ICELAND
Artist Residency - Fish Factory Creative Center in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland - February and March 2020.
This residency could not have happened at a better moment in my career and personal life, for I met and exceeded many goals during these two months. I spent much of my time pulling inspiration from the landscape and weather to cleanse and rehabilitate myself, resulting in the first phases of my series based on grief, life, and death. I also dedicated time to plein air work, and to learning about Icelandic culture and geography.
This will be an ongoing collection of works and tidbits inspirited by my stay.
Fisherman’s Barracks in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland
Oil on Canvas
28'“x38”
🔴SOLD
Our studio with the Fish Factory Artist Residency in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland, was a decent downhill walk from our accommodations (and a needed cardio experience uphill on the way back). The length of the time I spent on these walks gave me mental space to contemplate life and observe the town and its respective fjord. If I went early enough, I could catch moments where the snow and sky would begin to glow while streetlights saturated corners with a distinctive yellow hue. This barracks building, where the fishermen would bunk while offloading their catch, fascinated me in that it stands as a shelter for those who dare to challenge the sea in such a treacherous line of work. For it to be seen this way and only in the dark is meaningful to me for reasons that I'm still trying to understand years later.
Started outside En Plein Air
Touching it up in the studio
Red House
Oils on Canvas
16”x20”
Small Works
Open Sea
Oils on Panel, Palette Knife
9”x12”
Egilsstadir Lake Shore
Oils in Panel, Palette Knife
9”x12”
I experimented with gray palettes and knife painting. This is where I discovered my satisfaction with using thick paint to create textural paintings. These pieces part of what I called a “painting marathon” where I painted a series of smaller paintings in short duration and with as little use of brushes as I could. Limiting my materials, and time allowed me to expand on this technique, and has greatly impacted my overall style.
Egilsstadir Lake Road
Oils on Canvas, Palette Knife
12”x16”
Fjord Sunset
Oils on Canvas
16”x20”
Fjord Behind Fish Factory
Oils on Panel, Palette Knife
9”x12”
Other Drawings and Paintings
First painting of the residency, Fjord mountain in Iceland - Plein air painting
Remembering the white voids of Iceland with some sketches - Oil on Canvas
Experimenting with lack of contrast - Oils on Canvas
My last sketch of the residency, drawn right before leaving Iceland. It's bittersweet, but I'll definitely be returning!
Walking into my studio is like walking along the fjord in Iceland - Oils on Canvas
Too windy to paint outside? Looks like I'll start my studio project #artstudio #landscapepainting #oilpainting #underpainting
Taking advantage of the sun today with a plein air sesh! #sunshine #pleinairpainting #fjordwalk #fineartpainting #wip #oiloncanvas
Painting with a big stick #nightpainting #oilpainting #wip #perspective #fineartpainting #studioproject #underpainting #fjord #largepainting
The big stick is making another appearance #longbrush #longpaintbrush #anger #weirdpainting #oilpainting #workinprogress #wip #fineart #oceanscape #emotional #angrysky #studioproject
@bea_may_lucas_ and I ran down the street to catch a better view of nature's greatest light show #auroraborealis #northernlights #Iceland #gopro #wordscannotdescribe
My studio space at the Fish Factory