Iceland
August 6 – 13 / 2024
Photography / Plein-Air Painting Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
We are at it once again, taking you on another adventure where you will have an opportunity to experience a different culture, see some incredible new sights, taste some unique foods and witness some unusual wildlife, Iceland!
This 7 day Trek will acquaint you with some of the best that Iceland has to offer. From the southern tip exploding with waterfalls, to interesting wildlife and one of a kind landscapes, to the amazing Golden Circle with its massive crashing waterfalls and hot water spewing geysers. Finally we will traverse the west coast exploring the Snaefellsnes peninsula with its dramatic volcanic peaks, sheer sea cliffs, and other worldly lava flows. Choose which aspect interests you, as we will help guide you to capture on canvas or film, the spectacular scenery and rich tapestry, that is Iceland or just join us for this incredible adventure.
There is no better place to get a feel for Iceland than along the southern coast. From the thundering waterfalls, to the cliffs teeming with adorable puffins and towering basalt columns set along a black sand beach.
Moving farther east we encounter hidden lagoons where icebergs float set against a glacier backdrop and where mountains seem to hover atop the reflective surface of the ocean. We will also stop off for a moment to watch the unique Icelandic ponies as they frolic beside the shore or get up early to enjoy the sunrise on Diamond beach.
Experience the amazing Golden Circle with one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, the massive Gullfoss. Next stand back and watch the stunning 100 foot explosion of the Strokkur geyser or admire the blue water of the Bruarfoss waterfall.
No trip here would be complete without a visit to the Snaefellsnes peninsula where its landscape looks like a scene from a SiFi movie set on another planet with its frozen lava flows. We will also venture to Grundarfjörður’s beautiful landmark mountain where its isolated position jutting out into the sea make it one of the most photogenic spots in Iceland. As well as checking out the one of a kind Black Church.
Niki will conduct the Plein-Air Painting Workshop from different picturesque locations daily, teaching through a combination of demos, discussions, assistance and critiques.
Sessions will be broken into different morning and afternoon locations, with plenty of time in between for shopping, sightseeing or to dine al fresco for a leisurely lunch.
Scott will take the photographers on a daily walking tours where you will have the opportunity to experience Iceland through your lens and to define what you see while achieving your own artistic vision. As with the painters, there will be daily destinations with time allowances for exploring on your own.
So come join us as we take you on an inspirational exploration of Iceland with an emphasis on observation and perception as we help you develop your own style. Admission is limited to 12 participants, so we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible. There will also be space open for non-participating partners at reduced rates on a limited basis.
Workshop includes:
- Hotel for 7 nights, 3 nights in the south and 2 nights each in the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes peninsula (Double occupancy) (Accommodations are in shared rooms, although a few single rooms may be available at an extra fee)
- Breakfast throughout the trip and all transportation within Iceland
- Emergency Medical Insurance.
- Instruction, guidance, experience and fun.
Your cost for all of this is $4,595 and to reserve a spot, simply send a completed application form (the forms will be provided
by email upon request) along with your deposit of $1,500 per person.
A second payment of one half of the remainder after deposit is due by 7/15/23, with a final payment due by 8/30/23. For those wanting a single occupancy room, there will be an additional cost of $1,200. We can take credit card payments, however it will incur a 3.6% fee.
There is a discount of $350 for participants on the trip not wanting to take the workshop. We will also setup optional events/ classes when available at an additional
cost for participants not interested in the painting/photography sessions. There has to be a minimum of 6 people for the workshop to make. If the 6 person minimum is not met by the 9/16 deadline, all payments will be refunded.
Airfare to the workshop is not included, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements. We will provide transportation from the Reykjavik (KEF) airport on August 6 at one appointed time, as well as the return to the airport on August 13 and all transportation throughout the workshop. If your arrival or departure dates or times are different than scheduled transportation times, you are responsible for your own airport transportation.
We also suggest that you arrive a day or two early on the front end to get over jet lag in order to make the most of your Iceland experience. We started doing that years ago and it has made a huge difference.
Our trips, while not overly strenuous do require a reasonable amount of physical fitness due to the unique terrain. In order to derive the greatest experience from our destinations, we spend a fair amount of time walking within each location. Our goal being that each person should see and experience as much of the culture as possible during our excursions.
Once deposits are received, there will be no refunds for cancellations as trip arrangements will have been made. We suggest trip insurance for travel difficulties or unforeseen illness.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way and we hope that you will be able to join us!
Scott Williams 214-289-8512 / Niki Gulley 214-803-5812
Email Scott, photoguy@blind-squirrel.org if you are interested in joining us.