The Blue Boat - oil on canvas - 24 X 30inches
Collection of The Sabanci Corporation Istanbul
This was one of the first of many observations of Bosphorus life. Despite the intense sea traffic
small fishing boats would ply the coast for fish which would then be marketed in one of the many "villages"
that make up the City of Istanbul.
One such boat was owned by Sefik Pehlivan (Shefik the wrestler), who had been
champion of Turkey for three consecutive years in his youth.
In his latter years his speciality was catching Skorpid - a prickly variety of local fish very difficult to handle.
Sefik would take them to the Dere Cafe (river cafe) at Anadolu Hisar, prepare them
seated on the cobblestones outside the cafe for sale.
He became a friend and often ferried us around the Bosphorus where I was able to
capture some of the vibrant images that later became paintings.
Sefik died in the 1990's one of a rare breed of humble Turkish gentlemen with great dignity.
The "blue boat" appeared in Country life magazine and inspired the owner
of the Chateau du Tourreau in Provence to commission 5 paintings from me thus introducing Provence
as yet another muse. Sefik never saw the painting.