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Four “Iceland” paintings in National Arts Club show; Reception 3/11, 6-8
I just finished hanging the 1100 Watercolor Society’s group show at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South (20th St betw. Park & Third) with my good friend and fellow artist, Tony. And it’s a very good show, if we do say so ourselves. 14 accomplished artists and almost 50 really good paintings … I’m proud to be part of the exhibit.
I have 4 paintings based on my trip last year to Iceland in this show and it’s amazing how inspirational that two week trip has been: over 30 paintings so far (but who’s counting?). Iceland Blue, which won First Prize recently, is in the show along with two new (2013) paintings I’ve never shown before: Breiðafjörður (Icelandic for “broad fjord”) and Sun Kissed.
Breiðafjörður
Icelandic scenery is spectacular: vast open areas with almost no sign of human habitation surrounded by volcanic mountains and weird lava formations. The glaciers are dramatic and huge and numerous. The highlands countryside has more colors of green than I know how to paint. Waterfalls everywhere complete with rainbows. Hot springs and the original “geysir” which gave all other geysers their name. Absolutely magnificently beautiful.
My Icelandic trip started me on a new kind of abstract painting. An attempt to capture the light reflecting off the fast moving water above Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) evolved into a looser, more intuitive style. It’s amazing how realistic some of these new abstracts are … a reflection of how strange and alien looking parts of Iceland are (courtesy of its violent geology).
I hope you will be able to join me at the reception on Monday, March 11 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. If you can’t make the reception but would still like to see the show, the gallery will be open daily from 10-6.
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