Curaçao (or Korsou) is a Caribbean
island. It is perfect for ‘plein air’ painting.
Temperature is nice, with some wind, so it’s not too hot. Most of the time it’s
sunny and dry. The size is just right (you can drive a car from one side to the
other, make a painting and return, all in one day). There are many inspiring
subjects, such as:
- the Caribbean sea, with a rough rocky
coast in the North and wonderful bays and beaches in the South;
- Willemstad, the main town, with old
colonial houses, painted in bright colours;
- a varied natural environment, with
rocks, plains, hills, odd-shaped trees and cactuses, colourful flowers and
birds, etc.
In 2011 the ‘art foundation’ of
Curaçao organized the first ‘Plein
Air Curaçao’. It was a success. So they decided to do it again. This second
‘Plein Air Curaçao’ took place in 2013, from February 22 to March 2. It was
visited by artists from all over the world. I had the pleasure to be one of
them.
After the official opening Friday
evening, early Saturday morning we went to Westpunt (as the name says: the
point in the West). I sat on a terrace (for some shade). I painted my view,
with the lower beach, a blue apartment complex and the hills further away.
Photo: Westpunt in watercolours (bought
by Hellen, president of the organizing foundation).
Sunday afternoon I went to Punda (the
most busy part of Willemstad), to make a painting of the famous floating bridge
in the afternoon light. Just before the sun went under, I had to leave. One of
the artists, Heleen Cornet, had the
opening of her exhibition at MonArt
gallery.
Photo: Emmabrug, watercolours.
Tuesday was the day to paint in
Otrobanda. That’s a part of the town with many picturesque old buildings and
alleys. Most of the artists went to ‘Kura
Hulanda’, which is totally renovated and now a hotel. But I went ‘downtown’
and painted some houses in a very narrow alley.
Photo: Alley in Otrobanda,
watercolours.
In the afternoon we had a boat trip.
We went to Boka Sami, a fishermen’s village at the South coast. First I painted
the view to the land. And when the sun went down, I tried to paint the colours
of the sunset.
Photo: Boka Sami, view from the sea, watercolours.
Wednesday I went to Kokomo beach and made a painting there.
This is one of the many beaches at the South coast of the island. My painting
didn’t satisfy me, so I didn’t give it for the ‘Gallery’. At this Gallery all
participating artist could bring in the paintings they made each day. It was at
the Maritime Museum. So this was
a ‘growing’ exhibition.
Photo: part of the Gallery of ‘Plein
Air Curaçao’.
Thursday was a day of ‘free
painting’. Someone told me she liked the building next to the Museum, called
‘Villa Maria’. I went to look, and indeed, it was a picturesque building. It
was ‘pistache green’, with large marble stairs leading to the entrance. I could
sit in the shade of a tree and paint its branches and leaves in the foreground.
When I brought the painting to the Gallery it was sold immediately … but I
forgot to make a photo of it! Sorry.
After painting Villa Maria, I went to
the Avila Hotel. We were invited there
for a Blues Night. I had all afternoon to make a painting of the hotel. And
later I made some sketches of the musicians too.
Photo: Avila Hotel, watercolours.
Photo: guitarist, pen sketch.
Friday was the ‘cultural day’. We
went to Landhuis Habaai, an old mansion, partly renovated. There is a gallery
of modern art now (‘Alma Blou’). We
had some traditional musical instruments, from the historical museum, as subjects
to paint. First I made a painting of some instruments and then of a part of the
building.
Photo: Landhuis Habaai, watercolours.
Saturday was the last day of ‘Plein
Air Curaçao’. It was a morning of painting contests in Willemstad. There were
different categories: kids, teens, beginners, local and international artists.
We had three hours time to make our paintings. First we had to register and get
a number. Then we could start painting, but we had to be back before noon. My
plan was to make a painting of the ‘floating market’. This market is not really
floating, it is alongside the water, but the boats bringing fruits and
vegetables from Venezuela are right behind the market stands. It is a very
colourful place.
Photo: floating market at Willemstad,
watercolours.
I thought three hours were enough to
make a painting. But this scene had so many details... I was back on time, but
I knew I couldn’t win, my painting was too ‘illustrative’, not really a ‘work
of art’.
The jury decided and all winners were
applauded. And that was the end of a nice week of painting plein air. All
international artists went to the Maritime Museum, to say goodbye (and take
back our paintings, if they weren’t sold).
After this plein air week I stayed on
the island for two more weeks (I was there with my husband, who is born and
raised at Curaçao). I made some more sketches and paintings. I hope to be back
there in 2015, for the next ‘Plein Air Curaçao’. For more information, see:
