Observations from Grindelwald, Switzerland

July 08, 2018

Observations from Grindelwald, Switzerland

I feel extremely fortunate that I was one of the lucky winners of the Santander Mobility Award! This award gave me the funding I needed to visit the Swiss Alps, home to the origin of our modern love of mountains.

I decided visited Grindelwald, a village under the North-Face of the famous Eiger mountain. I thought this would be an ideal are to do observational drawing of mountains. I wasn't wrong. I was only there for 3 nights and honestly wanted to stay there for ever. I even stared planning my return after visiting a bar called Avocado and deciding that this would be the ideal place for me to work.

Incase you're curious, this is what I wrote for my submission:

"I am currently studying my MA in Illustration where I am exploring mountains and our relation to them through the sublime. This project came from a love of the mountains themselves and I am drawing on my own experience having spent a part of my life in the French and Italian Alpes.

However, it has been some time since I was there and I am relying on memory as well as second hand research to connect with my project. It would be extremely beneficial at this point, to be able to revisit them with my project in mind so that I may gain more clarity and observations surrounding the sublime. I plan on making observational drawings of the mountains themselves, as well as taking note of my own emotional state.

I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for funding as I have looked at costs and I would not be able to afford this journey on my own. I have calculated that it would cost approximately £730, this includes return flights, return train transfer from Zurich to Grindelwald and accommodation in Grinderlwald.

I know that this opportunity will allow me to develop my studies by allowing myself to be immersed within the mountains and perhaps experience that extreme emotional point we know as the sublime."

Here are most of the sketchbook observations I made whist I was in Grindelwald:

I like looking at the drawing above, the little sketch bellow in contrast with the sketch bellow on the right. I was so tired from travelling and taking everything in on the first day and I really think you can see that in the above sketch. The next working I was refreshed and had a renewed interest and heightened senses to my surroundings and I think you can see this in the sketch bellow.

I wish I could have stayed longer to do more sketches! Before heading out I had this idea that I could fill a whole sketchbook but in reality, this amazing place was so much to take in and there was so much to walk that I didn't feel like it was the best use of my time to solely draw. Drawing for me definitely did help me to take the time and look at specific areas that I would have otherwise spent a lot less time looking at. However, for the time I had, simply looking and breathing in the warm, fresh, summer mountain air was a better way in taking in and thinking about the scene in front of me.

I used a variety of tools to sketch and I found that some where better than others in sketching mountains, especially, sketching them quickly. Prior to this, I hadn't really used graphite and from this, it has become my new favourite material for observational drawing, at least where mountains are concerned. This was surprising to me as I usually prefer something more bold or colourful like the Posca Pen. I enjoyed using it as it was ideal for picking out different tones, picking out different layers of rock, the darker or lighter areas of threes, the texture of clouds and the shade of the sky.

In regards to the sublime, I didn't find it find it there. I felt the delight, which was overwhelming at times but the terror aspect wasn't there. I didn't feel that fear factor, the feeling of danger perhaps. I think the same area in the winter would definitely be different. Looking back, I can remember feeling different in the winter months whilst living in the mountains than the summer. The summer was filled with warm, thick air filled with smells of hot pollen and grass. The winter was cold and icy and the colours of the mountains had been stripped away by the bright white snow.

There was however one evening on the second night where a big storm rolled in between the Eiger and Schreckhorn (photos can be seen bellow) which did bring on more of a feeling of fear. I wouldn't say it was on the level of the sublime, but there was this electricity in the air, it was very exiting. It came in so quickly that the guy who owned the Hotel we were staying at, hardly has time to gather up all the salt and pepper shakers off the tables outside before they where being blown off the sides. At this point, my feelings and emotiong of course did change. In general however, I was blown away by the beauty for the place but didn't experience the sublime. I guess this solidifies the thought that the sublime is an emotion that is not easy to come by.

Some photos from the trip: