Our excellent and knowledgeable hosts, Sigrid and Bjorg picked us up at the airport in Keflavik and we got our first tour of Iceland driving to our hotel and our workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there last summer and am so glad I decided to do it. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. The hotel where we stayed was located on beautiful and pristine Lake Ellidavatn surrounded by fields of purple-blue lupin and other wildflowers. Our bedroom door opened onto this vista, which we could enjoy far into the night, since the sun did not set until after 11 pm. This was the view we got to paint as a family of swans glided by on the lake. Arctic terns called to one another overhead and there were Icelandic horses grazing nearby. We had amazing teachers, as both Pattee Hipschen (landscape) and Danni Dawson (portrait) are expert living artists and excellent instructors. We also got to meet some wonderful Icelandic artists that were in our classes as well as the models that posed for us. We were warmly welcomed into several Icelandic homes, where we got to know our new colleagues better. The atmosphere at the hotel was warm and familial and the staff exceptionally friendly and helpful. Our day started with a huge breakfast buffet that included everything from pastries, to eggs in various forms, to meats and fruit. Delicious lunches and dinners were prepared by an expert chef and we all ate together familystyle at one table, overlooking the lake. In the evening, after dinner, we were able to relax in the outdoor hot tub and sauna, before heading to bed. The rooms were very comfortable and cosy and peaceful.