LUCAS BONONI
The FiKVA Foundation is excited to invite you to an exclusive drawing and painting workshop with the incredibly talented and inspiring American painter, Lucas Bononi. Set in the heart of charming Antwerp, Belgium—one of Europe’s most culturally vibrant cities—this workshop promises to be a unique opportunity to grow your skills, unlock your creative potential, get inspired, and learn directly from one of today’s most captivating artists. We’d love to see you there!
All you need to know about the workshop Exploring Form: The Art of Figure Drawing and Painting
This workshop is designed for a limited group of students (maximum 18 participants). Artists of all levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced. However, those with some prior experience in life drawing and working with oils will benefit the most, as it will help them fully engage with the instruction and techniques offered.
The participation fee is €950 (instalments are possible, just let us know)
Where we’ll meet
Zelda & Zorro
Limastraat, 2000 Antwerp
The workshop will take place in Antwerp, one of Belgium’s renowned art cities, known for its rich history and vibrant culture. The venue, Zelda & Zorro, is located in the beautifully renovated Montevideo warehouses on Limastraat, near the waterfront in the city’s trendy Eilandje district. This lively neighborhood, close to iconic landmarks like the MAS Museum and the Red Star Line Museum, blends maritime charm with a contemporary vibe.
The space itself is spacious and bright, welcoming, and filled with creative energy—a perfect setting to immerse yourself in art. Conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from Antwerp’s historic city center, accessible by bike, public transport (tram/bus stop at MAS), and with parking available at Montevideo or Rijnkaai, it’s ideally situated for exploring Antwerp and its surroundings. Whether you’re inspired by the nearby waterfront or tempted to extend your stay to visit cities like Bruges, Brussels, or Ghent, this workshop offers a truly unforgettable experience.
What we’ll learn
Key Concepts & Skills in this Course:
– Develop personal voice and style through a basis in academic drawing & painting
principles
– Design a visually compelling composition while working from the live model
– Explore strategies to balance technical knowledge of anatomy and form
– One-on-one guidance from Lucas in order to gain greater understanding of what you wish to «say» with your art, and how to achieve this vision
Course Description:
In this unique course with New York based artist Lucas Bononi, students will learn how an academic approach to modelling form will enable them to work from the live model in a conceptual manner.
Light, volume, and color are crucial elements of the artistic world. In this class we will investigate these concepts with figure. The class will facilitate the drawing and painting process by breaking it down into digestible steps. Participants will begin with a linear block-in that will allow for more proficiency in the following rendering stage. The biggest question in the rendering stage is: How does the physics of light on form differ from our perception of value? Through each step of the way there will be individual instruction to guide each artist, as well as demonstrations to illustrate the methodology. The goal will be to complete a figure by the end of the 20 hour pose. Beginning to advanced artists are welcome.
The traditional concept of form is the major theme of this course, referring to the way in which the painter or draftsman “sculpts” volume as it relates to the light source. Throughout class, Lucas will lecture on the properties of form, physics of light, optics, and composition, in order to depict truthful three-dimensional volumes. Students may then use these skills to create drawings in a way that is visually compelling.
Need more information?
If you have any questions or need extra information about the workshop – please, shoot us an email at: academy@fikva.art
What is included
– 3 1/2 days of learning experience: painting classes, individual tuition and demonstrations by Lucas Bononi (Classes start on Tuesday afternoon, through Wednesday, Thursday & Friday)
– Spacious art studio with lots of natural light
– Nude model (male or female)
– All materials: pencils, oil paints, solvents, hardboard panels, painting mediums, cleaning materials (you are still welcome to bring your own paint if you prefer)
– Painting easel & pallet
– Table to lay on your materials
– Homemade lemonade, water, coffee, tea & biscuits throughout the day
– Healthy lunch buffet (during the three full days of workshop)
– Direct communication with Lucas Bononi via email
– Networking possibilities
What is not included
– Your airfare, airport transfers and accommodation
– Participants are responsible for their own travel insurance
– Brushes are not included, but you will get a list with the brushes Lucas is using, so you can purchase them in advance if you would like.
– Private touristic excursions, dinner and breakfast
How to subscribe?
As this is a small group event, to subscribe – just fill in the form below, tell us your name, where you will be traveling from and that you are interested in the workshop. We will provide you with the full description of the workshop and send you payment details.
Masterclasses, Workshops and AiR-Programs at Moulin Bas
There is nothing like spending some time at Moulin Bas – improving your technique, learning something new, making friends or wandering off the map …
For quite some time we were enjoying the homey and romantic feel of Moulin Bas, as our private safe place for little escapes, relaxation, reflection and recharging walks & talks – but soon we realised, Moulin Bas is a place to share and started working with the owners on a possible art-program for other artists.
Moulin Bas is a unique concept. Situated in Châteauvillain, the heart of Champagne-Ardennes (France), it is a gorgeous ancient building, with unique architecture, charming and inspiring surrounding and well-preserved soul. It is not a hotel – you can’t just visit as a tourist, it is a private domain – it is visiting family.
As you can guess from its name (in French Moulin Bas means the Lower mill), it is a watermill, situated at the lower part of the Aujon river. It has a unique architecture: the entire house is a well-preserved machinery, which the owners Dino & Ditmar try to restore to its old glory with lots of love and attention for detail. The Aujon river passes through the house literally, and brings working flow and freshness on a summer day. There is a wonderful little rose garden surrounded by Moulin Bas’ walls and the river where you can work, relax and enjoy each other’s company. In the attics we have opened large space for demonstrations, masterclasses and group gatherings. As the owners are very art minded, we also organise small art exhibits for the local community from time to time.
