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Michel Ormancey: art painter. -Hello! May we get in? -Yes, of course!
It's quite a small place but I feel well in this room. I spend time here painting and reflecting.
I had other workrooms before. In an attic in Namur, for instance. It was before getting married.
My current workplace is where I used to prepare my lessons as a teacher. Now I am retired.
I started painting when I was 10, when a primary school teacher encouraged me to paint.
I knew there was a paintbox in the attic and I made my first painting. I was 10 years old.
My father also used to paint before he got married. I still have 10 paintings by him.
My mother studied art history at university and I visited museums with her.
I collected painting prints but had no idea that I would paint myself one day.
I had to tell a story by drawing at primary school and I noticed I was able to draw knights myself.
I made my first oil painting and I have now made about 450 works (till 01/01/2014).
I only began studying painting when I was 20 because my father found it amoral.
And my mother thought that most painters died of tuberculosis...
Therefore I was just self-taught beforehand. I mostly painted family portraits.
of my sister...
... my grandmother.
Then I studied 6 years at the Academy but it was interrupted by 1 year of military service.
Afterwards, I got married and had 2 children. I could only paint 1 or 2 pictures a year, which is not good to progress.
Then I spent 15 years painting icons.
And since I'm retired, I could take part in several exhibitions.
Art has always been central in my family: my grandfather even painted in the WWI-trenches!
I don't have any of his works but I have his easel. His brother made some sculptures.
All the paintings here are ready for an exhibition. -Let's go and see your reserve now.
Here is my grandfather's easel. I could also show you a drawing by my great-grandfather!
In this room, I put the paintings that have already been used for an exhibition.
Here is the oldest drawing of the Ormancey family. It looks like me but it's the portrait of Sully, a social French minister.
He has a feather to write and his eyes are looking for inspiration...
This was a small overview of my life but there are so many things to say...
I suggest you visit my site: www.michelormancey.be
Thanks and see you !