While travelling through enchanting Porto, I got carried away by the maze of narrow streets, where every corner seems to whisper its own story. In one of those alleys - bathed in warm sunlight, with weathered walls, colourful facades and a view through to a bright blue sky - I took a photo whose colours fascinated me.
Based on that photo, I created this digital oil painting. Using digital techniques, I tried to capture the mood of the moment: the raw textures of old stones, the play of light and shadow, and the layering of colour so characteristic of this city. Although the work is digital, I wanted to evoke the rich, tactile quality of oil paint - as if you can almost feel the brush strokes.
This work is an ode to the everyday becoming special, to the silence in a busy city, and to the power of memories that linger in colour and form.
Geert Van Baelen has been working as a press photographer in Belgium for over 20 years. Besides current affairs, he also finds inspiration for his images in everyday life, landscapes and people... Read more…