Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Sketching in Karaköy

Tucked in amidst the paint stores and fishing equipment shops of Karaköy is Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai.  After discovering this place I made at least 4 trips to the location to work on a sustained sketch.  Rüstem Pasha is now a working han, although it used to house travelers on the silk road.  

I love finding spaces like this in Istanbul...spaces that would be closed to the public or marked as "private property" in any other city.  But in Istanbul, I can always seem to wander in, sit on some box or abandoned chair and begin drawing.  No one tells me to leave or that I am not allowed, but instead I become part of the environment... along with the han workers, cats, stacked up boxes...the sound of clinking metal and drills from the workshops below, and seagulls in the sky. 




Gabrielle Reeves "Rustem Pasha Han" Mixed Media on Paper, 2014

2 comments:

  1. I love the sepia tones with the pink!
    Welcome to USKist, Gabby :)

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  2. Thanks Samantha, its great to be apart of USKist! Adding another post soon, and looking forward to when we can sketch together again:)

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