Gail L. Richards is a writer and artist living in Seward - a small coastal community in southcentral Alaska.

A resident of the state for nearly 20 years, Richards says its natural beauty and unique characters inspire her, although her work has a more global theme.

“I’m fascinated by various cultures worldwide,” Richards says. “Few things move me more than seeing people or animals interact within their own unique environments. So, often, these become the subjects of my stories and art."

Having written for numerous regional publications, Richards was once introduced in the Alaska Press Club newsletter as a writer who produces ‘clean copy’. Her articles have appeared in Alaska magazine, We Alaskans, Anchorage Daily News, Homer News, and the Seward Phoenix LOG, where she was a full-time staff writer/photographer for two years.

Gail's artwork has been shown in Seward at Resurrect Art and Coffee House, The Ranting Raven, and The Edgewater Hotel. Her work was also featured at Homer's Picture Alaska Art Gallery in October, 2007, and she is scheduled there as the First Friday artist for September, 2008.

Richards completed a series of five original drawings of historic airplanes on aviation maps for the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum at Anchorage in 2006, and several others for independent small aircraft enthusiasts. Richards's work has also been sold to individuals online, at local Arts and Crafts Fairs, and through a local artist co-op that operated for two years - Seward In A Shop.

She is an active member of the Seward Mural Society, and contributes to other community art projects through teaching or donation of skills and time.

Now, Richards is proud to be an artist member of EBSQ.

"I am a woman who long ago traded in my silk stockings and heels for the oportunity to live where, on any given day, I can:

*watch eagles battle over an old salmon carcass

*study the long-legged moose that wander into my yard for lunch

*be surprised by a black bear in the brush -- or maybe just a burley black Lab!

Mostly, I'm in Alaska because it's wild and open like no place else I've been. People tend to give one another plenty of room to be the exceptional characters that they are, and I respect that," Richards says.

"It seems like I've studied art all my life," Richards says, "mostly at the knee of my mother."

But Richards has taken private courses and workshops from master artists since 1998.

"I think it's important to continue to learn, regardless of how established you are as an artist. We're always learning."

Ten years later, Richards now receives requests to teach.

"I'm working with an elementary school class in late April under the sponsorship of our National Park Service. They'll soon be celebrating National Park Week, and the theme for Kenai Fjords National Park is: 'Remembering Exit Glacier'.

"The glacier has been rapidly receding due to global warming, so, in a way, this is a tribute to it. I'm honored to be a part of the celebration and to help students look at our world differently," Richards says. "Each child will be creating a painting or drawing to enter in a competition sponsored by the park."