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Ma and Pa mannequins (newspaper stuffed clothes) waiting on the porch of Niebrugge Studio for the trick or treaters.  Happy haunting.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

“Wishing Well” 4″x6″ mini giclee open edition print, matted 8″x10″ $30.00 US.

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“Pushy Bear” 4″x6″ miniature open edition Giclee print, matted 8″x10″ $30.00 US. (more…)

“Itchy Bear” 4″x6″ open edition Giclee print, matted 8″x10″ $30.00 US. (more…)

Arts Council member Theresa John demonstrates an ancient Yup’ik drum while she chants during the extraordinary exhibit “Yuungnaqpiallerput” (The Way We Genuinely Live), Masterworks of Yup’ik Science and Survial on view at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art through October 26, 2008.  Members of the Alaska State Council on the Arts toured the “Yuungnaqpiallerput” and the new exhibit “Glinaquq” (Like A Face), curated by Arts Council member and Executive Director of the Kodiak Alutiiq Museum,  Sven Haakanson Jr. which will continue through January 4, 2009.  Both of these exhibits are extremely important to the history of native culture in Alaska.

Guests waiting to attend the Annual Alaska State Council on the Arts Governor’s Awards banquet, Thursday evening October 23 at the downtown Anchorage Mariott Hotel, Alaska.  The evening was very successful with over 250 attendees.  This event was planned to coincide with the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention that was held in the new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center downtown Anchorage.  The members of the Arts Council Board of Directors enjoyed touring the Arts and Crafts Fair where over 200 artists from across Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 exhibited their work.

“Poppy Patch Fox” 9″x12″ open edition Giclee print $65.00 US.

Red fox kits start to venture from their dens during midsummer. One afternoon I sat quietly on the ground watching this fuzzy little guy as he curiously checked me out, approaching and backing away, laying down nearby then abruptly jumping up to chase leaves and pounce on twigs. This open edition giclee art print made from an acrylic painting is of the highest quality, printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, each are hand signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge. To order click here or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256.

“Juneau’s Glacier” 12″x16″ open edition Giclee print $105.00 US.

The Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska, is a very people friendly area and trails abound along the edge of Mendenhall lake. Views of the glacier change depending on the trail, wildflowers are abundant and many birds are nesting in the area. I painted the figure of a Semipalmated Plover on the ground in the lower right corner of the canvas. This open edition giclee art print is of the highest quality, printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, each are hand-signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge. To purchase Juneau’s Glacier giclee print click here or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256.

“Scarlet Sky” open edition Giclee print 5.3″x7.5″ on acid free paper with fade resistant inks $30.00 US.

The views of the landscape along the Turnagin Arm from Anchorage to Girdwood, Alaska, are unequaled in beauty. Driving home late one evening we witnessed this spectacular sunset silhouetting the mountain Sleeping Lady. This open edition mini giclee art print is of the highest quality, printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, each are hand-signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge. To order “Scarlet Sky” click here or contact Niebrugge Studio at (907)746-3256.

“Sun Raven” is now available an open edition a mini giclee print 5″x7.75″ on acid free paper printed with fade resistant inks, each hand signed by artist Gail Niebrugge, price $30.00 US.

I chose to place the dark, ebony colored raven against a brilliant sunny background of the wildflower Forget-me-not.  These birds are an important symbol in the native culture of southeast Alaska, and represent several legends, one is the legend of the sun.  The story simply tells about a time when sun was stolen and placed in a box and how a raven rescued the box using trickery and saved the sun.  To order click here or call Niebrugge Studio at (907)746-3256. Call for price and availability of original acrylic pointillism painting “Sun Raven” 10″x15″ framed under glass 17″x22″.

“Sweet Repast” 6.5″x10.7″ a new small sized open edition Giclee of an old favorite that is sold out. Printed on acid free paper with fade resistant inks each print is hand signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge, price $55.00 US. This lovely landscape features three Trumpeter swan feeding on a small pond with a reflection of Mt. Sanford, located in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. To purchase click here or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256. Original acrylic/watercolor painting SOLD.

“Trumpeters with Young” open edition Giclee mini print 5.8″x7″, on acid free paper with fade resistant inks, each hand signed by artist Gail Niebrugge, price $30.00 US.

After hours of hiding in the brush watching Trumpeter Swan on Chitina Town Lake, Alaska, and crawling on my belly with tripod and camera, I finally got a few shots of the swans and their young before they hastily swam to the opposite shore. Through the years my efforts rewarded me with some wonderful research for paintings. Patience pays. To order click here or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256. Original painting SOLD.

“Grassy Wetlands” new release open edition Giclee print 10″x14″, printed on acid free paper each hand signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge, price $79.00 US.

A pointillism painting of early fall near the coast of Seward, Alaska with the Chugiak mountains reflected in the water. As summer draws to an end in south central Alaska the high mountain tundra color changes to brilliant orange, wetland grasses turn yellow and early snow dusts mountain peaks. With the landscape aglow in color the time is right to hike, explore and enjoy nature. To purchase print call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256, and call for information about price and availability of the original painting “Grassy Wetlands” 22″x30″ acrylic/watercolor on rag paper, framed under glass 32″x40″.

