Grand Place, Brussels

This sketch is 20 years old.  It is incredible how time flies by.  I was a PhD student then... dealing with gas turbine cooling :) Spending time at the Grand Place somehow used to revitalize me after a hectic week.  The building on the left of the sketch is "Le Roi d'Espagne" and had been built at the end of the 17th century as many other guild buildings at the Grand Place.

Rooftop Sketching

One of my favorite places to sketch in Istanbul, is from the top of an old han, tucked away between the Grande Bazaar and Eminönü.   The view is unparalleled, and no matter how many times I visit, I always seem to find a new composition or point of interest.  The building is also full of fantastic workshops, where men are constantly at work creating metal springs, shaping hats into place or dying buttons gold.  

I have been drawing in this building for 3 years, and have started to feel completely at home when I find myself on its archaic rooftop, gasping at the 360 degree view of this beautiful city.

"Rooftop Sketch" Mixed Media on Paper, 2013

Aktopraklık archaeopark

I spent a couple of days last week in and around Bursa with my wife and son.  We visited a friend of ours from Istanbul University: Dr. Necmi Karul who has been excavating a neolithic/calcholitic site at Akçalar, Bursa.  Dr. Karul is also creating a wonderful Archaeopark in the region not only to tell youngsters how prehistoric man lived 8.000 years ago but also to give impressions of rural ethnographical life.  This aquarelle depicts a "çatma ev" built by Yoruks of the region 150 to 200 years ago.

Between Gerede and Kizilcahamam

Today when going from Istanbul to Ankara, instead of the motorway, I took the old road which is also very good and not crowded. Especially the forests between Gerede and Kizilcahamam are very nice and invites for making sketches. It was so relaxing; different type of trees with all the varieties of green, a Thermos of tea and the sound of the brook and birds.

Yeni Cami

Last week I tried out some new watercolor pencils in the courtyard of Yeni Cami.  I love the softness that comes with this material, especially on a humid summer day.  Though the softness was working, I felt as though the drawing was lacking intensity, and needed something to pull it all together.  In the end I used a black brush pen to push the darks in the foreground pillars, and a light blue wash for the sky.  

When I am at a loss of where to draw, I know I can always be satisfied in Yeni Cami.  Perhaps it is the female influence, the multi domed structure, or the stunning calligraphy tiles lining the courtyard....it is peace amidst the immense chaos of Eminonu.

"Yeni Cami" Gabrielle Reeves 2014

Harem Hotel

I go every Monday morning very early (05:30) to Ankara from Istanbul departing usually from the Harem Bus Station. As the duration of the days prolonged at this time of the year, the view of the Harem Hotel and the view behind became much more visible and pleasant with the early light of the day. Behind the hotel there is one of the towers of the Selimiye Barrack and minaret of the Defterdar Efendi Mosque.

Rytons are animal shaped antique wine cups.  This particular ox-shaped ryton was found in Enez/Ainos excavations conducted by Istanbul University during the summer of 2009.

This sketch of Narmanli Yurdu is 5 years old already.  I have found it today as I was browsing through my drawing notebooks.  I remember myself climbing the stairs of what used to be the Four Seasons Restaurant of my college years, sitting at the balcony and drawing this sketch...  The studios of many turkish artists, novelists and poets such as Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar and Aliye Berger used to be within this building.

Hattusha

On 1st of May, I found the chance of visisting the capital of Hittites. Hittites were one of the ancient civilizations in Anatolia and Northern Syria between 2nd and 1st millenia BC. The remains (temples - only the foundations - gates at the walls and inscriptions) were so fascinating and the areas to visit was scattered to an area of 72 hectares so it was no possible to scetch everything in limited time. Up to now, 32 temples have been founded, each dedicated to a different god. Once upon a time this area was named as "Nation of Thousand Gods". One stretch of the city walls has been reconstructed by German Archelogical Institute with the sponsorship of JTI. Clay model of the towers founded during excavations has been used as a basis. The same technic of the Hittites has been used (mud bricks supported by wood and stone foundation). The below sketch is showing this reconstructed stretch on a cloudy day.

After Hattusha, I have visited Alacahoyuk which is much smaller compared to Hattusa and is not impressing as much as previous. On the other hand next to the site there is a small but very well organized museum. However the most precious parts founded in these areas are exhibited in Anatolian Civilizations Museum which is in Ankara. In this archelogical site it is possible to see the reconstructed cemetery for the kings adressed to 2500 BC. The graves are each about 25m2 and the skeletons of the king is in one corner. They were burried with precious material and the skulls and bones of cattles.In the reconstruction they have put the replicas of these items in the grave and a quick sketch of how they look like is below.

On the way back, I have made a sketch of the middle Anatolia outskirt.

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

Amasra

 

The sketches are from Amasra which is a Black Sea town at the North West Cost of Turkey. The name is coming from Amatris who was a Persian princess. The above view is the lefthand side of the old harbour.

The panaromic view of the right hand side of the old harbour.

Pier Kadikoy

Yesterday I have sketched the Kadikoy Pier from the terrace of Deniz Yildizi Cafe which has a magnificient view especially in the late afternoon. Although everything was very calm under the last moments of September daylight, suddenly a big group of protesters have approached with slogans and entered the pier from exit gate to go to Karakoy and than Taksim. It seems it will be a long autumn.

