The monumental radiance of the great city (Istanbul)

Visiting Istanbul has been my long-time dream. The history of the fall of the great Byzantium was extremely interesting to me even at school; I still remember the year of the change of eras - 1453. And for many years my journey was waiting in the wings.
21 years have passed.
I spent months looking for a reference for the painting, found Copenhagen, started drawing... But I couldnt create the colorful houses of my beloved country, I realized it wasn’t the time. Painted it over. I drew a car in Cuba - again it’s wrong, I painted it over!
And suddenly the traveler Andrey sent me a photo of Istanbul and wrote:
- Hello! I would like to draw your attention to one photograph. I think its very cool. I took the picture on the move from the ship, appreciate the naturalness of the frame. An ideal vanishing point in perspective!
- Yes, great! Do you offer to draw?
- Let’s do a challenge, well both draw, let’s see what happens. Although I am sure that you will do better, Ill try not to lose face. As soon as I looked at the photo, I was amazed - a balm to my soul
I realized that it was time for my journey. After Andrey, I went to Istanbul, was inspired by the monumental radiance of the great city and painted this magnificent picture. The Ortakoy Mosque near the Bosphorus Bridge was created from a real photograph and preserves the memory of travelers.
A great and beautiful city, I will return there again and again.