Asuman and Atanur Dogan are Turkish-Canadian watercolorists and sculptors.  The couple met in 1983, while studying Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey. They began their travels together studying the Anatolian villages of Turkey and developed an acute awareness of the countryside and its inhabitants.  Their sensitivity and appreciation for the old way of life has influenced their artistic style. Being an adventurous couple, in 1993 they brought Atas, their then three-year old son, to Canada and became established as artists in Vancouver.  They traveled throughout Canada and in 1997, their second son Ata was born in Vancouver, BC.  The Dogan’s now have dual citizenship, and work in both countries.  They have traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe. Discovering new and different cultures provides additional subject material for their art work. They have held exhibits throughout Turkey and in Zurich, Paris, London as well as in Taiwan and Japan.  In North America, their work has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle; Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and numerous showings in Vancouver. Asuman’s artwork is semi-expressionist in style.  Her early work captures the essence of traditional village life in Turkey: the panoramic scene of a small town, or a narrow street and building in an Anatolian village.  Her still life paintings are equally imaginative, characterized by the same application of loose washes and contrasting colours that bloom into each other to give a sense of both solidity and transience.  Asuman’s painting has evolved over the years, reflecting the richness  and inspiration of her travels, scenes from Venice or sunflowers in the French countryside. Atanur’s paintings portray ordinary people going about their daily tasks, elderly men idling away time at a coffee shop, or characters involved in ancient Turkish customs. His figures emote both a sense of strength and poetry, especially reflecting emotions in the eyes and facial expressions.  More recently, the subjects of his art are influenced by the people and cultures discovered in travels abroad In 2004, the Portrait Society of Canada selected Atanur Dogan, as one of five portrait artists, deemed best in the world.  Atanur was also invited by the Portrait Society of Canada to be the demonstrating portrait artist at the “2004 International Portrait Arts Festival” held in Toronto.  In 2009, the couple received the People’s Choice Award at one of North America’s largest art shows held at Toronto City Hall. Both artists taught at the Painting and Sculpture Museum, the public high school, and the family art gallery, in Izmir, Turkey.  In Canada, the artists provide workshops for various art groups and schools. The couple has recently released a teaching DVD (available on the website) which outlines the variety of skills used in creating their different styles of water colour techniques. A major accomplishment in the Dogan’s life occurred in May 2004, when they organized and hosted an international art exhibition, entitled “Peace Through Art”, it was held in the beautiful historic city of Cesme, in Turkey.  The exhibition drew 285 artists from 22 countries; they came to share their art and the various techniques of watercolour with an international audience.  Asuman and Atanur’s main objective was to demonstrate that an event of this nature could overcome language barriers and create new bonds through the medium of art. In September 2008, the Dogan family relocated to Oakville, Ontario. While their eldest son attends the Media Arts program at Sheridan College, the couple intends to continue to create their watercolor art and to become involved in the art society of eastern and central Canada Website: http://www.doganart.com

Arrangement with Yellow Flowers, watercolor, 76x56 cm

White Flowers in Glass Vase, watercolor, 76x56 cm

Blue Round Vase, watercolor, 26x36 cm

Peony in Zoom, watercolor, 36x56 cm

Vase with Lilac Flowers, watercolor, 26x36 cm

Twilight, watercolor, 56x76 cm

Couple at seaside, Aquarell, 56x76 cm 

White Turf, Aquarell 56x76 cm

Bistro Gartensaal, Hannover, Aquarell, 31x41 cm

Summer in Berlin / Sommer in Berlin, Aquarell, 42x56 cm

Geisha inAutumn / Geisha im Herbst, Aquarell, 76x56 cm

Geschichte der Aquarellmalerei

Albrecht Dürer, Kopf eines Rehbocks, Aquarell 1514

Die Aquarellmalerei ist sehr alt und geht bis zu der Höhlenmalerei der Altsteinzeit zurück. Seit ägyptischen Zeiten, aber vor allem im Mittelalter wird sie für die Buchillustration verwendet. Die Aquarellmalerei im engeren Sinne (als Maltechnik unter Verwendung lasierender Farben) hat sich etwa seit dem 9. Jahrhundert n. Chr. kontinuierlich entwickelt. Zunächst wurden diese lasierenden Wasserfarben für die Kolorierung von Tuschzeichnungen und Holzschnitten verwendet. Maler wie Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), und Rembrandt haben Aquarelle vor allem zu Studienzwecken oder zur Vorbereitung von Ölgemälden verwendet. Als eigenständige und wertvolle Kunstwerke wurden Aquarelle nicht angesehen. Durch Dürers zahlreiche private Studien mit Aquarell- und Gouachefarben erlebte das Malen mit Wasserfarben aber eine deutliche Aufwertung. Eine wichtige Schule der Aquarellmalerei in Deutschland wurde von Hans Bol (1534-1593) im Rahmen der Dürer-Renaissance geführt.

