Art, Available art, cityscapes, watercolor
Goodbye İzmir, Hello Ankara
May
After 15 small, semi-daily paintings featuring scenes from İzmir, I consider that series complete for now. I’ve moved on to Ankara, the Turkish capital, where I spent considerably more time. Fourteen years ago, I spent a semester there with my family, and I went back several times for exhibits and to visit.
It’s still a place I consider home. Back in 2006, the old citadel of Ankara and its surrounding neighborhood called Ulus ignited my imagination and my creative aspirations, and though I’ve been drawn to other places as well, I only have to look through my photographs of Ankara to feel that excitement again.
The image above shows the line-up of the latest İzmir paintings on my wall. You can view the first of the Ankara series in the Small Works section of my webshop.
You have captured the essence of the Mediterranean perfectly and sent it to my inbox during a time when I need it. Many thanks.
Thank you so much for your comment, Jan! We’re all going through difficult times, and I often feel helpless, because there’s so little I can do. I just keep painting and posting, hoping it will lift someone’s spirits a little. I’m so glad it came at a good time for you <3
I am reading “My Name is Black” by Orham Pamuk set in Turkey and watching “Etrugal” (a huge Turkish kind of historical telenovela on Netflix about the Ottoman empire) and now I am back in Turkey with your beautiful paintings. I think Covid gives us one positive opportunity– to go inside, and remember, research and dream of other places and terrains. Thanks for the post, it has allowed me to wander the backstreets of Turkey with you. Thea
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Thea. I’m a huge fan of Orhan Pamuk! I started reading his novels while in Turkey. Not familiar with Ertugrul, but it sounds fascinating, so I will add that to my Netflix queue. I’m so glad I was able to take you for a stroll down the backstreets of Turkey, where I’ve found endless inspiration… You’re right that there is a silver lining to the pandemic in that it offers those of us lucky enough not to be directly affected by it a chance to slow down and remember meaningful times and places in our lives.