OK – I have now been here in Olafsfjordur for over a week and somehow have not yet found time to post to this blog… For the first few days my friend Sandi was here with me and she had hired a car – just as well, as the weather to start with was soooo bad that we could not see the length of our arms. This was a such a shame for Sandi, as her stay was so short that she really needed to get out and collect images… so basically we just travelled all over the local area trying to get to places where the sun was shining.
This is what it looked like for the first few days… dramatic and beautiful, but not good for getting out there with paints and sketch books
We managed to get as far as lake Myvatn, where jaws dropped to the ground at the yellows and ochres of the sulphurous fumeroles and the twisted shapes of the lava fields.
the lava fields apparently are home to trolls…
and this is not photoshopped in any way!
The country is alive with earth movements… you just can’t consider what is under your feet to be stable when this is all around.
Fortunately the weather has improved greatly – just as Sandi was leaving! – and for the last couple of days I have fallen in love with Iceland all over again. The air is clear and feels so fresh and unpolluted. The light is bright even up until very late at night – to the point that yes – it is sometimes difficult to sleep. it is quite easy to get up at midnight to go out for a stroll, and still feel that is is like late afternoon at home.
Olafsfjordur is not a touristy place – it is a small ordinary working village with a small harbour and the constant smell of fish. It is surrounded on all sides by spectacular mountains, the slopes of which are currently decorated with the shapes of the snow which has not yet melted. I am becoming fascinated by these shapes and think that they may appear in any developing art work over the next week or two. It’s not easy to find the time to work in the studio, as the weather is inviting me to be outside… and just to take endless photographs and absorb the shapes and colours of my surroundings.
The other people on the residency are interesting – we don’t really know each other yet, but it’s early days, and I am sure that we will all gel together very soon.
Here are a few photos of the place…
Tomorrow I’ll try to post some other pics as there are a zillion to choose from – but only if the weather turns for the worse… as it’s far too nice to be inside. Also if i can pluck up the courage, I’ll post some of the drawings I’ve started…