It was definitely touch and go, but we made it! And we loved it! We did almost crash our car in a sudden snowstorm, but, well, here I am, wiser than before about the power of that dramatic landscape. You underestimate it at your peril.
This trip, I drew quickly, quickly, as you have to to be able to capture all that energy that Iceland is always emitting, in one form or another.
If I squinted my eyes, I could pretend that these steam plumes and clouds were little volcanic eruptions. Not to make light of the the danger and power of volcanic eruptions, but you know me... I'm in a volcanic mode this year.
My husband and I scrambled to the top of Mt.Hverfjall, a crater of a volcano that last erupted 2500 years ago. It was, to say the obvious, awe-inspiring.
I made a very, very quick drawing of the land around Budir, on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. We fell in love with this area four years ago and we fell in love with it again this time. I have other sketches of this area to share.
And we visited again our favorite Icelandic café in Hellnar, where the world's best bread and the world's best fish soup are served in tiny quarters, tucked into a hill overlooking the sea.
Here is a sketch I did of this café four years ago, just for comparison.
More to come!
Laura, I love the Iceland sketches and am glad you made it back in one piece! I look forward to seeing how your volcanic mode plays out in your paintings as you go into the studio.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | November 08, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Wild, energetic marks. Great!
Posted by: Linda Nevill | October 30, 2012 at 04:37 AM
These are powerful! I love that you captured the energy of the volcano.....the one I visit in Hawaii is extra active right now, and I feel it pulling me there!
Your sketches are inspiring!
Posted by: Joyce | October 25, 2012 at 12:25 AM
I'm anxious to see where you go with these, Laura. Iceland is so insidious...and bubbles up again where we least expect it to!
Posted by: Beth | October 18, 2012 at 01:42 PM
LOVE the powerful, atmospheric ones on toned paper...the white grabs me and will NOT let go. I'm so glad you were finally able to go!
Posted by: Cathy Johnson (Kate) | October 16, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Fantastic Laura, can see you're in your element!
Posted by: CathyG | October 16, 2012 at 08:13 AM