Below the Langjökull Glacier

Below the Langjökull Glacier

in the West Highlands of Iceland
on July 30, 2016, sketched on August 15, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press rough 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00

Traveling in the 
West Highlands of Iceland
Icelandic Music to set the Scene
Traditional Iceland Songs played by the Arctic String Quartet
"Celebration of Icelandic Songs"
This light classical music CD includes my friend Kate Harrison playing the viola. Listen to the music HERE, where you can get it as digital music or a CD. The first song is pure traditional Icelandic horse riding music, perfect for driving through the highlands.
 

1
With Ólafur "Óli" Ólafsson and 

Jakobína "Bína" Vilhelmsdóttir as the guides.
 

2
Past Eriksjökull Glacier to the Langjökull Glacier, 

seen here, the second largest glacier in Iceland.
 

3
Óli, Bína, Ruth, and Bruce enjoy lunch 

in the warm low sun.
 

4
The desert below the glacier.
 

5
The desert sun enjoyed.
 

6
Mesmerizing monochromatic color.

 

7
A dot of blue, 

Bruce at the center taking photos, 

but who took this photo?
 

8
Ruth.

This View I, II, III

This View I

of Adrienne at our Kennebunkport, Maine
Drawing Group on August 24, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors,
and #3 graphite on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00
or all View I, II, and III framed for $200 + $11.00 sales tax + $14.00 shipping = $225.00

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This View
by Bruce McMillan

The sound of the sky
above is blue.
The sound below yet
another hue.
Time above is fleet;
it flies; it flew.
While down below time lays,
so still, what's new?
So I pause in place,
glacial speed, this view.
Text and art © 2016 Bruce McMillan

This View II

of Adrienne at our Kennebunkport, Maine
Drawing Group on August 24, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors,
and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00

This View III

of Adrienne at our Kennebunkport, Maine
Drawing Group on August 24, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors,
and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Lanaquarelle
hot press fine grain 100% cotton acid free watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00

Louisa in the Flea Market...

Louisa in the
Flea Market Kolaportið

as a self-portrait memory of Louisa Matthíasdóttir
among the felt hat display in Reykjavik, Iceland
on August 12, 2016, sketched on August 14, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00

What I saw at the flea market Kolaportið,
the ladies felt hats on display for sale;
one red one caught my eye.

  

Kolaportið (translates to coal port, the old harbor side coal storage shed) is Iceland's only flea market. It takes place indoors close to the harbor in the capital city, Reykjavík. In Kolaportið you can buy everything from old records to sunglasses to licorice to fermented shark. It's open only during the weekend from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. The official Kolaportið web site is HERE.

 This is the self portrait that had stuck in my mind.
Sjálfsmynd / Self Portrait
Louisa Matthíasdóttir (1917-2000)
Oil, 24" x 16.5" (61 cm x 42 cm)
Sold for 1,230,000 ISK / $10,375 USD
at the Gallerí Fold online auction on July 13, 2016

 

 I painted a series of study sketches, 

the final one evolving to its simplicity.

Stóri Dímon from...

Stóri Dímon from Syðsta Mörk

on the south coast of Iceland
sketched plein air on August 7, 2016
11" x 8", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
Private Collection Iceland

Painting and...

 

Ruth and I hiked above Óli and Bína's summer house.
I was intent on painting Stóri Dímon. Once up with the heather
I decided to include it in the painting.

Clouds of low flying lava dust blew down the valley,
oftentimes obstructing the view as see here left of Stóri Dímon.

My no easel setup. You can see the Stóri Dímon icon on the cheese's
wooden tub packaging and read about the cheese HERE.

Later that day, by the newly Óli painted deck and railing
(the reason the table is on the grass), we enjoyed dinner
in the sun at Syðsta Mörk.

I had a frame I'd bought the previous day
at the Good Shepard (like Goodwill) in Reykjavik,
popped it into the frame and presented my gift at dinner.

Later that evening I found it hung in Syðsta Mörk next to
a painting sketch I'd done here of Óli painting the rail in 2012.
...and More 

After Ruth and I painted, we picked blueberries, so many of them,
and just starting the picking season.
Great views while picking, Stóri Dímon in view.

And on our way down, we stopped to do a selfie,
Two Figures in the Heather.

The House on Öldugötu

The House on Öldugötu

of artist Erna Guðmarsdóttir in Reykjavik, Iceland
on August 3, 2016, sketched on August 4, 2016
See some of her work HERE
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
hit press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
Private Collection, Iceland

Street at the End...

Street at the End
of the Runway

Einarsnes Street along the walkway/bike path at the
end of the domestic airport runway at 11:00 pm in Reykjavik,
Iceland on August 1, 2016, sketched on August 3, 2016
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $100 + $5.50 sales tax + $9.50 shipping = $115.00