This vibrant, modern painting is based on an original photograph I took myself while strolling along Ostend's marina. What began as a snapshot of the restless beauty of moored boats grew into an expressive digital artwork in which colour, light and texture are central.
Using digital techniques, I enhanced the essence of the scene: the reflections in the water, the colourful masts piercing the sky like brushstrokes, and the unique dynamics of harbour life. Using digital filters, painterly textures and colour saturation, I transformed the photo into a modern scene that balances between realism and abstraction.
The bright colours, distorted contours and slight blurring create a dreamy, almost impressionistic atmosphere. The emphasis is not on perfect rendering, but on the sense of movement, light and the bustling nature of the harbour. The use of digital editing allows me to combine the visual language of traditional painting with the possibilities of contemporary technology.
With this work, I want to invite the viewer to dwell on the everyday and discover the beauty in it - a moment of tranquillity captured in a digital brushstroke.
                                
Created by Geert Van Baelen with support from AI.
 
                                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…
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An old ship is moored in a polder villageGeert Van Baelen