Drawing and painting have never been strong suits for me. I consider myself a creative person, but for most of my life I couldn’t use a pencil or brush to produce work worth displaying. That’s probably why I gravitated toward photography—because so much of the image is already there to capture. Still, the urge to create persisted, and when I spotted a Facebook page advertising Turkish Painting Holidays, I signed up. In June I packed and headed to the small village of Gökçebel, near Yalıkavak on the Bodrum peninsula.
Arriving at the Old Stone Cottage
The old stone cottage was a delightful surprise. From the street you can’t see the garden tucked behind the brick walls: scented flowers and trees, a paved pergola, and a swimming pool in the corner. A cobbled path led me to the artists’ corner, stacked with easels, canvases and boxes of acrylic, oil and watercolor paints. The cottage itself is a lovingly restored 200-year-old building that retains much of its original character while offering modern comforts like Wi‑Fi and satellite TV. My room was on the upper floor with a view over the courtyard.
I dropped my luggage and went downstairs. It was a swap-over day: some guests were checking out and new arrivals were trickling in. I met three other guests who were solo travellers like me, and an easygoing couple who had the amusing hobby of keeping alpacas. Linda, the wife, painted as a hobby and had a joyful laugh; over the week I realised she produced excellent work but tended to be overly self-critical. Roy, her husband, wasn’t keen on painting but joined excursions and ran errands while the rest of us worked on still lifes or landscapes.
Our group of six included various levels of experience and preferences—watercolour, acrylic or oil—but we slipped easily into conversation. Despite being the only complete beginner, I felt optimistic and in the right place at the right time.
The Tutors of the Painting Holiday
The tutors’ personalities matched their painting styles. Sandra, an expert in watercolours, works with gentle washes, soft pastels and delicate detail. She is softly spoken and has a strong eye for small features that others might miss. With an art college background she also illustrates printed books and specialises in wildlife art.
Eljay is both a tutor and the driving force behind the stone cottage and Turkish Painting Holidays. After living in the Bodrum area for years she renovated the cottage and built the programme around her art background. Practical and multi-skilled, she organises the daily schedule, shops, drives and prepares traditional Turkish meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Between teaching and writing a commissioned cookbook, she paints in acrylics and oils and can effortlessly produce striking pieces.
The Painting Itinerary for the Week
The course has a relaxed agenda and people were free to join or skip activities. One day was spent drawing and painting at the ancient ruins of Iasos. Realising that drawing was challenging for me, I chose to sit at a nearby restaurant and paint seascapes instead. Another day we visited a mountain village where the colourful muhtar (village head), despite a recent accident, guided us around for painting subjects, introduced us to local women weaving carpets, and even hosted a rooftop barbecue.
Guests could also opt for boat trips, stroll around nearby Yalıkavak, or paint independently wherever inspiration struck. The mix of structured tuition and free time made it easy to learn at your own pace while enjoying the surroundings.
How Did I Do with Painting?
I arrived a complete beginner, so I won’t pretend my early pieces were gallery-worthy. What I gained more than finished masterpieces was knowledge: depth, composition, drawing fundamentals, and familiarity with different mediums and artists’ techniques. Before I left Bodrum I bought brushes, canvases and acrylic paints at a local art store to keep practising.
Back home I still haven’t produced anything I’d hang proudly on the wall, but the experience gave me something more valuable: those Zen moments when you lose track of time and become fully absorbed in the creative process. During my stay at the cottage I spent four days largely offline, and it was refreshing to disconnect. Many afternoons since then have slipped by while I paint from photographs on my balcony.
Beyond personal satisfaction, there are real wellbeing benefits to making art. Creating helps reduce stress, sharpen focus and provide a sense of accomplishment—regardless of innate talent. For me the hope of one day posting a painting with “look what I did” on social media is less important than having a hobby that regularly brings those peaceful, immersive moments.
More About Turkish Painting Holidays in Bodrum
The programme offers seven- and ten-day stays with comfortable accommodation, expert tutors and flexible activities suited to all levels. The cottage provides an inspiring base for learning, relaxing and exploring the Bodrum peninsula while developing your painting skills in a supportive setting.
