​There were many rainy days in Germany. The sky was often gray as if it was always covered by a curtain. I could understand why European painters often depicted gray skies. Even at 3 pm, the bright energy disappeared everywhere. It felt like it rained almost every day. The eastern window was bright, but rain was falling on the western window. Many times, I wanted to walk along the beautiful streets of Germany, like in a painting or a photo album, but the weather did not allow it. Whenever that happened, I had to sit at home and read a book or draw a picture. I could understand why Germany has produced so many philosophers, musicians, and artists. Living in Germany gave me a lot of time to think. I've been thinking a lot about the past, the present, and the future, especially about myself. Perhaps that is why past wounds were often recalled. Sometimes I felt like I was alone in the world, and the weather added fuel to this feeling. But after the rain, the scenery was very beautiful. I often captured this scene on camera. 

The primary goal was to raise awareness about road safety among children. By encouraging kids to create art centered around this theme, we hoped to instill in them a sense of responsibility and knowledge about safe practices on the road. Whether walking to school, riding a bike, or as passengers in cars, understanding road safety is vital for our children's wellbeing.

​From colorful posters depicting crosswalks and traffic lights to detailed drawings of school zones and pedestrian safety, the creativity displayed was both impressive and heartwarming.

How happy would I be if I could convey the hope and comfort I received through paintings in my life?

Every day, I sit in front of a white piece of paper as if praying with a candle.

My paintings give strength and comfort to anyone who sees them, so when people look at my paintings

How great would it be to know that there exists something beautiful and valuable in the world, like a star twinkling alone on a dark night?
​
But sometimes I'm afraid that my drawings will be a burden or ridicule to someone.

One day, when I was heartbroken, lonely, and exhausted and unable to do anything, I picked up a brush and drew a small picture.
Out of an unknown attraction, I painted a small 5 x 7 inch candle painting with Dollar Tree watercolor paints that I saw around my space.

I started with a pencil sketch, then added more and more colors, and at some point, the paper lit up as if a candle had been lit.
I saw an image as if another space had been created in the paper and I placed my candle inside it.
Every time I look at this picture, I feel a strong sense of comfort that cannot be expressed in words. So I hung it up in my living room so I could see it every morning. I am an artist who draws, but I am also an art lover who finds healing through painting.

I love paintings with all the soul in the world.
It is like the world's hypocrisy and corruption, injustice and evil deeds, pride and discrimination, war... It feels like innocence shining alone in a hellish place where we are all so miserable and painful that we cannot express it in words. So, as an artist, I try to paint with sincerity and with a pure heart.
And when this message is read and delivered to someone else, I realize the great power that art has.

Artists are not good at speaking fluently. Of course, there are artists who speak as fluently as any other entertainer, but most people I have met, including myself, are not strong on rhetoric. They are people who love silence and know the meaning of solitude because they spend long hours alone in the studio fighting with themselves. And by listening to the inner voice rather than the outer voice, you create your own world and message. I am thankful that I am not a big talker. That's why I can draw every day. I definitely have something I want to express and I thank God every day for this.

What if all we could express was text and sound? We will never be able to feel the soul in the eyes of our loved one. Sometimes we know that someone loves us even if they don't say anything. Sometimes I know that the other person is angry with me even without saying it. There are many times when we don't need to say anything. So art will be eternal.
And I love putting these silent conversations on paper.

My candle was a very powerful light when I first took the picture. I'm glad I took a picture of this moment. However, the $1 watercolor paint lost its luster over time. But I still love my candles, even if they aren't the colors they used to be. The same goes for my paintings. You may not always be able to be with us in a glamorous and beautiful way. Sometimes, as an artist, I'm afraid of this. However, everything in the world is destined to lose its shine and disappear someday. In this way, artists can become more humble. So I sometimes paint with the cheapest watercolor paints.

People in the world do not believe that there is ‘authenticity’ in art and paintings. But as an artist, I have seen many artists paint from this level of authenticity. We draw like lighting a candle in a dark room. There may not be the world's flashy spotlight, but true artists don't want to be there. They quietly light candles and go into an alcove to draw pictures. And I live with gratitude every day as I see the light burning in the picture. I'm happy because I painted in the past, I can paint in the present, and I can paint in the future.

​There is a Wet Paint Festival this Saturday and Sunday. I received a document containing relevant information from a gallery representative. It contains detailed information such as how to check in, schedule, and parking.
Send feedback

​MAP OF LOCATION: We will pass out a map of the Tyler Homestead and
surrounding area at registration on the day of the event. In addition to the
Tyler Homestead property, please feel free to paint in the Frank Melville
Park, at Patriot’s Rock, Caroline Church, Emma Clark Library and the
surrounding historic Setauket Main Street area.

The Tyler Homestead

​This home is one of the finest examples of a historic American farmhouse in the area. The home served as a functional living space for the Smith, Swift, and Tyler families for over 250 years.

The main front part of the house was built in the mid-1700s, and the original house had two rooms on the first floor, with a central chimney serving both rooms, and three bedrooms on the second floor.

In 1878 a dining room and two bedrooms were added to the house. In the late 19th century, summer kitchens were built separately from the house, and eventually attached to the back of the house in the early 20th century.

The first occupants of the house were Amos Smith and his wife Juliana Hawkins.

​Actually, there are many houses that look like this in this neighborhood. I think it is important to capture and depict the beauty, history, and meaning of this seemingly ordinary old house.

​Frank Melville Memorial Park is a privately operated, publicly accessible park surrounding Melville Mill Pond in Setauket, New York. It was dedicated in 1937 to honor Frank Melville Jr., father of local philanthropist Ward Melville.

Patriots Rock

​Geologically speaking, Patriots Rock is a truly irregular rock formation. It is a large rock not commonly found in the surrounding area. It is believed that these rocks were pushed here by glacial movements during the last ice age. Similar irregularities can be found in the Three Villages and throughout Long Island's north coast, but few are as large as Patriots Rock.

​CAROLINE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

​Caroline Episcopal Church was organized in 1723 as "Christ Church" and by 1729 the building was erected. The edifice has been used for worship by the Setauket congregation continuously since then. Caroline Church is rich in history, including a Revolutionary War skirmish in 1777. 

​Emma S. Clark Memorial Library is Suffolk County's oldest public library in terms of continuous community service from its original location. The Library's collection of books, periodicals, audio, video, and software products totals over 200,000 items and serves a population of over 48,000.

​This festival is a great opportunity for local artists to paint beautiful traces of the region's historical stories and present them to the public. After participating in this contest, I will post a separate review of my participation.

​https://gallerynorth.org/pages/wet-paint-festival-artists

Imagination - July 13 - Aug. 11- Juried by David Reuss

​Choosing paintings for an exhibition is very difficult. Fortunately, the theme of this Mills Pond Gallery matched the theme I had been preparing. I was able to select three images without difficulty. As an artist, I need to draw a lot. Even though I draw so much, before I know it, the number of paintings I have is running out. This will become more so in the future and will accelerate further. So I try to draw as often as possible. This work always gives me great pleasure.