art courses and tours in Turkey

There are three tours to Turkey that Artists Afoot run regularly in Lycia and Cappadocia, plus a new tour planned for Lake Van.

For 2008 we are planning:

1. Painting the Lycian coastline. One week, almost all inclusive, early May 2008, £590. Excellent value, includes a full days boat hire.

2. Painting in the mountains of Lycia, one week, £580 all inclusive, early September 2008, ask for details.

3. Painting in Cappadocia, Next tour - May 2009, £1850, 4 painters/ leaders, all inclusive. Non-painting partners welcome with separate trips.

4. Painting around Lake Van, 2 weeks - next tour Autumn 2008, £1,900 all inclusive, 4 leaders. Non-painting partners welcome with own programme.

Details are to be found by scrolling down this page -> below.

1. Painting the Lycian coastline.

The May 2008 trip is almost full (so reserve a place quickly), but the September 2008 course still has places, let me know if you are interested in this one, I will pencil your name in for priority so that you do not miss out, and I will send full details of the precise dates/itinerary before you commit yourself to a deposit.

1 week exciting tour. Olu Deniz will be our base, visiting the mountains, gorges and archaeological sites during the week. £590 for one week with transport to locations every day, private hire boats for 2 days, full tuition and local guide. More details available on request.

Here are some images of the area:

The hotel in Olu Deniz

Family run in a quiet location with excellent food and facilities.

The hotel pool.

Olu Deniz makes an excellent base for an art tour. It has a beautiful beach and lies at the foot of Baba Dag ('father mountain'). The views of the craggy, limestone mountain are wonderful from all the rooms.

Within a short time we can be in mountain pastures

or wading though gorges

Unusual sites can be included like the 'cotton castle' of Pammukale

and a well-deserved rest at the end of the day, to plan the next day's adventures.

2. Painting in the mountains of Lycia, southern Turkey.

September (early), 1 week. We will be staying in a remote village in the mountains called Karagaac (Black Tree). This is a beautiful location where we will eat, drink and be Turkish for a week-long session of complete relaxation and painting. Full tuition will be given with demonstrations, as required. We will walk out each day to a nice location, or get the tractor to drop us off. We also have a dolmus booked for a full day's outing to Byzantine archaeological sites and the beach at Patara. Cost, including all tuition, superb food, accommodation, flights Gatwick-Dalaman, and transport (e.g. all inclusive, except for drinks) is £580 for one week. There are painting opportunities for mountain and gorge scenes, rugged coastlines, Byzantine and Lycian ruins, and traditional Turkish life, goats galore and flowers, plus lots more.

Contact us for full details: artistsafoot@btopenworld.com

The old Ottoman house at Black Tree

and our own private hammam !

The neighbours make fascinating painting - buildings with 'character'.

Black Tree (Karaagac) village

3. Painting in Cappadocia May 2009. Almost all-inclusive (only drinks not included); with 4 artists/leaders, £1850

A wonderful painting experience, staying in the national park area in the rural village of Mustafa Pasa. Painting (any media) includes the sculptured rock formations, gorges and valleys, mountains, lakes, Byzantine churches, and Turkish rural scenes (including cave dwellings). Very good value and as intensive or as relaxed as you like! Painting partners can have their own programme designed for them.

Beautiful rock formations give a sculpted feel to the landscape itself.

Goreme national park area.

There is always plenty of shade from trees or amongst the rock formations.

Here erosion from water solution as well as wind during the winter months has carved out a rounded, and voluptuous scenery.

Goreme

The leaders (Anthea left and Jill right) in front of the Fairy Chimneys.

Margaret 'sizing up' an old Ottoman doorway in Mustafa Pasa which will form the basis of a painting later in the day.

Mustafa Pasa has many old buildings and winding streets which make excellent painting opportunities. But most of all they afford our group the opportunity to really fit in with Turkish life, in a real Turkish village for a whole week. It is a wonderful place that Margaret and I will continue to return to (Anthea liked it so much she has now purchased a house there!).

I can send out further information on this tour.

4. Painting in Lake Van

2 weeks in Autumn 2008. This is an exciting area and will be using the services of a local guide together with at least one artist-tutor (depending on numbers). Stunning scenery, inspiring landscapes, Turkish markets and rural scenes as well as a huge number of archaeological sites makes this an exciting adventure. Cost is c. £1,900 (all inclusive, including the expertise of 2 to 4 leaders) for 2 wonderful weeks. Ask for full details. Places will be reserved quickly on this tour. Painting partners can have their own programme with transport laid on.

Within a very short time the group can be in the tranquil mountains, above the cloud line.