News and Events - Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park

The summer of 2009 I was chosen to serve as Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park, Alaska. The residency includes use of the historic John Murie cabin outfitted for wilderness comfort with a propane refrigerator and stove, but has no electricity or running water.

My activity included lots of photography, miles of hiking and biking, sketching, and keeping a daily journal.

Daily encounters with wildlife included grizzly bear, red fox, caribou, moose, and wolves.

This red fox met me while I was hiking on the road and just casually walked on by.

On the 8th day of my residency the clouds lifted and Denali came into view. It is always a spectacular sight!

This wolf kept appearing all day during my hike near Eileson Visitor Center.

This grizzly bear crossed the road in front of my truck, it was only the day before that I hiked this same section of the road. I was really glad to be in my truck this day. My residency was for ten days and at the end of my stay I gave a talk at the Murie Science and Learning Center at the park entrance. I plan to paint a scene for the park Visitor Information Center, a view of the East Fork of the Toklat River where the cabin is located.

New Sunflower Painting in Pointillism

First I lightly sketch the subject onto a canvas using a pencil, after that I flung paint all over the original sketch from several large brushes and created a random splattering of various colors. When the splatters and drips dried I applied acrylic paint as a transparent wash to fill in large areas with pale color. Next, I begin the time consuming task of layering opaque acrylic dots in mid-values on top of the transparent wash to begin developing the background leaves, petals, and the seed-filled center of the flower.

This is a fairly large canvas, 36″x48,” with the easel positioned as low as it can go. Tall canvases require a lot of adjusting of the easel up and down in order for me to paint comfortably. I work hard to avoid bending over or raising my arm for long periods of time.

The finished painting Sunflower. Next, the completed work will be photographed and digitized for my records, once the photography is complete I will apply several coats of Gloss Acrylic Gel to the entire surface. The gel will intensify color and give a nice tough finish to the surface. Since I prefer to use gloss gel I wait until after the painting is photographed before applying the finish coat, because the photo lighting reflects off the glossy surface and creates tiny white sparkles on the painting.

Sunflower is now available as a Giclee print on canvas in two sizes. To purchase the original painting, call for availability and price.

Artist in Residence at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Students sketching along the nature trail during the "Walk with the Artist" event at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Information Center, Alaska.

My first assignment as Artist-in-Residence for the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park last summer was to teach a workshop about sketching in the field. The sun blessed us as we ventured along the bluff trail overlooking the Copper River with views of the Wrangell Mountains. That evening I presented a slide show for guests at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Volunteer workers at the remote airstrip, Jakes Bar, in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. Left to right; myself, Barbara Tipton, and Janelle Eklund.

My next adventure as Artist-in-Residence took me by small single engine aircraft to the park wilderness headquarters at May Creek where I joined a group of volunteers who cleared brush from two remote airstrips. The three of us were part of a dozen or more who helped improve the historic gravel airstrips at Jakes Bar and Peavine. I plan to do paintings of each site with their beautiful rustic cabins.

My next stop was Mc Carthy/Kennicott where I spent several gorgeous days. Park Ranger Marie accompanied me with a guide on an all day hike exploring the Root Glacier and the waterfall at Donahoe Peak in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It was a hot, sunny day, ice crampons worked well in the porous surface of the glacial ice.

Students, including park Rangers, in my "Walk with the Artist" sketch class on the trail to Silk Stocking Row at the historic Kennicott. I gave two slide shows, one at the historic gym for visitors and locals, and another for the guests at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

My park ranger guide looking at the Root Glacier Stairway Ice Falls. We hiked about 12 miles round trip this day, it was strenuous and extremely interesting. On the hike back to the Kennicott we had to wait for a black bear with two tiny spring cubs to leave the trail before we could continue. Just another day in the life of an artist.

Seward Mural

"Wildflowers" 8' x 32' mural from the "Mural-in-a-Day" project, Seward, Alaska.

After more than a year of waiting, my mural "Wildflowers" was installed on September 14, 2007 in Kawabe Park, downtown Seward, Alaska. It looks fantastic and was well worth the wait! Seward is working hard to become known as the Mural Capitol of Alaska. I hear many wonderful comments from the residents about how nice this colorful scene looks against the white, snow of winter.

Here I am doing a giant signature with big fat unruly brushes on the wildflower mural. I didn’t have my brushes with me during my visit, so I borrowed some and improvised . Later in the day it rained cats and dogs, I hope the signature didn’t bleed all over the mural. It was really fun to see the finished product.

Alaska Governors Commemorative Inauguration Poster 2006

It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the artist for the Alaska Governors Commemorative Inauguration poster 2006. We will be attending the Inauguration ceremony December 4, held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. The posters will be given to attendees. Governor Palin selected the image "Rainbow of Promise" for several reasons. One, it featured a local mountain, Pioneer Peak, a symbol of strength, and second for the image of the rainbow that she saw as a symbol of the promise of a better future. Sarah Palin is the first woman and the youngest person to be elected governor of Alaska.

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