Worn, Weathered & Wonderful: Finding Textile Inspiration in Isafjordur, Iceland

Inspiration doesn’t always come from sweeping landscapes or postcard-perfect views. Sometimes, it hides in quiet corners — in texture, age, and detail. During my time in Isafjordur, a small town nestled in Iceland’s remote Westfjords, I found beauty not just in the mountains and fjords, but in the surfaces shaped by time and weather.

One of the most surprising moments came while walking near the harbour — a close-up glance at a rusting boat hull stopped me in my tracks.

Peeling paint, flaking metal, and a palette of burnt orange, deep red, and gritty browns. It was raw, textured, and utterly mesmerising.

🔎 A Closer Look: The Surface as Story

At first glance, it might just look like rust. But step closer and it reveals so much more:

The blistered surface tells of salt, sea, and storms

Tiny flecks of darker pitting give depth and rhythm

The gradation from bright orange to deep brown feels like a natural ombré

It's a painting — but it’s real life

It's decay — but it’s also colour, texture, and pattern

For a textile artist, this is a goldmine.

🧵 Breaking Down the Inspiration

Just like with landscape photos or reflective water scenes, abstract textures like this can guide your creative process using the same four elements: line, colour, texture, and shape.

1. Colour

Rust red, burnt orange, dark brown, ochre, and dusty greys

This is a warm, grounded palette — rich and earthy

In textile terms:

Pull together a mix of hand-dyed fabrics, rust-dyed cottons, and batiks

Layer sheer fabrics (like organza or tulle) to shift the tones from light to dark

Try painting or dyeing your own base cloths to echo this layered look

2. Texture

The real star of this image. Raised surfaces, flaking edges, cracked sections — it’s a playground for tactile interpretation

Textile translation:

Use burnt-edge appliqué, textured stitches, and French knots

Try building up with handmade felt, scrim, or Tyvek to mimic corroded textures

Add metallic foil or rust-effect fabric paint for highlights

3. Line

Subtle, irregular lines curve and ripple through the rust patches

Some areas appear almost topographical — like maps or weathered bark

Textile ideas:

Use free-motion embroidery to echo those flowing lines

Try hand-stitching over painted fabric with variegated threads to deepen the effect

4. Shape

No clear subject — just organic, abstract shapes and irregular patches

Perfect for creating non-representational textile art or textured sketchbook work

🌍 Why Isafjordur?

Isafjordur is quiet, wild, and weathered. It’s a place where nature and industry coexist — fishing boats, peeling paint, wild grasses, and glacial water all meet. These rusting surfaces aren't just remnants — they belong to the story of the place.

For me, they represent the essence of what textile art is so good at capturing:

texture, memory, and change.

🎨 Start Your Own Rust-Inspired Piece

If you’re drawn to this kind of weathered beauty, try this exercise:

1. Print out the photo and sketch over it — trace shapes or isolate interesting areas

2. Create a mini stitched sample using scraps, paint, and texture-building stitches

3. Let the final piece be abstract — focus on how it feels, not what it’s of

4. Use a mix of dense and open stitching to mimic surface corrosion

💭 Final Thought

Inspiration is everywhere — sometimes underfoot, sometimes on a boat that’s seen better days. Don’t be afraid to look down, zoom in, and appreciate the overlooked. The weathered hull of a fishing boat in Isafjordur may just become your next layered textile piece — rich in history, mood, and texture.

So next time you’re exploring, take a moment to photograph not just the view, but the surface. You’ll be amazed where it leads.