Reykjavík Grapevine - 20.05.2016, Blaðsíða 49

Art Painting49
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 6 — 2016
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The renowned Icelandic artist
Þorgrímur Einarsson has a grow-
ing fan base on social media, and
in the art world: he’s about to be
featured in the modern art maga-
zine American Art Collector, and
he’s been invited to exhibit his
work abroad, including at Denver’s
Abend Gallery.
Þorgrímur had been composing
and performing music his whole
life, having studied musical com-
position at the School of Audio En-
gineering in London and the Royal
Conservatoire in The Hague. While
studying, Þorgrímur was sur-
rounded by friends from different
art scenes and started painting by
accident when one of his friends
handed him a paintbrush and a
canvas. “I was about thirty years
old when I tried painting for the
first time and I completely fell for
it,” Þorgrímur tells me.

In which way are the
two art mediums con-
nected?

“When I write music I get into a
certain zone and I get the same
feeling when I paint. People who
listen to my music say it’s very
visual and I do constantly listen
to music while painting. I would
therefore say writing music and
painting is connected in some
ways.”
Þorgrímur says he drives
around with all of his equipment
in his car, looking for something
beautiful or interesting. Spontane-
ously, he then pulls over and starts
sketching. If he’s already planned
the picture, he photographs the
subject, picks a few photos and
paints using them. “Creating a
single picture can take anywhere
from two hours up to two weeks of
work,” Þorgrímur says.
Þorgrímur has almost 10,000
followers on Instagram. He says
the number increases with the
right use of hashtags, and each
time someone reposts one of his
pictures. He’s obtained many op-
portunities through the medium,
getting messages from galleries
and random people interested in
his work.

Why do you think
people take to your
work?

“My pictures are approachable. I
paint things from our surround-
ings we all recognize and people
might like to see them the way I
portray them. I paint things that
move me. I am just lucky that peo-
ple seem to be moved by the same
things.”

When did you realise
painting was more up
your alley?

“Since I was young I’ve always been
inspired by nature and the Icelan-
dic landscape. To go out and look
around fills you with a certain
kind of feeling. I started painting
the Icelandic landscape while liv-
ing abroad and something kicked
in, a nostalgic feeling. It was the
perfect creative outlet. It’s also dif-
ferent from writing music because
it’s much more personal and I can
create exactly the way that I want.”
Having lived abroad for many
years, Þorgrímur states that he
is happy in his current situation,
living in Iceland and being able to
live off of his art. He would, how-
ever, like to move further into the
American art market, building off
of his show in Denver. Þorgrímur
will also exhibit new pieces from
October 29th at Gallerí Fold.
SHARE + MORE PICS:
gpv.is/thoe
The Accidental
Painter
Þorgrímur Einarsson
Words & Photos HREFNA BJÖRG GYLFADÓTTIR