Finished

 

Color Me

13" X 18"

Original Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Yellow

 

 

Why is this sea wall in Isafjordur, Iceland painted yellow with stripes of blue and faded red? Well, I have no idea. Yellow is considered a cheery color in northern climes but then you would use it for exterior house colors, a front door, or inside a kitchen. Yellow is the color of warning. Could this color be bright so docking fishing boats could see it no matter the weather conditions?

 

Whatever the reason, the sea wall gives me a reason to play with some vibrant colors. 

 

 

 

Heavy Chains

 

Part of the appeal of this scene for me were the heavy chains. I imagine they aided in securing large fishing boats for this small community. 

The chains take what could have been a pretty stroll through primary colors and make it real. In essence, they anchor the painting. 

 

 

 

Starting a New Painting

 After two paintings which I can't show just yet because of show rules, I am starting a new piece which I can show you in progress.

Once again I am playing with bold colors. Most wildlife paintings I paint don't employ bold primary colors. When I do use them they are for a tad or a splash here or there or to mix with other colors.

Isafjordur is a charming town on the northwest coast of Iceland. Brightly colored houses abound in this historic fishing village. There is also a brightly colored sea wall. 

 

Terns were doing their own fishing and landing on the wall. That inspired this piece. Depending on which section the terns landed, they would take on the color of that section of wall. 

 

Hope you like horses

As I mentioned in my previous post, I can't reveal the painting I am working on right now. So, I thought you might like to see some of the wonderful Icelandic horses on my most recent trip to Iceland.

One aspect which added a bit of romance to them is that they were in remote areas with few, if any, buildings in sight.

 

 

Love the mane on the left horse!

It's a Secret

 I'd love to share the painting I just finished and the next piece I am working on. But, the show they are going to be submitted to requires they remain a secret until the opening day of the show. Unusual, but I will honor their rules.

I will tell you that the one I just completed is my first painting of walrus (inspired by the ones I saw on the small boat trip out of Svalbard, Norway) and the one I am designing right now is a colony of one of my favorite sea birds.

In the meantime, I will share a few photos from my recent trip to Iceland and Norway.

Today I'd like to show you a few photos from an added stop on our self-drive on what is referred to as Diamond Circle in northern Iceland. No wildlife at this spot except for a small bird which was using a chimney shaft as a nest, but the place holds a nostalgic fascination for me.

Preserved Turf homes

   The turf home settlement we visited was Laufas which belongs to the National Museum of Iceland. Laufas is mentioned in the some of the earliest Icelandic records and has been the home of priests since 1047. Complete with a church, this place was a revelation. The four main structures are connected below grade. One would think a "cellar" area would be dank and dark. On the contrary, the lower area was dry and light came in from carefully designed above ground angled shafts. The current buildings date from the mid-19th century and have furnishings from that period.

   There was also a section dedicated to livestock so they could get out of the cold in the Icelandic winter.

 

  

 

 The Laufas area has had a church since early Christianity in Iceland (early 1000s.) The current church was built in 1865 but its ornate pulpit was made in 1698.

   The last residents of Laufas were the vicar and his wife. They left in 1936 when a newer vicarage was available. 

 

 

Next up "in the meantime" before I start a painting I can show you in progress, Icelandic horses.

Finished

 Lobster Presentation

Original Oil

16" X 20"

 

This painting was certainly a departure from my usual wildlife paintings. 

 

Will elements from it be incorporated in future paintings? I think so. Figuring out different types of reflections, using bold colors, and creating unique compositions can carry in to any painting.