Thursday 28 June 2012

June in Iceland

The first month of my 3 month stay in Iceland is just about over and artists have been drifting away over the last week. As for the work it's gone fairly well. Because most of the other artists have only had 1 month to work I think they worked at a faster pace than I did. I spent the first 3 weeks of the residency building up material and tying out a few bits and pieces to see how the painting might work out. The first week was mostly made up of wandering around the surrounding area photographing and getting to know the place and sketchbook work, the middle 2 weeks I had started painting just small quick studies although there was one of them that I probably spent too much time on but during the third week I had started a piece that I intend to work towards exhibition. I still have 2 months left but I'm not so sure that I will get too much finished up completely. I don't think I want to get them finished before I leave. I think I'd rather work on them at home, back in Ireland because I feel that if I was to get them all completed before the end of the residency it might be too abrupt and it would be almost a cut off point with the residency simply being something I did and moving straight on to the next step.

The work itself I think has gone back to the roots of my original concept of playing with scale. I think over the course of the last few years my work had become more and more about the paint as a medium which isn't a bad thing but I feel that what I'm working on at the minute is closer to the theme while taking on a new vein of life and in some form of surrealism. It's been quite some time since I worked with acrylic paint too which has threw up a few issues that I had to work through, the obvious one being the shorter drying time in comparison to oil paint. I found the studies that were done earlier in the month were great testers for achieving the desired effects I was looking for when working on the pieces that are possibly going for exhibition. There were advantages to using acrylic too of course, the drying time being one of them and the other being that I didn't need to prime the canvas before working on it.

I haven't a set number of pieces I'd like to be working on while I'm here but I would like to go home with 5 canvas fairly under way.

Saturday 23 June 2012

Spákonufell and Summer Solstice

On Wednesday night 6 of us set out to climb Spakonufell for the Summer Solstice. This time we took the northern route which is said to be the easiest way up but it was still tough going. The beginning and the end were probably the toughest sections there's a bit in the middle where we were working our way around the mountain and so the trail was mostly level enough. The terrain varies a lot going up, grass, bog, soft mossy areas, loose clay and rock and even though it's summer there were still patches of snow. Towards the end there's a very steep incline where your almost climbing on your hands as well. We took several break on the way up which were badly needed.

When we got to the top though, it was well worth it, the view goes for miles and the light was incredible from the low sun. We got to the top in a little over 2 hours I think and there we found a treasure chest containing a book signed by everyone who climbed the mountain and a stone with a viking rune on it.




















Monday 18 June 2012

Open House and the American Ambassador

Today was Open House from 12:30 to 2:30, allowing the locals to drop by and see what we've been working on in the studio.



We also had a visit from the American Ambassador, Luis E. Arreaga


Monday 11 June 2012

Pot-Luck and Midnight in Skagastrond

Tonight was Pot-Luck night, it's a get together of the artists in residence, members of the local community and the board of Nes. Everyone brings a dish and has a chat and introduces themselves, to the board and locals.

These were some shots that I took at midnight in Skagastrond last week.









Monday 4 June 2012

Spákonufell

Today 5 of us tried hiking up Spakonufell or Prophetess Mountain. Its the huge peak that overlooks Skagastrond. Unfortunately I was one of the 2 that turned back. I got about halfway up the mountain but I started to feel a bit strange so I said enough was enough. I'll give it another go during the Summer Solstice which is on the 21st of June.










Legend has it that a prophetess who lived in Skagastrond walked to the top of Spakonufell everyday and combed her hair with a golden comb. She hid treasure in the mountains and put a spell on it that the only person who could find it would be an unbaptized woman who never learned any of God's words.

The landscape at the foot of the mountain is stunning too.









Fisherman's Festival

Saturday was Fisherman's Festival in Skagastrond. I think it started around 10:30 am with fishermen marching from the docks up the main street and to the church. The town was really busy and there was loads of activity in different areas. Dom, Jacob, Zack and myself went out on one of the local fishing boats as part of a free 30 minute tour. It was really nice but really windy when we got out on the water. Then there was a coffee and cake party later that evening and a water obstacle course which was started by the firing of a cannon. Later we went out to see a local band playing.

I left my camera behind that morning, so I have no images of the festival, I don't think I could have taken out on the boat anyway. I can't swim so needless to say I was holding on quiet tightly to the rails.

Saturday 2 June 2012

Arrived in Iceland

I arrived in Iceland on Thursday the 31st of May. I stayed in Reykjavik for one night and I had to get an early bus the next morning to Skagastrond. We arrived around 1pm after a 4 and a half hour bus drive with some incredible scenery. The weather is really nice too, we have had really clear skies and it hasn't been too hot but its not cold either. Theres a lot of bright light due to the clear skies, and also this is my third day in Iceland and the sun has not set, theres 24 hours of daylight.

I'll post up images soon.

As for the project I'm going to take my time with it and build it up gradually, I have 3 months so maybe leave it a few weeks before putting brush to canvas and build up on research work.