niebruggestudio.com

Waikiki Beach

gail — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:48:24 +0000

Here I stand with my pasty white Alaska skin, on the hot sands of Waikiki Beach looking conspicuously like a tourist. The town of Oahu, Honolulu, has grown enormously in the twenty years since we last visited. Previous stays we sought out all the major tourist attractions, so this time we opted to take the free shuttle from the ship and explore on our own. Waikiki is a beautiful area, surrounded by stunning beaches and the Ala Wai Canal its parks, hotels, and shopping are spectacular.

Our ship didn’t set sail until 10:30PM so we used some of our time onboard to catch-up housekeeping and the laundry while the vessel was nearly empty of passengers. I love being on a half-full ship, the elevators arrive the minute they are summoned, no lines in the buffet, and plenty of poolside lounges available. The crew took advantage of the extended berth to varnish all the wooden balcony rails, I must say it was a shock to open the curtains and find men working on our balcony.

The only glitch in the trip so far is my beloved camera somehow got a crack in the screen. It is very hard to see the image, it is pale and gray and is bordered with vertical and horizontal colored stripes, along the lower right side is a large black shape with a white line down the center (I think that is the area of the crack). So, I’m shooting blind and find out what the photos look like much later back in the cabin when I download the chip into the computer. I tried to replace the camera but the shop said no one carries Panasonic on the Island, the fees to be a distributor are too high. So I’ll wait till I’m back in the lower 48, in the meantime I’m getting some very strange looking photos…..

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Lunch with Friends in Hilo, Hawaii

gail — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:22:49 +0000

Our friends, Judy Tyke and Billie Lewis, drove two hours from the opposite side of the “big island” to meet our ship and show us around Hilo. We had a fabulous lunch at Pestos in the old town of Hilo, and fun at the Macadamia Nut Factory, but best of all we were able to catch up on each others lives and share stories from our past lives in Glennallen, Alaska. Pictured above are Bob, Judy and Billie.

We love you two, thanks for the wonderful day!

Gail Niebrugge, artist

At Sea from Los Angeles to Hawaii

gail — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:10:41 +0000

After four days a sea we arrive at Hilo, Hawaii, today and meet with long-time friends from Glennallen, Alaska.

We’ve been treated like royalty on the cruise ship, and food dominates each day. I especially enjoy the displays of vegetables and fruit carved and placed in decorative arrangements throughout the dining areas. Ice carvings also adorn the presentations, making a delightful delicious cuisine.

I could get used to this life; rising to sunshine for my early morning stroll on the Promenade deck, then a delicious assortment of breakfast foods from bacon to cereal, pastries and fresh fruit. Off to the sun deck with towels to lounge with a good book, perhaps a movie on the giant outdoor movie screen. Reading the daily Patter to decide weather or not to attend a lecture at sea, play wii games, or learn to mix martinis. The afternoons are spent at a current movie, swimming, or reading, then it is time to ready for the cocktail party, dinner, and the live entertainment in one of two beautiful theaters. A great vacation.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Exchanging Snow Tracks for Sand Tracks

gail — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:45:18 +0000

This winter has been one of the snowiest I can remember, the good news is that it is beautiful outside, the bad news is that it is a huge job keeping roads, driveways, walkways, patio Bar-B-Q accessible. We plow, snow blow, shovel and clean it up only to find wind drifts covering our work and blocking access a few hours later, this is repeated on a daily basis. Today I woke to another 4″ of fresh white powder on top of a layer of packed ice. But, tonight we escape and trade our snow boots for flip flops as we wing our way to the cruise ship headed for Hawaii.

Niebrugge Studio is on a month-long hiatus, and will resume business again March 16. Orders will be shipped as soon as we return. I’ll post photos as we travel and stay in touch via email, FaceBook, and telephone. I plant to add some tropical and desert research to my flower files for use in future paintings. As soon as we return to Alaska we ready for a First Friday show downtown Anchorage at Aurora Gallery in April. It will be back to business as usual.

Best wishes,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Sunny Alaska Snowscape

gail — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:43:42 +0000

Wow, this week has had killer weather, sunny and above freezing during the day. Let the winter recreation begin! The Chugach mountains are spectacular in the last rays of the afternoon sun, many tracks in the snow are evidence of snow machine activity, and an occasional hole in the ice a remnant of a fishing expedition. This weather brings everyone outdoors playing and rejoicing in the beauty of Alaska. My daily walks on the frozen lake resume and all is well in my world again.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Amazing Winter

gail — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:27:18 +0000

A view of Fairbanks from the airplane window at -20 degrees two days ago, today it is snowing hard at my studio in the Matanuska Valley and the temperature has warmed to +38. Wild swings, wild weather, wild Alaska. It has been a most amazing winter. Tons of snow, absolutely gorgeous. Snow plows, snow blowers, and snow shovels are in continual use. It is warm and cosy inside our home, the fireplace radiates extra heat creating a place to nest and read. I’ve gained an extra 5 lbs. of fatty insulation that doesn’t show under my heavy coat, but I dread trying to fit into my bathing suit when we travel later this month. Yes, it has been an amazing winter, indeed.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Fairbanks Symphony of Lights

