Original Art, Prints and Cards
Alaska Artist Gail Niebrugge loves the white Snow Geese and their contrast with dark colored Canada Geese. Both of these birds are in great abundance in the fields and marshes of Palmer, in the Matanuska Valley Alaska during the spring migration. Feeding, preening, and resting, a brief respite from the long flight before resuming travel [...]
During the Alaska spring bird migration in the Matanuska Valley, hundreds of Sandhill Cranes occupy fields and marshes and begin the noisy, mating ritual. Alaska artist Gail Niebrugge spends days chasing all over the valley to find the best vantage point for sketching and photographing these large, beautiful birds.
Frozen Alaska ground thaws slowly, melting snow forms temporary ponds where great flocks of migrating geese congregate to feed and rest. Within weeks the water will absorb into the warming earth, fields will dry and the birds will be gone. But for this short time, Palmer, Alaska is transformed into a sanctuary for migrating [...]
The skies over Palmer, Alaska, are alive with thousands of birds as they migrate north for the summer. Hay fields in motion with hundreds of birds feeding at once, Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and temporary ponds from snow melt the magnificent Trumpeter Swan repose. Sounds of wings and bird calls fill the [...]
After artist Gail Niebrugge’s recent post of October 22 http://niebruggestudio.com/trumpeter-signet-visits-niebrugge-studio she became aware that the juvenile Trumpeter Swan did not fly south, instead he was taking turns spending time in all the neighbors yards. Each day the big bird looked weaker and thinner. Finally the local bird rescue was called, and showed up within minutes [...]
Research Photo for use in future paintings by Alaska artist Gail Niebrugge The late afternoon and evening of October 22, 2012, a small section of open water remained on the lake along the edge of Alaska artist Gail Niebrugge’s lawn. Nearly 75 ducks flew in during the day and feasted on the rich undergrowth in [...]
Juvenile Trumpeter Swan Research Photo by Artist Gail Niebrugge During a blustery, windy evening Alaska artist Gail Niebrugge caught a glimpse of something white moving along the lawn, on closer inspection a young, knobby kneed, pigeon toed Trumpeter Swan is discovered, waddling across the artists’ lake shore lawn, at first resting then moving toward the [...]
Alaska Artist Gail Niebrugge research photo Sunday morning, October 14, the Trumpeter Swans appeared on our lake, a regular stop on the fall migration. This large family of two adults and five signets skirted the shore all morning, feeding and preening. The level of water in the lake is very high from a summer of [...]
This is a very fuzzy photo, taken about 11:00PM last night with maximum zoom hand-held, shooting through a window inside the studio, but I was so excited to see this swarm of Tree Swallows fighting for the right to claim this next box. I grabbed the point and shoot and clicked photos as fast as [...]
We made a whirlwind trip to Kenai to deliver artwork for the upcoming Celebration of Wildlife 2012 Exhibition that opens June 1 at the Kenai Convention and Visitor Center. While we were there we managed to watch birds until the sun set, then sat up until 1:30AM visiting with our wonderful hosts Kathy and David [...]
I love late October in the Matanuska valley, Alaska, watching the snow line slowly descend the mountains and migratory waterfowl passing through. The other day my neighbor called a “swan alert,” soon several of us gathered with our cameras to watch a group of 28 Trumpeter swan as they fed along the shallow shoreline. The [...]
While cooking sweet corn on the outdoor bar-be-que last evening I heard the beautiful call of Trumpeter Swan coming from my neighbors yard. I grabbed the point and shoot camera and crept across her lawn to a scene where seven swan and seven of their signets were feeding along the shallow shore. It was late [...]
Mallard ducks, fat and happy, are gathering by the dozens in our yard and snoozing on the dock. They are leaving a poopy mess. The young chicks almost fully grown and testing their wings, soon will be airborne migrating south. Who knows if they will survive the onslaught of lead shot as they pass over [...]
Seeds fly in air, caught in the breeze, inhaling them will cause a sneeze. White fuzzy grass, they land on water, Cottonwood scum becomes duck fodder. Along the shore, the pond turns white, drifting seeds are quite a sight. A floating web, insects are caught, a tasty dish without a thought. Simply served, a fast [...]
Three fuzzy Bonaparte Gull chicks swam out of the lilies to sun on Ron’s longs as we approached our dock, within seconds the screechy, bomber-like attacking adults began their assault. After fending off the overhead onslaught with a push broom they settled down to watch from the top of the big spruce tree and [...]
Friday was 75º and sunny, a great day to work in the yard and do some boating. As we approached the dock several Bonaparte Gulls began high pitched screeching and quickly soared in for an attack! Bob fended them off with a boat hook, but they were fiercely undeterred. Shortly we saw three tiny fluffy [...]
We have so much fun watching the Mallard families grow, these two broods have taken to our lawn and love coming up to eat the sunflower seeds that have fallen from the bird feeder. Today we observed one mamma with her offspring following in a long straight line parade down the lawn onto the dock [...]
After three days of heavy rain sunshine lured me outdoors. As I approached the dock juvenile Mallard ducklings were sunning themselves on Ron’s logs, all seven crowded on a small section that rises above water. They’ve grown so large their isn’t much room, but they seemed happy resting with heads tucked under wings. Alerted by [...]
Seven Mallard chicks have been cruising the shore of our cove for three weeks, and are growing so fast it is hard to believe. This area is rich with food and home to two sets of Mallards with chicks as well as Red Neck Grebe and Bonaparte Gull nests. We love the ducklings and enjoy [...]
Every year we float our “Bird Nesting Area” sign warning watercraft to slow down and keep a respectful distance. We have had as many as three separate nests at one time in our cove, and since the signs appeared the birth success rate has greatly improved. For some strange reason a pair of Redneck Grebes [...]
Gail Niebrugge (Knee-brew-ghe) born and raised in California has pursued art since childhood, winning a poster contest on the Johnny Jet television show at the age of twelve. Gail began her career as an illustrator for the US Navy and Marines in San Diego, and later established the Instructional Media Center for the Grossmont High School District in La Mesa, California. The Niebrugge family fell in love with Alaska while on vacation in 1976 and never returned home, instead they established a residence and studio in the remote interior settlement of Copper Center where the artist painted … [Read More...]
Wikipedia defines pointillism as; "a style of painting in which small distinct points of primary colors create the impression of a wide selection of secondary and intermediate colors." It goes on to say that the mind and the eye mix the color spots into a full range of tones and that it is closely related to Divisionism. Divisionism was practiced by Georges Seurat during the Neo-Impressionism period. He broke his color into basic elements and painted very small and regular dots. His dots are carefully placed as to not touch each other, so the white under painted canvas shows around all of the dots. I call my painting technique pointillism, but technically it is incorrect according to Wikipedia. The difference between my technique and true pointillism is that I use … [Read More...]