Die Aquarellmalerei kam erst zu einer breiten Anerkennung  im 18. Jahrhundert, als englische Maler wie William Turner begannen Aquarellfarben nicht bloß zur Ausgestaltung von Zeichnungen zu verwenden, sondern Bilder direkt auf dem Malgrund zu entwickelten. Insbesondere Turner, der bis heute als einer der bedeutendsten Aquarellisten gilt, hat die Aquarellmalerei zu technischer Meisterschaft geführt. Als im Laufe des 19. Jahrhunderts die Freiluftmalerei an Bedeutung gewann, setzte eine breite Wiederentdeckung des Malens mit wasserlöslichen Farben ein. In England förderten Water Colour Societies den Einsatz dieser Maltechnik. Zahlreiche Maler haben Aquarelle als eigenständige Kunstwerke geschaffen. Neben Dürer und Turner sind hier vor allem Eugène Delacroix, Paul Cézanne und Emil Nolde zu nennen.

History of Watercolor Painting

Albrecht Dürer, Junger Hase 1502, Albertina, Vienna

The watercolor painting is very old and goes back to the cave paintings of the Paleolithic. Since Egyptian times, but especially in the Middle Ages they used this medium for book illustration. The watercolor painting in the strict sense (as a painting technique using transparent colors) has been continuously developed about the 9th century. Initially, these translucent watercolors were used for the coloring of ink drawings and woodcuts. Painters such as Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), and Rembrandt have watercolor used for study purposes and for the preparation of oil paintings. As an independent and valuable works of art watercolors were not considered. Through Dürer numerous private studies with watercolor painting the watercolors experienced a significant appreciation. An important school of watercolor painting in Germany was led by Hans Bol (1534-1593) as part of the Dürer Renaissance.

The watercolor painting only came to a wide recognition in the 18th century when English painters such as William Turner began to use watercolor paints not only for the design of drawings, but developed images directly on the painting surface. In particular Turner, who is still regarded as one of the greatest watercolourist has led the watercolor painting to technical mastery. When in the course of the 19th century won the plein air painting in importance, established a wide rediscovery of painting with water-soluble inks. In England Watercolour Societies promoted the use of this technique. Many painters have created watercolors as independent works of art. Besides Dürer and Turner here are especially to mention: Eugène Delacroix, Paul Cézanne and Emil Nolde.

Historia de la Acuarela

Albrecht Dürer, Trient von Norden 1495

La acuarela es muy antigua y se remonta a las pinturas rupestres del Paleolítico. Desde los tiempos de los Egipcios, pero sobre todo en la Edad Media se utiliza para la ilustración de libros. La pintura de la acuarela en el sentido estricto (como una técnica de pintura usando colores transparentes) se ha desarrollado de forma continua desde el siglo noveno. Inicialmente, se utilizaron estas acuarelas transparentes para colorear los dibujos a tinta y grabados en madera. Pintores como Alberto Durero (1471-1528), y Rembrandt han utilizada la acuarela para fines de estudio y para la preparación de pinturas al óleo. No se consideraron como trabajos independientes y valiosos de arte. A través de Durero quien hizo numerosos estudios privados con acuarela experimentaron una significativa apreciación. Una importante escuela de acuarela en Alemania fue dirigido por Hans Bol (1534-1593) como parte del Renacimiento.

