Painting after nature
Marcel Duran followed a classical training as a visual artist at the Minerva Academy in Groningen. He paints subjects that he sees around him: the landscape; the city with its buildings, streets and water; portraits and figures. He works on 'living subjects': portraits are posed, landscapes are painted 'plein air' - after nature itself. The essence of the subject must be portrayed in a relatively short period of time. This makes his paintings particularly lively and very atmospheric.

An intimate experience

Duran's paintings are intimate. This is partly due to the sizes of the paintings, which are usually - with exceptions - of a manageable size. But this intimacy is also related to his working method. The paintings invite not only a consideration of the depicted in its entirety and the atmosphere it depicts, but also a detailed study of touch and suggestion.

An important part of Marcel Duran's oeuvre are his portraits commissioned for both private individuals and companies. For example, he portrayed various professors on behalf of the University of Groningen.