Ayfer Erbay and the Art of the Rose
In “Ayfer Erbay and the Art of the Rose,” the renowned Turkish painter and illustrator returns to The Renaissance Garden Guy for a short discussion of her art and its connection to the world’s most iconic flower. And she’s brought with her a gift…
Ah, Ayfer Erbay and the art of the rose… Where do I start?
I’ve alluded here several times to the connection between nature and art; specifically, how the former informs the latter (hell, virtually the entire RGG oeuvre is predicated on this connection and inspiration, in one way or another). The details of this dynamic become acutely poignant for me when they’re experienced firsthand from the vantage point of my own garden. The plants and flowers that grow there are a form of nature’s artistry, and they’ve served as a primary component of my own artistic inspiration for as long as I’ve grown them. It’s been tough for me to think of a better tribute I can pay them than my recognition of their simmering effect on my own creative juices.
Until now.
The prodigiously talented artist, Ayfer Erbay, is no stranger to The Renaissance Garden Guy. Readers and subscribers were introduced to her work – and the artist herself – in 2022’s “The Power of Suggestion: An Interview with the Artist Ayfer Erbay.” I’d first seen her amazing work back then on various social media platforms, and was beyond delighted when she agreed to the RGG interview and a corresponding digital exhibition of some of her paintings and illustrations. Her 2022 interview and exhibition has remained one of the most popular RGG features to date.
So, here I am, just last year, thinking that I am the only human being on the planet inspired by my humble little garden’s humble little inhabitants, and convinced that I’ve been paying them the sincerest form of flattery possible by being inspired by them, when out of the blue, none other than Ayfer Erbay herself reaches out to me and asks me if she could draw one of my roses! Needless to say, my own inspiration (along with the importance of the tribute I thought I’d been paying my flowers) was instantly trumped.
Ayfer Erbay was inspired by one of my own flowers, and now, here we are. This happy turn of events underscores the natural world/art connection (one of The RGG’s most insistent, recurrent themes), illuminates the mindset and state of the soul of a brilliant artist when the moment of inspiration is upon her, ratifies my ongoing contention that art and nature are inextricably connected, and gives me another opportunity to talk with Ayfer and feature another example of her work here on The Renaissance Garden Guy.
The artist took time out of her busy schedule to engage in a short but edifying chat with me from her home studio in Çanakkale, Turkey, about the lovely work inspired by my little rose bloom (a work, which I consider a precious gift from Ayfer Erbay, and which we co-named “Rosa Aurora” – you’ll read that although she’s a prolific painter and illustrator of rose blooms, Ms. Erbay isn’t necessarily comfortable naming her renditions of them). So, let’s hear from the artist herself on her perception of art and nature’s nexus vis-à-vis her execution of a remarkable likeness of a rose from my garden. Here’s Ayfer Erbay and the art of the rose…
JS: What is it specifically about roses that that makes them such an appealing subject for your art?
AE: When I was a little girl, there were roses in our landlady’s garden. Every time I entered the garden, roses would greet me. While admiring the velvet texture of the roses, I would inhale their unique scent and feel myself in a completely different world surrounded by sweet peace. Now I have grown up and I am building a bridge to the past by drawing the roses that gave that sweet peace to my childhood.
JS: Your work is generally titled, but in the case of your rose drawings, you’re hesitant to name them. Why is that?
AE: In all my works, I depict different figures, different emotions, different faces, different lives. The intense emotions in my paintings generally arouse curiosity in art lovers and draw them into the story. The names of my works are not given by me, but by the moods, stories and experiences of the characters in my works, that is, the character himself. But no matter what color or type of rose they are, they all mean one thing to me; peace… which makes it difficult for me to name them.
JS: What are the media for this particular work, “Rosa Aurora?”
AE: Your garden is a corner of paradise and “Rosa Aurora” is a rose that belongs there. When I wanted to draw a picture of this wonderful rose that you have grown with great devotion, I worked with charcoal and colored pencil on paper.
JS: In your illustrations and paintings, you take certain artistic liberties with your subject matter, never rendering a particular subject exactly as it is presented to you as a model. I notice some tiny differences between “Rosa Aurora” and the photo of the actual rose from my garden that served as your model. Is this intentional? And if so, why?
AE: Yes, I like to be free and original in art. Being restricted by rules in art means shackling my soul. I like to work with some changes that I feel like at that moment, sometimes by changing the color, light, stance and emotion of the models. My imagination or emotions argue, empathize, dance, blend, entwine with the reality of the models I use in my paintings… When my work is completed, you will see the model calling out to you from her own body, with my soul. I deliberately make the small differences between the photo and my painting, because I am not a photographer, I am a painter… I do not make an exact copy, but I preserve that fine line so that the rose does not separate from its essence. As I did in “Rosa Aurora”, when drawing the rose with a black pencil, I focused only on it and minimized it by painting the surrounding leaves with a colored pencil. My aim here was to draw attention to the meaning that the water droplets on the rose add to it.
JS: In an earlier conversation, you referred to “Rosa Aurora” as “her.” Do you think of roses as feminine? Do you think of the finished work, “Rosa Aurora,” as feminine?
AE: After it rains or when they are watered, the water drops left on them seem to me as if they were their decoration. Additionally, all over the world, people name their daughters after flowers. Among these, one of the names that suits women best is “Rose.” Maybe for these reasons, I think that if a rose has a gender, it is female.
JS: Any upcoming showings of your work?
AE: I received offers from several galleries to exhibit my paintings and from people to give online private lessons. But for now, I don’t plan on opening an exhibition or giving private lessons. I continue to work on various projects and paint.
