Land and a Sense of Place

Land and a Sense of Place explores how the feeling of ‘home’ is experienced through the landscape. How does the land shape the people that live there? How are the people and culture an expression of the landscape? What is the importance of the land and environment to a ‘sense of place’ and the feelings of connection to oneself and one’s place in the world?

During my recent travels to Norway, I had a stop-over in Iceland along the way…

The awe-inspiring northern landscape spoke to me, urging me to explore this connection and sense of being ‘home’ that, for me, comes through the very land itself.

So, on returning to Vancouver I decided I wanted to explore this theme further by spending time in the north to immerse myself in the land and with the people that live there. I applied and was accepted to a few residencies, but chose the Old School Artist Residence in Hrisey, Iceland. This residence is located on a small island near the arctic circle and is surrounded by beautiful nature…

(read more about my residency on my blog)

Iceland Flora

Although there are a few smaller trees around the island, (not much taller than me!) most of the land is rocky with small shrubs and wild flowers scattered about, creating pretty bursts of colour and a gentleness in this vast, rugged land.

And so it was that I began to get to know this beautiful and inspiring land…

From the tiniest wildflowers, to the magnificent mountains, I started to paint…

Here is a little video I made called Wildflower Eruption

Paintings from Iceland