CREATIVE RETREAT & ARTIST RESIDENCY
art • mind • science
Words from our Guests
Eydis Evensen / Einar Egils Pianist & Composer / Writer & Director
Surrounded with the ever so magical energy of Hellnar, we felt truly inspired, grounded and energetic during our time there. We both worked on various projects - I composed music for my first film score and Einar worked on a script that he’s been developing with his co-writer. We cooked plant based meals daily, explored the area around the studio and soaked in the natural beauty of the wondrous Snæfellsnes. We wandered through our minds via mindfulness and Transcendental Meditation, and reflected on the current states of ourselves. Your beautiful studio has a wonderful soul to it and we could not recommend it enough to anybody who wishes to create, or just to simply be. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, We can’t wait to be back. ​ Image by Anna Maggy
Fiona Caley
Photographer
To say my time there has shifted something within me, wouldn’t be far too from the truth. I was reminded of what my inner and creative life could be like if I were able to live closer to nature in an environment where the landscape dominated everyday interaction. To have the luxury of time, space and the opportunity to both disconnect and connect gave me something that has stayed with me, beyond my time there. Thank you
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Image by Fiona Caley
Anouk Ruffieux
Photographer
Night has settled in, and we’re not entirely sure if we’ve taken the right path. Out of the darkness, a short-eared owl appears before us. We stop, mesmerized. What a beautiful sign! This magical encounter feels like the promise of a perfect week ahead.
After a calm and restful night, the morning light slowly unveils the beauty surrounding us in every direction. The volcano, the ocean, the golden shades of autumn, everything seems to glow. It’s impossible not to fall under the spell of this place.
Every day begins gently with three hours of watercolor in the studio, our cozy little nest that no one ever wants to leave. The house itself is a haven of comfort: a breathtaking view, a kitchen where we gather to cook and share meals for eight, laughter filling the air. Time stretches, soft and unhurried. We soak in the sun, the sea breeze, the quiet visits from crows and swans who come to greet us.
And then, too soon, it’s time to go. As we take the first turn on the road home, nostalgia settles in, the kind that only truly special places can leave behind…
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Image by Anouk Ruffieux
Pierre Vincent / Rose Pollozek
Painters
Thank you for making this place available to us — a space where we could recharge and connect with such a rich and energising environment.
We truly appreciated how you designed it — a space that allows constant connection with nature. A place where nothing is missing, yet nothing is superfluous; created and decorated with great care and love.
It gave us the perfect setting to practise yoga and meditation, and to continue painting.
We could have stayed there for months…