be teaching three, three hour workshops at the 2008 Alaska Art Education Association Fall Conference, Wasilla, Alaska.  Please contact Misty Holler at her email: Hollers@gci.net for more information and details.

The first class will be held from 9:30AM-12:30PM Saturday, October 11, 2008.  We will meet and drive to the historic district downtown Wasilla for some plein air thumbnail sketching.  You will need a sketchbook and pencil.  We will study perspective, composition, and the use of positive and negative space.  The second session is from 1:30PM-4:30PM Saturday, October 11, 2008, at Wasilla High School.  Students will utilize the thumbnail sketches and choose one to paint.  Brushes, grounds, and acrylic paint will be provided.  You will need a water jar, palette, paper towels, water spray bottle, and wear clothes that won’t be damaged with paint.  If you want to bring watercolor paint, that is fine with me.  I will give guidance and instruction on paint mixing, achieving distance, complementary colors, and various techniques.

The final session will be a shortened version of Saturday’s two sessions and will meet at Wasilla High School at 9:30AM-12:30PM Sunday, October 12, 2008.  If you have taken the previous sessions and want to work on your painting, that is fine with me.  If you are new, bring some reference material of historic subjects and all the items recommended for the two classes above.  Brushes, grounds, and acrylic paint will be provided.  We will do quick thumbnails and transfer the composition to the grounds to paint.  I will give guidance and instruction on paint mixing, achieving distance, complementary colors, and various techniques.

I look forward to working with Alaska’s Art Teachers.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Sometime soon, within the next week the peas in the garden will be ready to pick, hull, and freeze. We have a bumper crop this year, I think they love our cool, wet summer. Soon, my painting breaks from the easel will entail picking peas, enough to fill a pan or two, later we will hull and blanch them for a few minutes in boiling water then plunge them into cold water, vacuum seal and freeze. They are going to taste awfully good this winter.

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

Photo; Redneck Grebe clumsily moving at top Grebe speed across the lake.
Yesterday I looked up from my easel and gazed at the lake, the sun was shining and I could hear the outdoors calling so I took a break. The sun felt good as I walked across the fresh cut grass to the end of the dock where I settled myself on the iron bench enjoying the sun’s warmth on my skin savoring the moment. The lake was calm, the family of five Rednecked Grebes were all asleep floating silently with their heads hidden under their wings. The quiet was pierced for a moment by a high pitched squawking from a few birds as they flew overhead, otherwise I was alone with my thoughts, my Grebes, and my lake. (more…)

Party cloudy skies and moderate temperatures brought crowds for the last day of the Alaska State Fair, and our booth remained busy. It was a wonderful event but, all good things come to an end and now we are home mowing the overgrown lawn and picking vegetables in the neglected garden. (more…)

From a hot and sunny Saturday, Sunday was just the opposite at the fair, but even bone chilling winds and clouds couldn’t keep Alaskans away from the last weekend of this fun-filled annual event.  I enjoyed sitting behind the counter beside my little electric heater visiting with everyone.  Art lovers from all over the state stopped in to say hello, introducing me to their families, and reminiscing about art collected over the years.

One man walked into the booth decisively up to the counter, and ordered a bananna split and two tacos, this brought forth laughter and fond memories from the seventeen years that the Glennallen Tastee Freez served as my gallery.  That comment stirred many Tastee Freez stories, but the one I remember most was the gentleman who stopped in to buy an ice cream cone and left with an original, he said “this was the most expensive cone I’ve ever bought!”

This was a wonderful day shared with genuine people who love and cherish art.  It has filled my soul.  Thank you.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska’s Artist

Saturday began sunny and ended up sunny, a wonderful, busy day in our Niebrugge Studio art booth at the Alaska State Fair. Both Bob and I were kept hopping all day long, pressed to keep up with the many, many collectors and friends who stopped in to say hello and make purchases. Moods were joyous, and carefree, all were enjoying a true summer, sunny day. This is what going to the fair is all about.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist