TWO SEASIDE VIGNETTES
-Copse at the seaside – Somebody painted rainbow waves & a question mark on that rock- why? 2019—–Why indeed?
MAKING CARPETS
-Happily employed at Can Carpets near Selçuk – 2015-2020—–Started from life and finished from photos years later during Covid-19 lockdown. Can Carpets has a fine reputation for its new production utilizing classic Ottoman designs, created by local talent learning from a master. LEFT: She’s showing her daughter the ropes. CENTER: In the photo her hands were a blur.
ST JOHN’S PILLARS
In St John’s ruined basilica in Selçuk – 2017 – 2019——Two years later I took the unfinished drawing back to Selçuk with me and got the rest of it. Nothing had moved- but why would it?
CAPITAL VISTA AT ST JOHN’S
A row of capitals at St John’s – She didn’t move for hours——On the hill in Selçuk, out front of the vast rambling ruin of St John’s Basilica, built by Justinian in the late 6thCentury. Trashed by Tamerlane and scavenged by Crusaders and others, it’s full of cats, mystery and magical views. Every section of this drawing is a potential entire artwork.
FACELESS SATYR
-St John’s – Gladiator tombstone – Broken wall frieze nymphs / So much skill and care, so shattered – My favorite carved threshold—–Another session wandering around St John’s with the sketchbook open.
Faceless Satyr fountain – Byzantine? Or Tamerlane marauders > What is it? …On the side of a tomb in St John’s…Deeply incised——-A curious beastie, is it a lion? Looks like graffiti.
BYZANTINE SUN THRESHOLD
-1500-year-old carved sun-wreaths by God – Sun Threshold in St John’s – 14 September 2019——The day after a terrific storm in Selçuk, and I was roaming around St John’s thinking that after so many years I had surely seen it all when here was this amazing threshold sticking up out of the dirt, washed away by the storm. O those Byzantines!
IZMIR DAWN VIGNETTE
-Sigh of wind in the pines—–Staying with a friend in Izmir I woke up early enough to tiptoe out to the salon and catch the sunrise.
-Efes 2019——My drawing was rusty as all hell, so spent some time in Ephesus with this lichen-spotted old capital…