St. Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia. Light. Print

Istanbul, Hagia Sophia mosque. Light. Pastel painting. Pastel painting. The interior of the Hagia Sophia amazed me. This magical light that poured from the windows and the soft light from the majestic chandeliers. The grandeur and spaciousness amaze the imagination. It seems that God with this light seeps inside the temple. The turquoise carpet, which is spread on the floor of the mosque, creates a feeling of the sea, the depths of the sea, light and shadow, and waves of water. Incredible color combinations - turquoise and soft orange light from chandeliers create a picturesque picture. I really wanted to draw this story, which I saw firsthand in Istanbul in November 2022. The painting was painted with pastels and pastel pencils of professional brands on pastel cardboard from Canson of archival quality, in a free technique close to both realism and impressionism. The reliability of the materials guarantees the long-term preservation of the painting. To prevent the painting from smearing and the pastel from falling off, I recommend framing the painting under museum anti-reflective glass with a passe-partout and baguette. The pastel is not secured with fixative. However, if properly designed, such work can be stored for centuries. This is evidenced by the works of great masters who painted with dry pastels, for example Edgar Degas. Light-resistant modern pigments and good binders guarantee the durability of the painting layer, and archival acid-free paper will carefully preserve the painting. I hope that the pastel painting will be a pleasant gift for yourself and your loved ones and will give you joy. It will also be a good investment, since art tends to rise in price. I hope that my painting will find its home in the hands of a true art lover.