gail — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:27:05 +0000

Yesterday I had the pleasure to serve as a juror for the Fairbanks Art Association upcoming show, Patterns of Influence “Symphony of Light,” that opens February 3 in the gallery at the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts in Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, Alaska. Many artists braved the sub zero temperatures to attend my slide show/lecture in the evening. Excerpts from my lecture are as follows; “Winter in Fairbanks; cold, dark, lit by the warmth of its people. Tough, hearty people who embrace the arts. Unique in spirit, lovers of all things beautiful, people who rejoice in the quiet solitude of nature and its subtle splendor.”

“……All good art is about the light. Even in darkness we are led by light; stars, moon, lanterns, fire, we gravitate to the light. In Fairbanks the northern lights are coveted. The long, low, glowing light of dawn or dusk commands attention, where the steady overhead light of midday is common place, even boring. I looked for the use of light or the unusual use of color in the works presented for this show. For the light in darkness takes on amazing color, and color drives art.”

Working indoors most of the day it was very dark outside when we finished. Leaving Pioneer Park I was overwhelmed by the display of lights decorating all of the historic buildings, I grabbed my camera and shot as many photos as I could while my ride patiently waited. A virtual symphony of lights, a shimmering gateway greeting visitors to the show.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Old Tucson

gail — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:16 +0000

About 40 years ago we brought our family to the historic movie set of Old Tucson, Arizona, John Wayne was still making cowboy movies and we recognized many of the buildings and streets in films. It was exciting. Yesterday we revisited this place of many memories after a drive through the magnificent Saguaro National Park. Everything seemed the same except it didn’t look like the sets are used any more and it is more of a museum today. We really enjoyed the drive over Gates Pass, the roads are still narrow and winding and haven’t changed much over the years. I like that. The forest of cactus is amazing. Tucson is growing on me, I feel very comfortable here and it is easy to get around. The city seems to be very sophisticated but has the friendliness and charm of a small town. We head back to Alaska tomorrow, our stay here was too short but very sweet.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Silent, Fleet Footed Deer

gail — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:34:35 +0000

While eating dinner at the SaddleBrook Preserve last night and tiny herd of seven deer grazed in the brushy area below the patio. They are so much fun to watch, quiet and quick, first you see them then you don’t. An enjoyable memory of our time in Tucson, Arizona.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Santa Catalina Mountains Paradise, Tucson

gail — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:02:16 +0000

The temperatures drop in the evening in the 3500′ elevation of Oro Valley, North East of Tucson. I’m sitting at my favorite restaurant in the Preserve at SaddleBrook clubhouse, watching the evening sun on the Santa Catalina Mountains. The tallest peaks are over 10,000′ elevation and have traces of snow, in the valley below are three fabulous championship golf courses and several beautiful subdivisions where deer roam freely. A stunning oasis in the high desert. I had my very first golf lesson today, totally fun even though I’m a klutz. I’m beginning to understand the passion, it takes you outdoors in some of the most beautifully landscaped grounds anywhere, you get exercise and are challenged to keep the little white ball on the green grass. I’ve always enjoyed hiking, but I could be convinced to golf once in awhile, or at least practice on the driving range and putting greens. It is fun to see how the other half live in the winter. Alaska is getting hammered with cold temperatures, snow and winds, our primary activity was moving snow from one place to another, then moving it back again the next day.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

First Cup, Morning in Tucson

gail — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:11:11 +0000

Breakfast at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson. What a change from -22 degrees in Alaska. Yesterday we spent the morning with our old friends at Arizona Lithographers, we’ve been doing business with them for more than 20 years. It was so much fun to reminisce with the owner, John Davis, and put a face to the voice of Gail Ballwebber. These folks run a first class art printing operation, one of the finest in the United States.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

How to Prune China Roses

gail — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:27:44 +0000

Dusk arrives at 4:30PM, we are gaining more daylight every day. Yesterday at sunset a cow moose and her two calves strolled through the yard browsing on willows and alders, the cow found my treasured China Rose bushes and managed to prune them into little stubs.

After feasting in my garden they moved into the woods and bedded down in a snow bank. Do you think they’ll be back?

