Tag Archives: Kayakoy

The Ghost Village

Turkey is a Mint

Kayakoy 4 9" x 6" Acrylic on card

Kayakoy 4
9″ x 6″ Acrylic on card

It seems that Turkey has become a MINT!  Like the more familiar acronym BRIC, Turkey has joined with Mexico, Indonesia and Nigeria to become one of the future powerhouses of the world economy.  A strange selection of bedfellows, methinks, but read more here or you can listen to the programme on the BBC Radio iPlayer.

The Xmas decorations are back in the attic once more and the New Year Resolutions are in there with them

Kaya Chapel 8" x 6" Framed Acrylic on board

Kaya Chapel
8″ x 6″ Framed Acrylic on board

I’m not really one for making resolutions at New Year as I tend to make them all year round.  You know, must paint more, aim to lose a couple of kilos, see more of Turkey and so on.  This way even if I break them I’m guilt free.  All I need to do is set updated ones and aim at fresh targets.  A New Year doesn’t have the exclusive right to host self criticism, life just isn’t like that.  I don’t say “I must spend more time in the studio” on the 1st January…..I say it every bloody day!

Sarnic Art and Crafts Workshop. Sat 14th December. 10 to 4pm

Kaya Autumn View 9" x 6" Acrylic on mount board

Kaya Autumn View
9″ x 6″ Acrylic on mount board

You are all invited with friends and family to a lovely day out this coming Saturday to an art exhibition also attended by potters, carpenters etc in the glorious and historical Sarnic Restaurant in Kaya. You will be given a free glass of hot mulled wine and chestnuts.  Hopefully the weather will be kind, if not, it will be held indoors with the open fire!

For directions: From  Ovacik, follow the winding hill down into Kaya. You will find the water fountain on the left hand side. It is a small, white 3 pillared building. Turn down the little lane by the side and Sarnic is on the right.

Hope to see you there!

Two puppies arrive

Xmas Tree number 4 9" x 6" Acrylic on mount board

Xmas Tree number 4
9″ x 6″ Acrylic on mount board

It’s been a hectic week topped off with the arrival of 2 Yorkshire Terrier puppies today.  Gina has been searching for another small dog for a while and then we finally heard of a litter in Yaniklar, only just down the road.  Gina couldn’t pick between the two little girls and decided to have both!  Then, I was asked to show my paintings at an exhibition of English artists at the Sarnic Gallery in Kayakoy starting this Sunday.  It’s also the eve of the Calis Xmas Fair and I am hoping for a successful day tomorrow,  at least the weather forecast is looking great for the Festival.  Meanwhile, I had some cards printed in the UK for our mothers and this was the painting I used.

Lavender

Lavender 8" x 6" Acrylic on mount card

Lavender
9″ x 6″ Acrylic on mount card

Young farmer and entrepreneur, Barış Özkan from Kayaköy,  bought a couple of hundred lavender plants to try out 3 years ago.  It seems the conditions are perfect up there although it’s not a crop seen locally.  Rapid drainage, alkaline soil, plenty of light, heat, and excellent air circulation are required and  I know it’s produced successfully on the Cesme peinsular and in Isparta.  I not heard anything since and I wonder if he was successful?

Kayakoy Street Craft

The Kaya Lacemaker 10" x 8" Acrylic on card

The Kaya Lacemaker
10″ x 8″ Acrylic on card

On the little side lane that leads into the old town from the ancient water fountain in Kayakoyyou will find this lady.  She moves up and down the lane, seeming to occupy in a different position whenever I see her. I assume she lives in one of the nearby cottages and seeks out some shade and a bit of breeze. This is not a busy spot so she sits placidly among the chickens and cats and quietly pursues her craft making lace and jewellery.  I’d like to say I painted this plein air but the 40 C temperatures dictated a quick photo and work later in the studio

Dog walking in the hills above Fethiye

Looking West towards Ciftlik 10" x 8" Acrylic on Card

Looking West towards Ciftlik
10″ x 8″ Acrylic on Card

Today is the opening of my exhibition in Kayakoy.  I’m keyed up so last night I painted this landscape of the view over Ciftlik and Yaniklar that we see from the path where we often walk our dogs, Zara and Ziggy. All those blues and greens are very calming and I managed to enjoy several stress free hours. This morning, I’ve put my organising head back on, so please wish me luck!

Wet in wet

Poppy1 Watercolour, 10" x 8"

SOLD
Watercolour, 10″ x 8″

Poppy2 Watercolour 10" x 8"

Poppy2
Watercolour 10″ x 8″

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been laid low with Man Flu this week, in my case a particularly virulent summer cold, the first I’ve had since arriving in Turkey so I shouldn’t complain.  However it’s not easy to paint with streaming eyes so I apologise for the lack of posts this week. I’m more or less back now but, considering the state of my head and all that liquidity about, I thought it more appropriate to get the watercolours out and tackle something simple.