Seeing Iceland part two....How it Began

'Making Friends'         12x12       pastel        ©Karen Margulis
available $165

I've been to Iceland before. It was the summer of 2014 and I joined Stan Sperlak and his Painter's Passport group for a pastel workshop/expedition. It was a wonderful adventure filled with many amazing experiences. (scroll down to read my travelog from the trip)  I fell in love with Iceland and hoped that someday I would return. But it was a distant thought that was soon buried by my busy everyday life....Until the summer of 2015.

Once again I joined Stan and the Painter's Passport group this time as a co-teacher. Stan chose my roommate for me and that changed everything.

She was from Iceland and we connected immediately. She was a kindred soul across the sea. Sisters. Artists and forever friends. We bonded on the very first day. We shared an adventure in France and knew that our friendship would not just end at the airport in Paris. When she said "come visit me in Iceland", I knew that I would and this time it would be different. Very different.

The Heart stone that Elinros found on the beach in Normandy. If you'd like to read the story behind the stone visit my France travelog here: http://paintingfrance.blogspot.com

Below are two of the paintings done from the first trip to Iceland.

'Summer lll'      19x14      pastel      $195

'Summer in Iceland l'       11x14     pastel    $150

Seeing Iceland....Through an Artist's Eyes part one

'Undiscovered Beauty'       16.5 x 9.5         pastel        ©Karen Margulis
available $175

Enjoy my Iceland travelog. This is part one. I will be sharing my writings and paintings inspired by my recent trip to Iceland over the next few days. Today's painting is from a photo I took while exploring the beautiful Rekyjanes penninsula.

I am on the plane headed home after 10 amazing days in Iceland. I close my eyes and something strange is happening. From the darkness a picture is materializing. It appears as if through a fog and gradually comes into focus. It begins with the deep blue violets of the distant shore. It slips into the hazy blues of the far headlands. They transition to the cool greens and lavenders of the cliffs as they get flatten and become studded with bits and pieces of color that form the houses of Njardivik.  All of this is punctuated by the shining silver fingers of the sea.  

Finally it is all in focus. It is the view from the little house on a bluff above the sea. My view for the last 10 days came into focus and I awoke from my reverie with a start. I SAW Iceland. I mean I really saw it. It was now a part of me and I don't know how it will ultimately effect me. But at the moment I feel exhilarated and fulfilled. It was an amazing 10 days. And while the plane continues on it's journey home I begin to write. 

'Silver Seas'     5x7    plein air pastel     $75

The lupines cover the hillside

The ever changing view

'Brighter Day Ahead'       5x7    plein air pastel    $75

home

view from the patio

Tomorrow the story continues with how it all began. Stay tuned!