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Travel Painting: How do I do it?

How do it?  Here it is. Never before revealed online! The steps I use to make one of my travel paintings.

1 – Sometimes I know what I want to paint, and go there directly. Other times, I find interesting scenes as I am walking around, as was the case with Blue Mosque. Here I am posing for a photo on my way to see Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is in the background. I noticed an interesting composition as we walked past the Blue Mosque a few minutes later. I took some reference photos, did a quick thumbnail sketch, and painted it later when I was not so rushed for time.

2.  Once I find a scene, I look for a spot that gives me the best view.

Just kidding, but sometimes it seems this way. The crowd photo is by Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times.

3 – Next, I make a light pencil sketch.

4 – And then lay down some color.

5 – I keep adding color and increasing details.

6 – I wait for the painting to dry. Then I go over the lines with ink and I’m finished.

7 – I scan my images for a record and to make prints. I crop and resize the images I want to post on the web. Here is a cropped version of Blue Mosque.

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Istanbul Bazaar, a Fasil, and a Cat

Finishing off my visit to Istanbul with a visit to the Bazaar for some Turkish Delight.

We also went to a Fasil. Go to one if you have never been. It is a uniquely Turkish experience. Fasil music is based in traditional turkish music. There is spontaneous singing and dancing to every song. The one I recommend is Cumhuriyet Meyhane (Republic Tavern) in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul. Be warned: You will have fun and if you sit by an open window you may have to feed one of Turkeys many local cats.  The cat below was guarding the Side Museum. Quite good at her job (most unfriendly cat I’ve ever met).

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Glazed Ceramic Tile in the Elbetunnel

Some of the many glazed terracotta tiles that decorate Hamburg’s Elbetunnel. They are about two feet long, made in two halves. I lost the name of the artist (it’s on a tunnel wall), but a web search showed that they were made in Kadyny, Poland. Unfortunately my camera does not have a flash.

Fish
Flounder
Lobster
Rats in a boot