It’s been hard to get started again after current events and the rising spate of anti-Asian hate crimes around the world. But Saturdays — and some Sundays — are reserved for a few hours’ respite and self-care, in the company of some fine folks with shared enthusiasms.
The first Saturday of April was spent in Turkey, specifically in Cappadocia (pronunciation variable) and Istanbul. The long history of Turkey as the intersection of Eastern and Western influences, particularly Istanbul, makes it a destination near the top of my personal bucket list of places to visit. In mid-2020, the Hagia Sophia, that glorious jewel of Istanbul, was stripped of its museum status and reverted into a mosque. While the Turkish government assured the global community that the UNESCO World Heritage site will remain open to followers of all faiths, UNESCO and other world leaders remain skeptical, and urge the continued preservation of the Hagia Sophia’s early Byzantine artwork according to museum and conservation standards, and not simply hide them away during its transition.
Cappadocia chimneys. This was really hard to sketch. I’m also very rusty. Ink and watercolor on paper. Click on image to see a larger version. (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cappadocia_Chimneys_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg)
More Cappadocian rocks. Gouache on black toned paper. (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Capadocia2006.jpg)
The Hagia Sophia. I still hold hope that I’ll visit someday. Gouache on black toned paper. (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aya_Sophia_(7144824757).jpg)
When I visit, I am going to eat *all the street food*. Ink and gouache on paper. (reference: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-qsylf)