He turned his home into a studio with over 400 paintings created over 30 years

Faruk Mehmet Alper, a 73-year-old retired history teacher living in the Sivrihisar district of Eskişehir, has turned his home into a studio where he has created more than 400 paintings over the past 30 years. Those who see Alper's paintings respond with great admiration.

After retiring from a long teaching career, Faruk Mehmet Alper spends his free time painting subjects he chooses, primarily focusing on Sivrihisar, Eskişehir, Atatürk, and Ottoman sultans. Having made this pursuit a hobby for 30 years, Alper draws attention with the decor of his home, which he has transformed into a studio with the more than 400 works he has produced.

The retired teacher, who stated that he tried to enter the academy and the painting department in past years but was unsuccessful, did not give up on his passion when an opportunity arose for him to learn this art on his own, and he is now receiving acclaim for the interesting works he has created.

Finding his inspiration by reading books, traveling, and researching, the 73-year-old artist plans to open a large exhibition with all his works in the future, continuing to paint with various materials as long as he can hold a brush.

''I HAVE CREATED APPROXIMATELY 450 WORKS''

Alper said that painting has been an indispensable passion for him that began years ago.

Expressing that he aims to continue improving himself as much as he can and dreams of opening a large exhibition with the more than 400 works he has created over 30 years, Faruk Mehmet Alper said, “I mostly paint pictures of Sivrihisar, Eskişehir, Atatürk, and Ottoman sultans. This is how I occupy myself and spend my time. I tried to get into the academy four times and tried the painting department once, but I wasn't successful back then because I had come from a coastal city in Anatolia. Perhaps my education wasn't sufficient. Later, I had the means, and I strove to learn on my own, and I suppose, as can be understood from the works, I became what I wanted to be. Afterward, a large number of works emerged. I have been working professionally for 30 years. My paintings are well-received. My works are presented to the public in various exhibition halls and at the Nasreddin Hodja Festivals in Sivrihisar. Whenever I find the opportunity, I travel, research, and read. I am still experimenting as much as I can. I haven't found myself yet. There is no retirement for this; I will continue until the end. As long as my hand can hold a brush, I intend to keep doing it. If we don't count the small ones, I have created approximately 450 works. 300 of them are related to Sivrihisar. Sivrihisar is a small place and social activities are weak. I spend my free time painting and reading books.”

News Source: İHA