“Pristine Sanctuary” open edition Giclee 10″x14″ on acid free paper, each print hand signed by the artist, price $79.00 US.

An acrylic painting by Gail Niebrugge using pointillism depicting a fall scene with the Alaska mountain range reflected in a pond along the west end of the long, narrow dirt road that serves Denali National Park, Alaska, a region lush with beaver ponds and tundra.  Fresh snow in the mountains during a spectacularly stunning fall made a perfect subject for my painting of this vast wilderness. To purchase print click here or call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256, original painting SOLD.

“Wildflowers” open edition Giclee print 9″x12″ on acid free paper, each hand signed by the artist Gail Niebrugge, price $65.00 US. A beautiful wildflower garden of fireweed and cow parsnip growing along the coast of Kodiak Island, Alaska. This print will be available on the web site soon, until then to purchase prints call Niebrugge Studio (907)746-3256, for information about “Wildflowers” original painting 22″x30″ acrylic/watercolor on rag paper, framed 32″x40″, call for price and availability.

Here are my wonderful students, art teachers all, from as far away as Homer to Fairbanks, Alaska, showing partially finished work from the Sunday morning class. At the 2008 Alaska Art Education Association Fall Conference in Wasilla, I enjoyed helping my students with composition, color, values, texture, and anything else I could throw at them using reference material from the Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry. No easy subject matter for this group. And, they stood up to the challenge, boy did they ever! I am so proud of the quality of art teachers in Alaska, and the talent that they have. It was an honor and a pleasure to work together with them. Best wishes for a successful year to all of you!

Gail Niebrugge, a humble art teacher

The above photo is of a student (Alaska art teacher) working on her painting of a historic tractor with a reflection in puddle of water on the seat. Last Saturday I taught two concurrent workshops to a wonderful group of Alaska teachers during the Alaska Art Education Association Fall Conference in Wasilla, Alaska. We began by traveling out to the Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry where volunteer Faye Palin graciously opened the facility for our group to sketch. After an hour of sketching and a short talk by Faye about the history, current status, and future of the museum, we traveled back to the conference to enlarge our sketches on to canvas panels. The afternoon was spent painting, with several group critique sessions. I am absolutely impressed with the talent and dedication of the teachers in my class. Tomorrow I will teach a shortened version of the same class to three times as many students. What a rewarding experience.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Two of Alaska’s finest photographers, actually two of the United State’s finest photographers, live in Wasilla, Alaska.  Recently, husband and wife Fred and Randi Hirschmann approached me with an idea to experiment photographing and digitizing my paintings.  It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.  One snowy day I hauled “Juneau’s Glacier” to the charming log home/studio hidden in the woods and learned a lot about photography.  Both Randi and Fred are perfectionists, it is very evident in their work.  We used Randi’s dog photography studio to set up the shot where they made 4×5 transparencies and digital images for me.  Then we spent time in the production office where Fred used a big Hasselblad scanner to give me a perfect digital image!  The above photo shows Randi and Fred using string in a creative effort the find the center of the canvas, from the center they shot a lazer back to the center of the lens.  Lots of adjustments with umbrella lights and a light meter were used to eliminate any glare and to ensure the strobe lights were evenly placed so that all corners of the canvas were lit equally.  What a pleasure it is to use such an accurate digital image.  I really appreciated their efforts on my behalf.  Thank you Randi and Fred!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska glacier artist

At this stage of the Mendenhall Glacier painting I’ve run out of ideas and I’ve been so absorbed in the painting that I can’t look at it objectively any longer. When I reach this stage I let the painting rest for awhile. I’ll look at it upside down, I’ll evaluate it in the reverse by looking at it in a mirror, and I’ll just let it sit on the easel and contemplate. Is it finished? I don’t know yet. Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll know in a few days. Meanwhile, I’ll start a new one, and that will distract me. I’ve enjoyed spending time at this pretty little spot along the shore of the Mendenhall Lake, and I will miss my daily journeys. But, alas, it’s time to visit a new place and I think it will be just as nice.

After letting the painting rest a few days I declare, “it is finished!” I’ve signed it and gave it the title “Juneau’s Glacier”, dimensions 30″x40″ acrylic on canvas. It might be hard to see in this tiny photo, but I painted the figure of a Semipalmated Plover on the ground in the lower right corner of the canvas. These birds build their nests on the ground along the shores of Mendenhall Lake.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska glacier artist

Detail of the middle ground in the Mendenhall Glacier painting.

I’m nearing the final stages of the glacier painting and now is the time to begin to add detail. I do this by using much smaller dots. The maze of underlying colors from the previous layers of dots give the painting multiple dimensions. I’ve darkened the darks with many values of deep color and added lots of light dots to enhance highlights and create depth. Notice that the green bushes on the spit of land in the distance are a much grayer green, and have softer darks and highlights than the bushes along the foreground shore. The illusion of distance is achieved by the careful selection and mixing of color. I will not paint every single leaf and branch, but by using judicious placement of values the essence of fine detail emerges. The top and bottom thirds of the canvas are still awaiting the painting of detail, then I will add the bird on the ground.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape painter