I am Yeşim Siyahkara - an art enthusiast, photography lover, cat owner, and loving mother. I was born in Izmir in 1977. I studied machine molds at Çınarlı Technical High School, business at Anadolu University, and graphic design at Istanbul University. I stepped into the corporate world in 1995 and worked in many companies in the machinery and construction sector until 2007.

Between 2007 and 2013, I lived in Algeria and Morocco. I had the chance to explore and discover new cultures. I was captivated by the mystical atmosphere of Morocco, its vibrant colors, and its spices. Thanks to its proximity and ease of travel, I had the opportunity to travel to Spain, France, and Italy several times. Inspired by the landscapes, structures, and artworks I encountered, I started taking photographs. When I returned to Istanbul, I took photography courses and attended workshops. In 2014, when I visited the museum-like home and garden of Claude Monet, one of the pioneers of Impressionism, in the village of Giverny in Paris, I was enchanted by the sweetness, freshness, brightness, and softness of the landscapes and the blue, green, and purple tones he used.

When I returned to Izmir in 2015, I started taking painting lessons at the Izmir Painting Sculpture Museum. I continued my painting activities in the Hebrar Hülya Çelik workshop. Art is a process that never stands still, it has its own momentum that draws the artist towards its various forms. This led me to start painting after photography. I also started to take an interest in ceramics. To improve my ceramic knowledge and practice, I joined Pervin Özdemir's ceramic workshop.

I love painting without the aim of becoming Picasso, Van Gogh, or Monet. Each of my paintings hides a secret, a thought, an interpretation, an experience.

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Art is politeness, elegance, and delicacy.

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May our brushes never dry, may we never be without art.

 

With love...