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

My Shredder Bit the Dust….

gail — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:27:53 +0000

After three days of shredding files my shredder bit the dust, it will only run in reverse spitting wads of confetti sized paper out the top. One of the pitfalls of a home office is that unless we fix broken stuff ourselves, no one else will. The remote phones are not holding a charge, so I might as well purchase batteries for them while I’m out. The smoke alarm at the top of the stairs starts beeping about 5 hours after a battery replacement, don’t know what to do about this other than remove the battery and render the alarm useless, I guess a call to the electrician is in order. We just refurbished the security system, it kept sending signals that the doors were being tampered….new batteries fixed that issue. Oh, how we rely on electronic gadgets today to keep functioning, some days we can’t live with ‘em but most of the time we can’t live without ‘em.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Seriously, More Snow?

gail — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:38:07 +0000

By now everyone knows that Alaska is getting a double whammy of snow, something about the jet stream being much further north this year than usual. As I work in the studio office this is the scene outside my window. If I had the choice of wind or snow, I pick snow…..just sayin’ I’m starting to dream of sunny desert vistas, cactus, flowers, sun, hiking in shorts, swimming, sun, did I mention sun?

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Changes…

gail — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:45:07 +0000

Thanks to cold weather and continual snow, my office is getting a long overdue organization. Occasionally I stop, stretch, look out the windows and look at the beauty of colored lights buried on snow laden trees. A joyous sight, it brings a smile. During the inclement weather I’ve cleaned-up the website, organizing the “Original Paintings” section so that the paintings for sale are grouped together first, then the SOLD work follows. I’m learning how to manipulate this new format in Word Press. The SOLD OUT prints are finally all identified and moved to “Sold Out Prints and Artists Proofs”. Some people will be disappointed to see favorite prints in the SOLD OUT section. It is now cleaned-up down to the “bare bones” a long overdue job, done!

While I was diligently working inside the weather changed, howling winds scoured the yard and cleaned-up everything outside to the “bare bones” as well. My smile faded, I’m not so sure I like this clean-up job.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Blizzard

gail — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:44:59 +0000

Yesterday another blizzard, I watched from the upstairs studio windows only able to discern objects that were close, the distance blurred by white haze. Our chairs at the end of the dock nearly buried, iron sentinels in a white landscape. A good day to catch up clearing out file cabinets, shredding paper, filling five big black plastic trash bags. End of year office work.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Magenta Sky

gail — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:37:51 +0000

A magenta sky above the silent frozen lake, natures beauty rose above my dread of sub zero cold, lifted my heavy soul with unexpected joy, I watched mesmerized until inky blackness extinguished the last crimson beam. Alaska in January 2012, preserved in ice until the April thaw.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Cold Slows Outdoor Play

gail — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:52:17 +0000

Our lake is normally a busy winter playground; ice fishing, snow machine riding sometimes pulling sleds of squealing children, skate skiing, people walking dogs, and anything else you can think of, but since double digit below zero temperatures the lake is silent. As I watch through my cozy studio windows all I see is an occasional raven scrounging or an errant moose or two browsing willows seeking relief from the deep high country snow. It is a nice time to stay indoors and make plans for the new year. Long semi-dark dawns and dusks, the sun barely skimming the southern horizon, make it unappealing to go outside.

This time of the year a lot of Alaskans are gone, spending time in the sunshine somewhere in the lower 48. We have decided to search for a winter home down south and enjoy the best of both worlds; summer in Alaska and part of winter in a warmer place. A new adventure! And, I must admit that the prospect of expanding my painting subject matter to include desert landscapes, blooming cactus, different birds and wildlife sounds exciting. Growing older we find it is hard to navigate safely in the dark on ice and snow, and welcome the opportunity to play outdoors hiking, biking, swimming, maybe learn to golf where it is warm and the sun is shining. I’ll keep you posted on our search and how things work out, I’m looking forward to this new chapter in our lives.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

New Years Day 2012 Winter Rose Garden

gail — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:02:26 +0000

The weather at my Alaska art studio continues to be cold and calm. This morning the thermometer registered -14 degrees and no wind, a gorgeous layer of snow gently covers trees and plants providing insulation from the deep freeze. Here is my rose garden with snow covered rocks creating a beautiful winter landscape in the yard. Today the Christmas tree is put away and treasured ornaments collected through the years carefully packed for next year. 2012 is here! Today we will relax and enjoy the warmth of a fireplace inside our cozy home, and watch through the windows those hearty souls who venture forth in this weather to ice fish, ride snow machines or ski. Not many, I’m sure.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Wishing You the Best in the New Year

gail — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:10:57 +0000

Now that the Christmas Holidays are over, I anticipate the coming of the new year 2012 and all that it will bring. I wish a successful and happy new year for all of my friends. Changes are in the wind next year, make your resolutions prioritize and check them off in a systematic, orderly way. Plan carefully for the future for it will happen faster than you expect. I am establishing a priority and eliminating commitments that take me away from what is most important. It is time to do things that bring joy and satisfaction to my heart, time for me to devote myself to my family and my art. I’ve served the public as a volunteer for more than 45 years, now it is time to care for myself and family. My Blog posts will be fewer this year, I began in 2005 by posting six days a week. Now I will post when I have time or when something wonderful stirs my soul. Blessings to you and for a happy and successful 2012!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist