Iceland Watercolors
Iceland has been one of the destinations that has shaped Vicente García Fuentes’ recent work the most, and this series of watercolors brings together that view of its landscapes. Cliffs, volcanic lakes, and waterfalls come together in pieces that reflect the island’s particular harshness and beauty.
Watercolors of Iceland by Vicente García Fuentes
Icelandic landscapes seen through watercolor
Each piece in this collection starts from a specific place in Iceland, captured at the exact moment when the light or weather gave it a particular character. Watercolor works especially well for this type of Iceland landscape, since it allows for transparencies that capture the fog, the moving water, and the shifting skies so typical of the island.
These Iceland watercolor paintings show an interest in representing the scale of the landscape against a human presence that’s almost always absent from the compositions. The result is Iceland paintings that convey a sense of emptiness and natural force at the same time.
From volcanic water to the cliffs of the south
This series brings together different types of scenery: Lake Mývatn with its volcanically formed waters, cliffs battered by the sea, and waterfalls that fall with an almost physical force onto the rock. This range of settings means these Iceland watercolors work well both on their own and grouped together in the same space.
The Iceland paintings in this series share a palette of grays, blues, and muted greens, consistent with the island’s actual climate and vegetation. That color consistency makes it easy to combine several pieces without them visually competing with one another.
A faithful record of a singular territory
More than a decorative interpretation, these Iceland watercolor landscapes aim to be a faithful record of what that territory is really like, with its harshness and its contrasts. The intent isn’t to prettify the landscape, but to respect its character as it presents itself in reality.
For anyone who knows Iceland firsthand, or simply feels drawn to its landscapes, these Iceland watercolors offer a different way to keep that place present day to day, beyond a travel photograph.