Didem Kokturk

Artist Biography:

Didem Kokturk is an oil painter who sees every painting as an opportunity to push through the fears that prevent so many of us from honoring our creative instincts. Self-taught, Didem has only recently begun dedicating herself more fully to the exploration of the art that has captured her imagination. Although she has always been aware of her creative instincts, she suppressed these inclinations and redirected her energies toward her passion for science and medicine. She obtained her Bachelors of Science degree from Seton Hall University and her Doctor of Optometry degree from SUNY College of Optometry. After almost two decades in successful clinical practice she began to slowly explore visual arts more purposefully, eventually falling in love with the medium of oil painting. In 2017 she took a leap of faith and left her practice in order to study and spend more time painting. Viewing learning as a lifelong pursuit, Didem is excited by the challenges that lie ahead as she continues to grow in her artistic endeavors. Her hope is that her audience enjoy her efforts and that they, too, find what makes time stand still for them.

Artist Statement:

I am fascinated by the creative instinct that I believe resides in all of us , usually beneath layers of fear and insecurity that have built up over a lifetime. It took me a long time to realize that I was ignoring that creative instinct because I was afraid of failure. That realization gave me the push to explore my creativity but unfortunately it didn’t erase my fear of failure. So now, every time I sit down to paint, I have to contend with that fear and will myself to … Just start! Once I begin to put some paint on the canvas and start moving it around, the fear starts to slowly dissipate and I go into problem solving mode, which is where I thrive. I usually have a loose plan of what I want to paint but I rarely know what the finished product will look like. I put down a color or make a mark and change it until it “feels right” to me. I try to relinquish control and tap into that creative instinct that is more expansive and inspiring than I can ever imagine being. This is when the love of creating replaces the fear and time seems to stand still. I may never fully get over my fears, but every painting that I paint helps me to get one step closer.