I have been painting a lot lately and it feels great.  I used to be a painter exclusively and have come around to working in a variety of approaches and media depending upon what I want the outcome to be.  But painting  my first love and when I engage in it, it just feels right and it pretty much consumes me.  I like the work I am making and am rather curious about it, as each piece is feeling like a discovery.

I have found that reading about painting and art in general gets me psyched up to be in the studio.  I recently read Lives of the Artists by Calvin Tomkins,  Inside the Painter’s Studio by Joe Fig and am currently reading The Daily Practice of Painting by Gerhard Richter and Mirror-Travels: Robert Smithson and History by Jennifer L. Roberts.

I recently found out that I get to go back to Iceland again for another residency in November.  I’m certainly going to make the most of the opportunity once again.  This time we’ll get to see what night time is like there, the stars, and hopefully the northern lights.  I already have project ideas up my sleeve.   I am so excited to go back!

I am reinstalled in my Ypsi studio for the time being until August when I head to Philly for another residency.  After working small in Iceland, it feels great to be working large again!  I love having the sea glass and ceramic in the studio and keep arranging it in different ways.  Now to keep from melting…

Here are some images from our group show, SKIPTI / SWAP at the end of the residency at SÍM.  On Monday we installed the show, had the opening, followed by a picnic in the garden, and de-installed the show.  Then I had to pack and say my goodbyes.  What a day!

Also, in addition to the drawings I made at the residency, I worked on a couple of photo-based projects and along with many of the other artists, became quite the collector of maps, stamps, postcards (new and vintage) and objects from the land such as shells, stones, sea glass, lava rocks and the like.

On Sunday I did a photo shoot of one of the Amelia Earhart islands in the Icelandic landscape set against the sea.  Here are a few images from that shoot.  I wonder what they’ll become when they grow up?

I am, once again, so grateful for this phenomenal residency and the opportunity to see breathtaking sights in a remarkable country, make work unimpeded, and become friends with such a fantastic group of artists.

with the goal I set for myself: twelve blue drawings while in Iceland.  Now for some last minute projects… and packing all possible fun into my last weekend here.

Gleaned on my walk back from the lighthouse last evening.

Here are the drawings I have made so far, all of them gouache and ink on paper (some with cut-outs):

These are just Photoshop-tweaked snapshots.  I’ll post better images to my website eventually.  I am having a lot of fun with mapping and engaging negative space.  I’m excited to see where this all leads…

I am completely inspired by the variety of blues in the landscape in Iceland. The fact that three of these images were taken from my studio window is a testament to my good fortune at having been granted this residency…

Considering all of the day trips, socializing and wonderful meals at this residency, it’s a wonder I’m getting any work done.  I am making progress slowly but surely and am making untold discoveries along the way.

The state of the studio:

The state of the art: