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A few days ago I listed my basic palette and mentioned that I could not find my favorite color Acra Violet by Liquitex listed anywhere on the Liquitex website, so I submitted my question. Amazingly I received a very complete answer from the product manager, Alexis Dykstra. Here is the scoop taken directly from her email;

“Thank you for your email. Lots of changes have happened with Liquitex over the last couple of years. I would like to share a few of them as I hope this will help answer your question.

For a long time, we named all of our colors that contained Quinacridone pigments by the short version “acra”. In 2005, we updated our product names. All “acra colors” are now referred to by their proper pigment names “Quinacridone.” Thus, Acra Violet would turn into Quinacridone Violet, HOWEVER, at that same time we simplified some of the names of our colors. Prior to 2005, Acra Violet was actually known as Acra Magenta/Acra Violet. NOW you can find this color by simply looking for Quinacridone Magenta.

In case you are not aware as well, in 2005 we also changed the names of our products from Viscosity to Body. Now Medium Viscosity colors are Soft Body Colors. High Viscosity Colors are Heavy Body Colors…..”

Unfortunately I doesn’t seem to come in 8 or 16 oz. jars, only in tubes. I need big jars. So, I guess I’ll have to start a new search for a replacement. I hate it when I have to do this, I do so love my favorite colors and find it very annoying to have to make new purchases to test colors that I will probably not use.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

One of the most difficult parts of my job as an artist is managing my photo reference resources. 40 years ago I began with colored snapshots taken with a cheap camera.  Today these photos are faded and useless, the negatives stored in shoe boxes.  Photo quality improved with a through the lens focus 35mm camera,   before long I had boxes and boxes of slides.  They are labeled by date and location, but sorting them on a light table takes forever.

To find what I need faster I set up file folders by subject ie; moose, caribou, Denali winter, ect., and placed slides in plastic sleeves.  After we moved from the wilderness of Alaska I enjoyed the convenience of one-day service for prints so I abandoned slides, this led to piles of envelopes full of colored photos.  When I find time I file prints by subject in plastic sheets and include them in the folders with the slides. Soon I needed expandable files.

Finally, the age of digital arrived. Now my computer is full of digital images all sorted by date, but not by subject.  When I finally decide to organize my digital photos I will spend weeks on the computer and no time on the easel. Managing my reference resources is an ongoing challenge. Before I start a new painting I fritter away at least a day searching all my various files for support material.  Not a bad problem to have really, and what a wonderful life I’ve led traveling to so many great places to gather research.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska fine art

“Holiday Tree” original acrylic/watercolor painting sold. Artist proof prints and art cards available.
Best wishes to all, God’s blessings, and Merry Christmas from Alaska. Enjoy your day wherever you may be, and be sure to attend a Christmas day worship service. I give thanks for this day, the beauty of nature, for family, for food and shelter, for my Blog family and collectors, for friends, to be able to see, to hear, to talk, to sing, to paint, and especially to love and be loved.

Sincerely,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska fine artist

I’m often asked where I purchase my art supplies, and the truth is I use catalogs. This habit began 31 years ago when we moved to the remote wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska, where few supplies of any kind were available. Before the days of computers and internet, catalogs were a coveted and cherished source for learning about new products and buying anything you might need. Through the years I’ve found several companies to be reliable and provide good service, among my favorites are; Utrecht, Dick Blick, and Daniel Smith. If any of you have a favorite you would like to share leave the name under the comments section of this blog entry and I will check them out.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Art

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

Sunflower Giclee limited edition on canvas by Gail Niebrugge is now available for purchase. We can ship this beautiful print for Christmas. Medium size 16″x21.5″ limited 200 signed and numbered is priced at $320.00 US, large size 24″x32″ limited 150 signed and numbered sells for $615.00 US. These stretched canvases can be ordered with a “gallery wrap” so that they do not need to be framed. We have ordered one with a “mirror gallery wrap” where a 1″ strip of the edge of the image is printed down the sides of the canvas. I think I’m going to like the look of this. Call for quotes for Gallery Wrap and Mirror Gallery Wrap. Order now for the holidays.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Another very popular Giclee limited edition print is Spirit of Flight. This lovely pointillism painting of Trumpeter Swan is printed on heavy rag watercolor paper with hand-torn deckled edges and floated on a back mat with acid free foam core. This framed print is available in the Niebrugge Studio booth located in the lobby of the Egan Center this weekend at the Arts and Crafts Emporium in Anchorage.

