Ruhiye Yalgın was born in 1964 in Bartın, a small city on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. She graduated from Gazi University in Ankara, where she studied painting and graphic design. Today, she works from her own workshop in Uşak, a city in western Turkey.
RUHİYE YALGIN at a glance
- Born: 1964, Bartın, Turkey
- Nationality: Turkish
- Training: Painting and graphic design, Gazi University, Ankara
- Medium: Watercolor (earlier worked in oil)
- Known for: Detailed watercolors of birds, especially sparrows, and portraits
- Background: Former art teacher, painting full time since retirement
- Based in: Uşak, Turkey, in her own workshop
- Exhibitions: Group shows in Turkey; work reached Sotheby’s in New York
She started her career as an art teacher, but full-time painting had to wait until retirement. For two years she worked in oil, then made the switch to watercolor. She’s been working in the medium for over five years now, and she’s never looked back.
Watercolor is a demanding medium, as she herself admits. There’s almost no room for correction, so every brushstroke demands precision. Yet she embraces this challenge, developing a style that is both meticulous and deeply personal. She doesn’t consider herself a hyperrealist, but she’s drawn to the tiny details that make each subject unique.
“Özgürlüğün ve barışın simgesi olan kuşlarımı betona teslim edilen doğada aynı zamanda umudun simgesi olarak resmetmek istedim.”
That quote translates to: “I wanted to paint my birds, symbols of freedom and peace, as symbols of hope in a nature surrendered to concrete”. This philosophy guides her work, especially her series of sparrows. She finds joy in capturing their lively, timid movements and soft feathers.
She often works from her imagination, composing scenes in her mind before touching brush to paper. Sometimes she arranges objects and works from life, but for subjects like birds or portraits, she turns to her own photographs. This blend of observation and intuition gives her work a distinctive quality.
Her paintings are not massive in scale; she prefers compositions that feel intimate and close-up. This approach lets her focus on what matters most, the textures, the expressions, the light. It’s a classic watercolor technique, executed with skill and feeling. Her art has been recognized with awards.
She has participated in group exhibitions, including a joint show with her sister in Balıkesir. Her work has also been featured in Samsun E-Dergi and even made its way to Sotheby’s in New York. These milestones mark a career built on dedication and a genuine love for the craft.
For Ruhiye Yalgın, art is about communication. It’s about observing, feeling, and then sharing that experience with others. Her watercolors are a testament to this belief, inviting the viewer to pause and notice the beauty in small things, a bird, a reflection, a moment of quiet.
Q: What subjects does Ruhiye Yalgın paint?
A: She is known for her detailed watercolors of birds, especially sparrows, as well as portraits. Her work often explores themes of nature, freedom, and hope.
Q: Where does Ruhiye Yalgın live and work?
A: She was born in Bartın, Turkey, and now lives and works in Uşak, where she runs her own painting workshop.