La pintura de la acuarela llegó a un amplio reconocimiento en el siglo 18, cuando los pintores ingleses como William Turner comenzaron a utilizar las pinturas de acuarela no sólo para el diseño de dibujos, pero desarrollaron las imágenes directamente en la superficie para la pintura. En particular Turner, quien todavía es considerado como uno de los más grandes acuarelista ha llevado la acuarela a la maestría técnica. Cuando en el curso del siglo 19 ganó la pintura al aire libre en importancia, estableció un amplio redescubrimiento de la pintura con tintas solubles en agua. En Inglaterra Sociedades de Acuarela promovieron el uso de esta técnica. Muchos pintores han creado acuarelas como obras de arte independientes. Además de Durero y Turner aquí son especialmente mencionados: Eugène Delacroix, Paul Cézanne y Emil Nolde.

Histoire de Aquarelle

Albrecht Dürer,  Blauracke Flügel 1512, watercolor, Albertina, Vienna

Aquarelle est très ancienne et remonte aux peintures rupestres paléolithiques. Depuis l'époque des Égyptiens, mais surtout au Moyen Age utilisé pour illustrer des livres. La peinture à l'aquarelle au sens strict (comme une technique de peinture à l'aide des couleurs transparentes) a été développé de façon continue depuis le neuvième siècle. Initialement, ces aquarelles transparentes ont été utilisés pour colorer dessins à l'encre et gravures sur bois. Des peintres comme Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), et Rembrandt ont utilisé l'aquarelle pour l'étude et pour la préparation de peinture à l'huile. Ils ne sont pas considérés comme des travaux indépendants et d'art de valeur. Grâce à Dürer qui ont fait de nombreuses études privées avec des aquarelles ils ont connu une appréciation significative. Une importante école de l'aquarelle en Allemagne a été dirigé par Hans Bol (1534-1593) dans le cadre de la Renaissance.

La peinture à l'aquarelle a été largement reconnu dans le 18ème siècle, quand les peintres britanniques tels que William Turner ont commencé à utiliser l'aquarelle non seulement de concevoir des dessins, mais développés images directement sur la surface de la peinture. En particulier Turner, qui est toujours considéré comme l'un des plus grands aquarelliste a conduit la peinture à l'aquarelle à une maîtrise dans cette technique. Lorsque, au cours du 19ème siècle a remporté la peinture en plein air en importance, il a établi un large redécouverte de la peinture avec des encres solubles dans l'eau. Sociétés Aquarelle en Angleterre promu l'utilisation de cette technique. Beaucoup de peintres ont créé des aquarelles comme des œuvres d'art indépendantes. Outre Dürer et Turner sont particulièrement mentionné ici: Eugène Delacroix, Paul Cézanne et Emil Nolde.

Storia di Acquerello

Wolf Huber, Grosse Landschaft mit Golgatha 1525

Acquerello è molto antica e risale le pitture rupestri del Paleolitico. Sin dai tempi degli Egiziani, ma soprattutto nel Medioevo hanno usato questo mezzo per illustrare libri. La pittura ad acquerello in senso stretto (come una tecnica pittorica con colori trasparenti) è stato sviluppato ininterrottamente dal IX secolo. Inizialmente, questi acquerelli trasparenti sono stati usati per la colorazione di disegni a china e xilografie. Pittori come Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), e Rembrandt hanno usato acquerello a fini di studio e per la preparazione di dipinti ad olio. Essi non sono stati considerati come opere indipendenti e preziose d'arte. Attraverso Dürer che ha fatto numerosi studi privati ​​con gli acquerelli hanno sperimentato un apprezzamento significativo. Una scuola importante di acquerello in Germania è stato condotto da Hans Bol (1534-1593), come parte del Rinascimento.

La pittura ad acquerello venuto solo per un ampio riconoscimento nel 18 ° secolo, quando i pittori inglesi come William Turner ha iniziato a utilizzare colori ad acquerello, non solo per progettare disegni, ma hanno sviluppato le immagini direttamente sulla superficie per la pittura. In particolare Turner, che è ancora considerato come uno dei più grandi acquerellista ha portato a padronanza tecniche. Quando nel corso del 19 ° secolo vinto la pittura all'aperto in importanza, ha stabilito un'ampia riscoperta di verniciatura con inchiostri idrosolubili. Acquerello società in Inghilterra promosso l'uso di questa tecnica. Molti pittori hanno creato acquerelli come opere indipendenti d'arte. Oltre Dürer e Turner sono in particolare menzionati qui: Eugène Delacroix, Paul Cézanne e Emil Nolde.