Painting Nights #5
On the 27 August 2021, Painting Nights made a stop at Stormkop. Between the Droogdokken, and overlooking Antwerp's maritime skyline, participants painted until the sun went down.
Now that we could finally paint together again, we organized a summertime Painting Nights. For that, we set up our easels at Stormkop, a special place in an industrial setting that breathes maritime heritage.
Stormkop, a creative activity and discovery place for children and young people, is located in the Droogdokken of the port of Antwerp. During this artistic expedition, a small group of painters unleashed their inner explorer. During Painting Nights #5, we threw anchor in this shipyard, with a view of grand old ships and the ultra-modern Havenhuis. Peering into the harbor, these painters were given an entire evening to draw inspiration outdoors until dusk.
Painter and teacher Florien Allemeersch navigated the group through the evening, ready with feedback and good advice. We also looked over the shoulder of some Painting Nights-participants:
Sonia Vande Velde: "I am an urban sketcher and like to draw in stations and other public places. But it doesn't always have to be outside. I also draw like that at home, where it is more calm. That way I can also paint or draw slower and more elaborately. This is not the first time I have drawn in a harbor. I was once before in the port of Ostend. Together with a group of urban sketchers we painted and drew on the promenade. This evening I am focusing on the boat lying here. I am finishing the composition with a detail of plants that can be seen around the boat. That will be the finishing touch to my work."
Thomas Roukens: "These days I paint mostly at home, due to corona. I did take evening classes at the academy in Anderlecht for a few years. It's the first time I paint in a harbor. Before that, I didn't go beyond my garden. (laughs) I always take my painting gear on vacation, but I never really do anything. Tonight I am here with my daughter, so we can work together. Especially the sky gets all the attention this evening, I'm curious to see how it will change as the hours pass."
Federica Falzetti: "Normally I work at home. Last winter I started painting and drawing, but during the summer I didn't do anything, so this event is a nice way to pick it up again. It’s the second time I paint outside. The first time was in Middelheim Park in Merksem, where I sketched a statue. Here at Stormkop there is a very nice and interesting light, it's changing all the time. I’m now trying to understand all the details in the landscape. You have all these shades of grey and different sizes and measures. But I think that the sky will probably the most challenging part to paint."
Marc Tellez: "Federica suggested we come to Painting Nights together. I had no expectations about what the evening would bring, but I was very surprised by the special location at the Antwerp Droogdokken. I prefer to draw cartoon characters, sketches and small drawings, always working from my own imagination. Here at Stormkop I focused on small elements I see in the landscape and put them together in one work. Some flowers, some windmills.... I find it hard to draw things accurately, I come here to practice that. Normally I make something up, here I base it on what I see. That's the challenge of the evening for me."
Marie Lehericey: "I normally start painting from pictures, at home. These pictures are mostly landscapes, because I find faces very difficult to paint. It’s the first time I work outside. I focused on this construction they made here on the Stormkop-site, a wooden cabin that looks like a boat. I focused on the details, the wood and the old orange safety swimming ring. The perspective will be the hardest part, I think. As a little kid, I learned to work with oil paint. I found that very easy. If you make a mistake, you can just add more colour. I picked up drawing when I went to university, it's easier, you don't need much material. I've been trying since then to start painting again. It’s not always easy to combine with studies and a job. So this event is a nice occasion to just do it!"
Katrien Liefsoens: "I've been taking classes at the academy for a few years, but I didn't paint or draw for a very long time. I started teaching when I was 50, so I had little time. But I'd like to pick it up again. I normally work more graphically and illustratively, which is also what I teach. So I don't really paint from reality. The biggest challenge of this evening for me is to capture the clouds and the changing light."
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