Adventures in Iceland | Moon Over The Plain print inspiration
I’m pleased to share my new screenprint ‘Moon Over The Plain’, which has been inspired by a trip to Iceland a few years ago.
I’ve really enjoyed looking back through photographs and combining them with memories of my adventures in Iceland; the sublime Icelandic winter landscape with expanses of snow and ice glistening under the moon and sunlight. Daylight hours were short with the moon still being the brightest thing in the sky around mid-morning, shining over the icy plains.
Colours for this reimagined landscape have been drawn from the blue/grey hues of the sky and ice; I have used Wedgewood blue, buff titanium and graphite powder to evoke the serene mood of the morning moon as the light changed to sunrise, with the graphite powder being reminiscent of the distinctive Icelandic black sand. I was tempted to bring some home but wasn’t sure whether this was allowed!
I took some of these photographs on the drive from Reykjavík to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, which lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Whilst this is loosely related, I thought it was interesting as I have also taken inspiration from the Japanese woodblock printmaking art movement known as Shin-hanga (New prints), which merged together Ukiyo-e traditions from the East with European influences, with a collaborative effort of the artist, carver, printer, and publisher working together to complete the print.
Hasui Kawase is probably my favourite of the Shin-Hanga artists (here are a couple of my favourites below). Not only was he one of Japan’s most important and prolific printmakers, but a lot of his prints were landscape themed and often featured the moon. If you know me or follow me on Instagram, you’ll probably know how much I love the moon!
Left: Hasui Kawase, Spring Moon, Ninomiya Beach, 1932
Right: Hasui Kawase, Kakizaki Benten Shrine, Shimoda, 1937
I hope my new print gives you a feel for the magical country of Iceland and you enjoyed journeying through the majestic landscape with me.
I will share some more about my adventures in Iceland another time, as I’d love to share some highlights from The Golden Circle and tips for seeing the Northern Lights!
For now, you can see more pictures and find further information about Moon Over The Plain here and see the other prints in this series, ‘Moonlight Through The Trees’ here and ‘Midsummer Moon’ here.
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