A corner detail of Spirit of Flight Giclee floated on an acid free back mat. Framed prints can also be purchased by calling Niebrugge Studio at 907-746-3256.

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism artist of Alaska

It seems like every day now we deal with snow. The photo above was taken during first light at 9:30AM just after Bob cleared the driveway with the snow blower. Wind drifts continually foil our progress and harden to concrete if left untended. Friday we tow the Niebrugge Studio cargo trailer to Anchorage and set-up for the weekend Arts and Crafts Emporium at the Egan Center. We hope for dry roads, clear calm weather, and a pause in the daily snow storms.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska pointillism artist

Again, I like to save time while painting. So, instead of taking down all of my photo references so that I can have an uncluttered background to evaluate the painting, I keep a bunch of empty mats in a variety of sizes handy to create a temporary mat around the artwork. This working mat helps separate the artwork from the busyness of the surroundings and makes it easier to evaluate the composition.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Through the years I’ve used many, many different kinds of palettes.  Some are made from molded plastic, wood, and glass, I’ve even tried using pie plates, and muffin tins. Acrylic paint dries fast.  In order to eliminate the job of cleaning the surface of the palette each time it is used I’ve settled into using disposable palettes.  I just peel the used sheet from the pad and toss it in the trash.  The same goes for brushes.  Acrylic paint destroys brushes, so I purchase cheap white sable by the dozen and throw them away when they quit holding a point and begin to resemble a fan. Cheap and easy, that’s my style. I hate wasting time setting up and cleaning up, I just want to paint. So, the easier the better for me. I have, however, used the same jar for water for nearly 30 years. It is like an old friend. I just rinse it out at the end of the day and let it air dry.  You will not find any special magic painting tools in my kit, just hard work!
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism Artist

Last summer a client commissioned me to create an original painting featuring her house and flower gardens. Here are the steps I use to create a painting with specific subject matter. (more…)

I’ve been busy re-hanging original paintings for our annual Open House October 20-21. The big new Sunflower painting looks right at home in the living room. (more…)

This morning while I was in the kitchen getting ready to drive to Anchorage for the Make it Alaskan Show, something outside the window caught my eye. I looked up and saw three moose ambling across the back lawn. Fortunately they didn’t find anything of interest to eat in my yard, but my guess is that they enjoyed a great feast from my neighbors apple trees. I’m glad they didn’t find my garden this summer.

Gail Niebrugge, Original Painting Artist

Olivia, from Seward Alaska, visited the studio with her parents and chose the print Sleeping Lady as her newest acquisition for her home. Olivia and I share a love of color. She told me her experience painting with tempera this summer, and how the colors have changed as they aged. I encouraged her to try acrylic next time, because the colors will stay true. It is always exciting to talk to a young budding artist and share our love for art. Thanks for visiting Olivia!

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

This is the view from my studio this morning, the fall colors are nearing their peak. Totally gorgeous!

Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska

At this point in the progress of the Sunflower original painting I evaluate the composition while the canvas is upside down. Compositional flaws will be quite obvious from this perspective. The upside down view shows me that the upper left portion of this painting is too light, and the diagonal lines of the leaves draw your eyes off the canvas at the corner. Otherwise, the rest of the composition is quite comfortable at this point.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska

The yard is maturing, the baby trees are growing, the roses blooming, and summer is nearly over. I will remember this day in January when it is dark and cold in Alaska.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Art

Bob spreading white cod fish bone meal fertilizer made by a local farmer Alaska Sea Ag. Just a little boost for the lawn before the winter frosts begin.

Gail Niebrugge, Art of Alaska