İstanbul in Ömer Muz's watercolor works

Ömer Muz (born 1957 in Istanbul) is a Turkish painter recognized for his watercolor technique paintings. The artist began to focus on this technique in the 1990s and has primarily produced works with the theme of "old Istanbul." In these works, Muz skillfully utilized the watercolor technique, which is virtually impossible to undo and requires a swift execution. His efforts to capture the instantaneous effects of light and his color palette reflect an Impressionist style. Impressionists do not replicate life and nature, but rather convey what they feel from them. Through internalizing the deteriorated historical fabric of Istanbul in his works, Ömer Muz reflects a longing for old Istanbul. This study aims to analyze the watercolor paintings of Ömer Muz, who has established himself in the watercolor painting art with this work, on the theme of "old Istanbul" utilizing his watercolor experiences, observations, and Impressionist style. The documentary source scanning method was employed to gather research data. The information obtained was then summarized under designated headings, and the works were interpreted in a manner appropriate to the purpose through the content analysis method. As a result of the study, it is believed that Ömer Muz, one of the contemporary living artists, possesses significant characteristics that demonstrate his importance in Turkish painting art by being able to execute other painting techniques in conjunction with the watercolor technique in his works, specifically through his choice of colors, brush strokes, and use of light. Additionally, the theme of "old Istanbul" in his works also holds a place in his own inner world. Furthermore, being a multidisciplinary artist with a background as a caricaturist and graphic designer further accentuates his significance in the realm of Turkish painting art. Keywords: Art, painting, watercolor, Ömer Muz, Istanbul