I’m super excited to be heading back to magical Istanbul, a city I loved as soon as I set eyes on it. Straddling two continents, with the river Bosphorus running through it, Istanbul’s rich combination of history, vibrant street life, incredible architecture, and exciting cuisine makes it a dream location to explore with a sketchbook in hand. 

​

Our workshop will include lessons in urban sketching using pen and ink, watercolor and mixed media. There will be focussed sessions on people sketching and using watercolor and mixed media effectively. I will teach you how to create sketches that reflect your experience of place, and do it in a realistic timeframe, so you can sketch on your travels, even when you travel with non-sketchers! The workshop will include personal guidance and reviews each day and a variety of subjects from street vendors to ancient architecture.

We will work on location in bazaars, gardens, and all around the city and you should be fit enough to walk at least a half hour unassisted, and carry a compact sketching kit and portable stool to all locations.

Not recommended for people with limited mobility.

​

Sketching at various sites:

1. Topkapi Palace First Court

2. The garden between Hajia Sofia and blue mosque

3. Bridge over Bosphorus in late afternoon/ evening with fishermen

4. Market place & "evil eyes" stall

5. Galata Tower 

6. Turkish coffee making

7. Cats — cat food stalls at market

8. People — demo & instruction first in hotel courtyard then going out to a busy area to capture people in movement

-- Afternoons free --

Daily Review:
Get together at hotel to share our work from 6-7pm

Accommodations with en-suite bathrooms at Hotel Poem located in the center of Sultanahmet, just a short walk from the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, with a 9.5 Exceptional rating on Booking.com

- Saturday, October 9:

Welcome market mezze buffet, 7pm.

- Wednesday Oct. 13:

Cooking class (with sketchbooks in hand!) and dinner

- Friday Oct. 15:

Farewell Meyhane (traditional tavern) dinner, 8 pm

We will hire a Tour Guide for an intro to Sultanahmet walking tour in order to have some context for our sketches.

There is plenty of free time built into this holiday for wandering, shopping, and sightseeing. Bring your sketchbook to capture your adventures and then share with the group at our daily reviews before dinner.