Hot Night at Club Nasa June 23, 2010

This was a challenging painting mostly because I was dealing with a subject that was constantly moving; The disco Ball was moving, the different colored lights were moving, the blond headed bobbing crowd was moving; undulating on the dance floor, there were even dancers on stage in front of a large movie screen showing old black and white silent films.

I had to pick and choose what was important; work from memory throughout the whole paintings' evolution, remembering that it was an impression of what I was experiencing, not a photographic representation of the moment.

I remember the blond vixen speaking Icelandic in my ear, doing her best to shake my resolve, and my co-hards working to be my body guards up against curious berserkers. Last of all, me, lighting a cigar and walking through the grinding throngs on the dance floor after i'd finished. I was feeling quite cocky after that day's adventures.

From what I was told, the next day would be even more unique, and, ahem, memorable.

Hot Night at Club Nasa
8x6 oil/board

Collection of Robert Eringer

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Ice Falls, Godfoss Iceland

As I had mentioned, I was pretty worn out painting the Geyser and getting frosted, that I wanted to stay in doors for my next painting. (my toes were pretty near frost bitten) Note I am still in my full gear with Russian Cap/head lamp, and four layers of gear.

But I was here to work. My job was to paint, and so paint I did.

My thanks to Christian and Eric the Red for their patience while I painted.

Photo credit: Eric the Red (Russel)

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Club Nasa, Rekyavik Iceland.

After getting Stuffed with Puffin and Whale Steak, Robert Eringer Floater, Eric the Red, and I, made our way out into the late night pub crawl; doing the Runtur as it is called in Icelandic. We made our way into this large discotheque called Club Nasa, filled with hundreds of Vibrating Vikings.

We climbed up on to a platform above the large dance floor which pulsated with bobbing blond heads; a large Disco Ball swirled up above. There were vikings dancing every where; even on the stage which was showing black and white silent movies as a backdrop. I have never heard such a loud beat from the Woofers.

Eringer encouraged me to do a painting of the scene before me so I broke out my Small pochade box and went to work capturing the excitement of the dance. During the painting blond vixens climbed up on the rails and attempted to distract me by speaking garbled mumbles of Icelandic in my ear. It was futile to try to 'pick me up' because not only did I not understand their Nordic language, but it was so incredibly loud, that all I could do is attempt to lip read, which too was useless. I'll say this much, not even when she licked my ear with her tongue did I understand what was going on.

Floater, Eringer, and Eric the Red could see I was having a challenging time accomplishing my painting so they formed a blockade around me disallowing any more viking invaders into my space...

We knew they were just young and curious; much as their ancestors who circumnavigated the globe centuries before. But we were on a mission to experience and capture berserkness during this Feast of Thorbladt; not be captured by berserkers
and feasted upon for their enjoyment.

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Van Stein painting in Club Nasa
Photo credit:
Eric the Red (Russel)

Frozen Falls, Godfoss Iceland. June 11, 2010

While my traveling companions, Robert Eringer and Frank Martin caroused Rekyivik, Eric the Red and I traveled into the frozen moonscape of Iceland to catch a glympse of the geyser, the all thing, and the drowning pool. On the way we stopped by the frozen falls called Godfoss.

It was too bloody cold outside that I chose to sketch this painting of the falls from within the warmth of our van.

Believe me, after getting kissed by the devil at geyser I was done being frozen to my palette.

I needed a break; warm food, and good wine awaited me before my journey out into the frigid air to paint the Northern Lights.

Frozen Falls, Godfoss, Iceland
5x7, oil,
Collection of Robert Eringer

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