JS: Thank you so much for your time, Ayfer, and for this fascinating chat. And of course, I thank you for the gift of “Rosa Aurora” and the unparalleled compliment you’ve paid my little garden by your kind words and lovely rendition of one its most beautiful inhabitants. It’s always a great honor and pleasure to feature you and your remarkable work here on The Renaissance Garden Guy. I look forward to your next visit!
AE: I was honored to interview with you again, John. Thank you very much for this pleasant conversation. I know that you are very successful in your job and I wish you continued success. All the best!
Ayfer Erbay exhibits her work and is very active on her Instagram account. To view or purchase her work, please contact her there via direct message at https://instagram.com/painter_ayfer
And again, you can read her 2022 interview and see the works in her RGG exhibition in “The Power of Suggestion: An Interview with the Artist Ayfer Erbay.”
I hope you’ve enjoyed “Ayfer Erbay and the Art of the Rose.” My sincerest thanks once again go to the incredibly talented and gracious Ayfer Erbay, and of course to you, my dear readers and subscribers – as always, I am grateful for your kind interest and readership.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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Amazing interview, loved every second of it!
Magnificent art work! With her amazing talent, she captures the essence, the beauty, and she gives the rose a new life. Your beautiful roses now can live forever …🌹🌹🌹💫
You’re very kind, Roxxy – thank you so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview. I completely agree with you. Ayfer Erbay is an incredible talent, and her work – all of it – is absolutely amazing. The notion you’ve elucidated here in your lovely comments about my roses living forever through Ayfer’s work is lovely and profound. You’ve beautifully put into words my own thoughts on this matter. Once again, Roxxy, I thank you so very kindly.
Have always liked roses. Now, I love them. Obsessed by them. They have a duality of soul for me – ancient and modern.
I enjoyed the interview with Ayfer Erbay. Her comments on her approach to her art were very interesting.
Thanks, John.
What an intriguing observation you’ve made about the rose’s existential nature – fascinating, Lane. I’ve often thought about this duality myself, but a cogent formulation of the notion – and corresponding intelligible elucidation – has eluded me. You’ve nailed it, actually. One of the amazing things about great art is its ability to not only evoke emotions in those who appreciate it, but to also foment thought and discourse. By virtue of our exchange here, it’s clear to me that the brilliant Ayfer Erbay’s lovely work has done those very things. Thank you for reading the interview, Lane, and for sharing your fascinating and excellent thoughts here.
This single rose from your garden will always be as beautiful as pictured because of the lovely work of art that it inspired. Nature really does inspire everyone that appreciates its beauty. This was a wonderful interview!
What a lovely and insightful comment, Kevin. Yes, you’re absolutely right. Nature does often inspire those who recognize and embrace its beauty to create. And those creators capture and relate and amplify the aspects of that beauty that resonate most profoundly with them. Ayfer Erbay’s discussion underscores this fact, and, as you’ve pointed out, she’s made this ephemeral rose bloom – and all of its inner and outer glories – indelible and everlasting. Thank you for reading the interview, Kevin, and for leaving your excellent comments here.
Really interesting interview. Ayfer’s work is both beautiful and thought-provoking.
Thank you for reading the piece, Sam, and for commenting here. I do agree with you. Ayfer imbues her work with palpable emotion, and each piece not only invites further scrutiny, but also elicits curiosity about her mindset during its creation. I’m so glad you appreciate her work. Thanks once again, Sam.
Such an insightful interview, John. Ayfer’s talent and love of roses is abundant. Childhood memories and emotions are strong in her work. Beautiful piece, John. Hope you are well and sending you best wishes.
Thank you for reading the interview and for sharing your excellent thoughts and kind wishes here, Tina. And yes, you’re absolutely right. The powerful impression that roses had made on Ayfer in her childhood continues today and is very evident in her work. The memories and emotions she associates with the bloom of a rose present themselves clearly in each of her works. I’m so glad you appreciate her work, Tina, and I thank you again for reading the piece and for your kind wishes.
Such a good discussion of the beauty of roses and how it can be captured in art. Thank you for sharing this, with the drawing “Rosa Aurora” and the photograph of the Knockout rose. Roses are feminine in my mind in part because they remind me of my mother and sister.
Thank you for reading the piece and for commenting, Mary. I also thought Ayfer Erbay’s relating of her methodology, and
of her mindset behind it, on at least one level made for an instructive discussion of the execution of her rose paintings and drawings. I do think, however, that the more esoteric elements of her creative and execution processes – her emotions – are the most fascinating part of the talk. Equally fascinating is your own association of the rose’s female gender with thoughts of your dear mother and sister. Once again Mary, thanks for leaving your excellent thoughts and for reading this piece.
A gem of an interview. Combining art, roses, and emotions. Many thanks!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Rick. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece and got the opportunity to see Ayfer Erbay’s work. She is really an amazing artist. I also really love the coming together of the art and the flowers, and the resultant emotions of the dynamic. It was an absolute pleasure for me to conduct this short, lovely interview with the supremely talented Ms. Erbay. Thank you again, Rick, for reading and commenting.
Such beautiful artistry, Ayfer. John, your rose lives forever beautiful in Ayfer’s poignant Rose Aurora. Rose Lacryma is breathtakingly beautiful too.
Thank you for reading this piece, Jill, and for commenting here. I’m glad to know that you appreciate Ayfer’s work. She’s a remarkable talent, and I’m entirely honored to host her and her beautiful work here on The Renaissance Garden Guy. And I’m also honored and thrilled that she chose one of my own rose blooms as the subject for this lovely work. Thanks once again, Jill.