On a gloomy February day, I received a call. A lady from Lithuania with lovely English was asking if \u00d6rreke offers Ebru workshops. “Of course!” I shouted eagerly into the phone, while my fingers were already clicking away on the computer keyboard. Within half a minute, I realized what it was all about. It reminded me a lot of the drip marbling technique I used in my own childhood. I taught myself the basics using YouTube tutorials and even conducted a training session, but something kept nagging at me. I wanted to delve a bit deeper into this Ebru art.<\/p>\n
Since Ebru is a so-called marbling art originating from Turkey, I contacted the Turkish Embassy to find direct sources for learning the technique. The wonderful people at the embassy gave me the contact details for Ebru artist T\u00fczin Tirakli, and during a hot week at the end of July\u2014which was many times hotter in Istanbul than in Estonia\u2014I set off together with instructor Hanna. <\/p>\n
Istanbul welcomed us with the typical bustle of a metropolis. The streets were full of people and cats (there are thousands of them there, all well-fed and cared for by the city folk), and my craft-loving soul was soothed by stained-glass windows and glass mosaic vases and lamps. Since \u00d6rreke also runs confectionery workshops, we delved into the secrets of making marzipan and baklava at the markets. But of course, above all, we spent our days in the Ebru studio. <\/p>\n
Ms. T\u00fczin didn’t speak a word of English, and on the first day, we simply spoke the “language of art.” Fortunately, her daughter was there to help with translation on the following days. For several hours a day, we learned how to draw on “thick” water: tulips, lilies, poppies, stars, moons, and hearts. With the help of special tools, we created combed patterns or simple drip techniques, as well as images of birds and animals on the water. You have to draw quite quickly so that the colors don’t break or sink to the bottom. Once the image is ready on the water, it is usually transferred to paper, but it works just as well on silk, wood, leather, stone, or any other rough surface. <\/p>\n
It was an incredibly exciting 5-day journey, during which I also realized that I need to simplify the skills I gained for \u00d6rreke’s workshops. After all, our classes last 45-90 minutes, and there should be a result by then. As a rule, people without an art background come to the workshops, so we still have to make the class interesting for those who aren’t exactly on a first-name basis with painting. <\/p>\n
At the same time, drawing on water is so simple and safe that even babies can manage it in a workshop. What could little ones have against splashing around in water and colors with their mom? <\/p>\n