Resist

 I drew the above sketch on Saturday, June 15— the day the police invaded Gezi Parkı. I had no idea this would be the last time I could sketch Gezi as it was; a peaceful, fun, creative place where people of all backgrounds came together to speak out against what they believe is wrong for their country. I've never seen anything like it. That night, I watched in horror as the police stormed the park, kicking in tents and gassing everything that moved— even going so far as to gas a hospital and hotel lobby, where injured people and lost children were taking refuge. I will never understand the violence, the lack of compassion and the blatant lying— this was, and still is, a peaceful protest.



Last week, a man named Erdem Gunduz stopped in the middle of Taksim Square and silently stood, facing the Atatürk Kültür Merkezi. He stood for eight hours. Soon, hundreds of protesters joined in and just... stood. On the first night, several were arrested by the police who are now a permanent fixture— occupying the park and every possible entrance to the Square. This new form of civil disobedience spread like wild fire throughout the country, stopping people in their tracks for five minutes at the very least, to hours on end. Since then, we've had red carnations for the dead, and sit-ins, the protest changing form but never its message.

Kugulu Park, Ankara

Kugulu Park / Park with Swans - No swans in the small pond by today. Moved to another place not to be affected from gas.

Diren Gezi

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Smoke rising from Gezi Parkı— PeF

We have seen a little bit of everything these last days in Taksim. We have seen much more on those social networks that have been condemned. And we have sketched a few moments of the ongoing turmoil that has taken Istanbul and many other Turkish cities. These are drawings mabe be me and fellow correspondent Samantha Zaza, from June 1st till June 3rd. And from what I understand from what has been happening on the political side, it seems these will not be the last.

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: A shower of tear gas canister shot by the police— szaza

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Protesters— szaza

Taksim Meydanı, June 1st: Protesters— PeF

Gezi Parkı, June 2nd: Children at the playground— PeF

Beşiktaş Meydanı, June 3rd: Police gathering behind Barbaros statue— PeF

Galatasaray, Istiklal Street

There are not too many things to add to what has been reported in depth and wonderfully sketched by Szaza and PeF. What can I say is that I have seen the determination and committment of ordinary people. I witnessed the power of solidarity and helping each other. The above scene is from Galatasaray yesterday where there was a barricade of the police. After some time gassing started.

Occupy Gezi

Police gassing protestors in Talimhane, by szaza

For the past three days, people have gathered in Gezi Parkı in Taksim to protest the removal of trees for the massive construction project that the government begun last fall. The plan to turn one of the area's last green spaces into a shopping mall, moved people to peacefully occupy the park. In response, police have attacked protestors with tear gas and water cannons, injuring many, hospitalizing some. I do not know the exact figures, nevertheless, when I came home from work today, my neighbourhood looked like a war zone. Unarmed citizens are being gassed, sprayed point-blank in the face with chemicals, and assaulted by high-pressured water cannons. They even gassed the metro.

Police gassing protestors in Talimhane, by PeF

I tell you, it's madness outside. This evening, a few hundred of us were squeezed into the little hotel-lined streets, which were littered with broken glass, teargas canisters, and pieces of plywood. Fires were set, barricades erected, and the police, silhouetted figures in the orange smoky air, shot gas every other minute at us. A smoking canister bounced off the pavement and hit my left knee, while my right foot received a direct hit. The pain was intense, but then I felt the burning.

Protestors, by PeF

Protester with eye-soothing solution, by PeF

Protestors clapping and singing, by PeF

We eventually made it home safely, though many did not— people are seriously injured, and the Turkish media, who initially ignored the protests, is just now starting to cover the story. I was told by one protestor as he watched me sketch the scene, "Tell the world— you must tell the world what is happening here."

Visit my blog Harika to see the photos, and hear more of the story.

Simena

Simena is one of the most important ancient Lycian cities in Kas peninsula and it is just on the opposite side of Kekova Island. This sketch is of the restaurants at Simena Coast which draw my attention especially for the flowers on their balconies.

Şanlıurfa

Earlier this month me and Samantha were invited by Karala(ma) to join them in Şanlıurfa for a sketching weekend. The possibility to visit this part of the country which was unknown to me, and as a bonus, to see and sketch at Göbekli Tepe were too good to pass by. Here are a few of the sketches from this wonderful weekend.

Göbekli Tepe, sketched between heavy showers (who knew it would rain so much in May..?)

Hippocampus-centaur carving inside a cave, sculpted when Şanlıurfa was Edessa (outside, more rain)

Fountain next to a mosque, on the backstreets of Şanlıurfa (no rain this time)

Manolo Valdes Exhibition in Pera Museum

I have visited Manolo Valdes (1942) exhibition in Pera Museum, Istanbul yesterday and did some quick sketches of some of his monumental sculptures made of bronze an wood. He is one of the most famous contemporary pop-artists of Spain and in addition to sculptures, he is working on big size canvasas and using mixed media, especially fabrics with incredible colors and paint (maybe some epoxy as well) creating an appealing texture. Than during drinking coffee in a narrow street on Istiklal Avn. I have drawn the buildings seen.