#1: Steam Vent; pastel painting, 18" x 18", $375 until 1/12/19

"Steam Vent", pastel, 18" x 18", $375 until 1/12/19, then $550, unframed

In the spirit of putting actions behind my words, I headed straight to the easel after writing the last blog and did a piece that has captivated me ever since I took the photograph.  I call it "Steam Vent".  I took the photograph in Iceland, by the Myvatn Nature Baths, in 2017 when I was there with my friend Zuzana.  I was captivated by the very subtle contrast between the snow and the steam and the sky.

There are many steam vents in Iceland as the island is still forming through volcanic means.  In fact, it's being split apart at the rate of 3 cm/year, part of it heading towards Europe, the other part towards North America.  The good news for Icelanders is that they are able to use this heat to warm their water and their homes and to create fabulous thermal baths all over the country.  Myvatn Nature Baths are the North's answer to the South's Blue Lagoon and a much less crowded, more pleasant experience (for me, at least, as I tend to be a bit introverted and don't enjoy crowds of tourists with selfie sticks in their hands and mud on their faces shouting at each other to "Look, look, look!")

My husband Chris and I went to the Baths at Myvatn this year and enjoyed the warmth and the steam rising off the water.  It was challenging to be in our bathing suits and to have to walk the 100 feet from inside to the hot water outside, but it was worth it!  And getting out wasn't an issue as we were plenty warmed up by then.

I'm including this image in this blog because I think it's a terrific companion piece to the one I did today. The colors are very similar as is the atmospheric subtlety.  This pastel painting was created from a photograph I took one morning in Laugarvatn, Iceland.  It was early December, around 10:30 AM, and the sun was just beginning to rise. There was a beautiful white mist on the lake which the sun couldn't quite burn through.  That created gorgeous light effects, many more of which I intend to paint.  This is also an 18" x 18" pastel painting on sanded paper, $550, unframed.

If you're interested in purchasing anything you see on this blog, you can contact me at SusanSingerArt@msn.com to make arrangements.  I accept checks, credit cards, PayPal, VENMO, and even cash!