Good morning from the same couch, different flat. we recently moved houses again, and we are still in the settling down phase. this summer has been nothing like what I planned it to be, it turned out slower and nicer though. Half of the summer spent in my hometown, the rest back here in Istanbul, with few beach days, rituals of reading and writing, three birthday parties (my two kids and husband), and a lot of thinking and decision making. not that much art happened though.
It has been so Long since I have been in here, so much has changed, in me and in my surrounding, in my career and in my personal life. Not sure If I mention this before but last October I had to close euphoria art studio, my art studio that was the birth of so many ideas and connections and friends. Honestly, and even though it was a journey that lasted only two and half years, I have grown so much, opening my art studio has always been dream and goal of mine, and being shut down so fast it was a shock for me, moving to a new place didn’t help with any of my bouncing back plans. After I closed the art studio I stopped creating all together because moving out, looking for new home, looking for a new art space, while raising two little kids, and husband dealing with thesis and endless 24hour hospital shift at the time, and other personal and regional issues, it was impossible to continue on teaching or creating with so many change happening,I almost feel like I had an identity crisis as an artist, for the first time in my art journey. I didn’t know how to continue teaching, I was so away from social media, and my art stuff were all in boxes for the longest time so I was not motivated to do large scale painting or any oil/acrylic painting. The place around me was so cluttered and for almost a year the house was filled with boxes, no where for it to be unboxed or arranged. but also I had more free time to explore new places and techniques, to visit galleries and to read. more time to focus on other stuff I want to grow in my career, like writing short stories, practicing urban sketching like before, pottery and candle making, things I didn’t have time to do before. Adapting to changes has never been easy for me, last October I suddenly had all the time in the world to create and paint , But also the whole word changed last October, in every muslim world, in every Arab and everyone living in the Middle East. so I really couldn’t just continue life as before.
Art wise, In the studio I was so in the flow of giving workshop and teaching and creating with students and friends that I just didn’t know how to continue. I want to be educator, and yes opening euphoria art gallery and teaching was so perfect in terms of having a job, doing what I love, but it did limit my creativity on having new body of work, I wouldn’t choose to close it down, but sudden change in the district where the studio is located they decided to hold urban transformation and renovation for all 25+ old buildings, which is something so common in Istanbul for the last few years, but especially after the earthquake in 2022.
Now after a year, settling in new flat, and having a home studio office this time, I feel collected for the first time in so Long. I have a clearer idea on where I want to continue from now, my art need to have a purpose that serve what is happening to the world, my art always has been and outlet of my emotion and all the thing I feel, It is the bright side of me that always keep me balance and sane as long as it in my daily routine. before it was a job or a career, creating and painting and making art is my hobby, between my paint brushes and colors and sketchbook is where I feel my best self, it is my safe harbor in a world filled with tomorrow’s worries and uncertainty.
Art and express my self in words and paints to connect with others is what makes me fall in love with life itself.
I started a new blog to share stuff that are not art related, if you are interested to check it I will leave it here, I also started two projects, one is in the planning phase the other is taking it’s baby steps, will share more on that when It Is time. After organizing my art materials ( which is aaaaalmost done), acrylic sketching and drawing with oil pastels is my friend to practice art daily.
All I can share is the few Art work that got done last week, and few beautiful snaps! 🙂
I guess that is it for now, hope you are having a lovely day, and that you are at a very productive free flowing phase in your life.
until next time,
