Blue Mosque Simit Cart
Istanbul

Watercolor & Ink on Cotton Rag

Standing in Sultanahmet Square, the smell of freshly baked simit filled the air before anything else. The warmth of the bread, the sesame seeds, and the quiet rhythm of vendors calling out blended naturally with the chatter of tourists moving through the square. Just beyond the cart, the Blue Mosque stood steady and familiar, anchoring the scene. As the call to prayer echoed in the background, the space felt momentarily suspended in time.

This watercolor and ink sketch is based on that experience. It is an attempt to capture one of my favorite moments in Istanbul, the everyday life unfolding in front of historic architecture, the sounds, the movement, and the feeling of being fully present. Sultanahmet remains my favorite place to be, and I hope this rendering transports you there, if only for a moment