We have continued our journey to Spain. As our borrowed car looped the mountain passes, we went higher and higher until snow came in sight. Through a dark tunnel, we reached the innermost mountains of the Spanish Pyrenées that would be our home for the next two weeks.
I’m sensing that this journey is changing my view on my beloved mountains. In this blog, I want to share my new impressions alongside some of my earlier mountain paintings.
Text continues after featured artwork
Admiring mountains
For years now, I’ve been painting and drawing mountains. There is something about these uninhabitable peaks that fascinates me. Something about admiring unattainable heights. Something about being in awe of seemingly barren spaces. You do not have to be useful to be appreciated.
Text continues after featured artwork
Not In the Wind, Not In the Earthquake
Stepping from my air balloon, this painting features a small hiker. There’s a path to follow and the light is bursting with promise of good days to come. The purple of deep mystery meets the pink of soft healing. We’re on a journey, always looking up.
Besides that, looking up at mountain peaks is a very instinctive thing to do. As we hike the mountains, I see everyone looking up. Yes, we look around the valley, take in the waterfalls, but look at those snow capped peaks! What is the highest point? Can we see it or is it shrouded in clouds? These peaks have inspired humanity for ages to dream of what might be up there. Whether we dreamed with our imagination, our convictions, or with ambition to go and see for ourselves.
Text continues after featured artwork
Dolomites
Made with soft pastels on pastelmat paper. Based on the ‘Mordor’ mountain range at the beginning of the Drei Zinnen trail. Medium-sized artwork that works well with smaller spaces. Size: 30 x 40 cm
For a long time I admired the mountains for their symbolic representation of eternity. But here, in the Pyrenées, we are constantly reminded of what the mountain dwellers have known forever: mountains are continuously changing. Erosion, avalanches, continuously changing weather, extreme cold and heat, endless water. If anything, mountains are souvenirs from all the change that the Earth’s surface has experienced for millions of years. If anything, they show us that life will find a way to thrive even after giant boulders come crashing down.
With that in mind, I’m sketching traces of thriving survival in the paths found around me. The traces of time-poetry that the mountains, the weather and the living beings created here for our feet and eyes to read.
Until next time – I’m brooding on some new artwork here.
(P.S. If you have any tips for our next mountain travels, please let me know!)