Mr Duck

As many of my friends know, my Mr Duck accompanies me on my travels. He's 10 years old now, so he's definitely been around! So here is the Mr Duck series from Turkey...enjoy! (Oh, I must explain the picture of him in the water at Pamukkale: some Aussies helped me place him in the water up the mountain and then catch him downstream, so I could chase him and take his picture as he floated along! It was quite an adventure for him.)

Last crop of Turkish art...

Here's the rest of the art I made in Turkey! I averaged almost one artwork a day...which I think is pretty darn good.

In Goreme I befriended a family that ran a rug business, so I'd hang out in there and look at all the different patterns...

I drew a realistic sketch of Cappadocia before, so with this drawing here I wanted to do a more whimsical take on the landscape. This was the view from my room...

I used that same style back in Istanbul to draw the Aya Sofya. This was my view from Les Arts Turcs...

Anyone who has been to Turkey can verify this statement...that the locals drink A LOT of tea! And as a visitor you are always offered cups of tea (cai) in one of these cute little tulip shaped glasses. I began to wonder how much I was consuming on a daily basis! I used brown ink so it would look like it was painted with tea...

Leaving Istanbul...

These are some final pics from when I returned to Istanbul before flying home...

My last day there was a big gypsy festival down by the seaside...lots of dancing and great music!

I went with Les Arts Turcs to an authentic whirling dervish ceremony. Dervishes practice Sufi Islam, and the priests spin themselves as a form of meditation. It was very intense and powerful to experience! You can read an article about the ceremony here. (This is a stock photo, since you cannot take pictures obviously...)

My whole visit I kept making Alp promise to take me around Istanbul on his motorbike--it's definitely the best way to explore the city!

And here was the view flying out...goodbye, Turkey!

My trip was, for lack of better words, AWESOME! The trip was especially fulfilling because I spent almost the entire time with local folks rather than other travelers...and this was thanks to my friends at Les Art Turcs. Through their hospitality I was able to experience real Turkey...


Les Arts Turcs is a 10 year-old collective of
painters, photographers, artists, singers, journalists, professional guides and entrepreneurs based in Istanbul. Their aim is to meet people from all over the world, promote communication between cultures, and to bridge the artistic/cultural gaps that have formed over time. They offer classes in dance, art, language, and cooking. They offer specialty tours and workshops catered to your specific interests (from modern art to Turkish baths) in Istanbul and other regions of Turkey. And of course, they're the folks that Lonely Planet recommends if you want to see a real whirling dervish ceremony!

So I must thank Nurdogan...you can always find him here in their office in Sultanahmet. He knows everyone, and wants you to get to know everyone, too! He will greet you with a smile, offer you endless cups of tea, and he might even teach you some Turkish dance moves if you're lucky!

And I must also thank Alp, who works at LAT and volunteered to be my guide around the city without even knowing me. (His efforts to find vegetarian food for me must be commended!) I am so thankful we developed such a good friendship. Here's his picture at the nargileh cafe...

If you visit Istanbul, pay Les Arts Turcs a visit! It's a great place to meet other creative folks and chat over glasses of tea within view of both Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque. And it's perfect if you need a quiet sanctuary where you can make art while listening to Nurdogan's massive Turkish music collection.

Their latest big project is the Istanbul Photo Contest...they are welcoming international photographers of all skill levels to submit their best pics of their unique city. The deadline in in November, and the top prizes are free stays in Istanbul.

Gule gule!

Pics from Cappadocia

Cappadocia!

I had a dream about this place two years ago (I even did a drawing about it) and now I finally got to see it for myself! And the fact that is was used as the set for planet Tatooine in Star Wars made it extra cool. It definitely lived up to its expectations.

I liked finding faces in the rocks (of course, most people see other body parts)...this one looks surprised.

I've never been up in a hot air balloon before, so a sunrise view over Cappadocia sounded like a great introduction.

I also hiked the Ihlara gorge...

...and explored the underground city of Derinkuyu...

...and the Goreme open air museum...

...and climed around the Selime Monastery...

...and was surprised by the vivid paintings in the cave churches. (The lack of sunlight has thankfully prevented them from fading)

The village of Avanos is known for its pottery, so I tried out a foot operated pottery wheel for myself. The results were...unique.

Oh, I'll miss sleeping in a cave! Sigh...

More travel drawings...

In Pamukkale I didn't draw anything--mostly because my bag was lost at the airport so I didn't have my art supplies (let alone...well, anything!) most of my visit. So here is what I've made since arriving in Cappadocia a couple days ago.

Here I copied a very traditional tile design here in Turkey...you see this blue tile everywhere. The word turquoise was actually comes from the French, meaning "color of the Turks." Oh, and tulips originally came from Turkey...they are very proud to point this out!

This is a drawing of my favorite restaurant here in Göreme (Cappadocia)...appropriately called Göreme restaurant! It's a good place to sit and enjoy some cai...

This morning I hiked over into Pigeon valley, sat down in a fıeld, and drew this picture quickly since it was starting to rain on me! Some of the unique rock formations here, which I'll post pictures of later!

Pictures from Pamukkale

I left Istanbul on Monday for the town of Pamukkale...it is famous for its white cliffs. The travertines are made by all the calcium in the water...it's pretty surreal.

Here is my "the hills are alive" pose...

There is also an antique pool full of column fragments (and Russian tourists)...

Above the travertines you can visıt the sprawling ruins of the Roman site Hierapolis.

Pamukkale has been a spa town since the Romans (and the Byzantine, then Jewısh, then Christian...) so of course I had to try out a mud bath. Here is a thankfully blurry picture...

And then of course you have to take a soak ın the very hot natural springs (It was about to pour down rain)...

Next blog I'll post some art!