Didem Kokturk’s path to oil painting has been anything but direct. Growing up, she was the kid with her nose in a biology book while her friends were off drawing and painting. So it was no surprise when she pursued her passion for science, earning her Doctor of Optometry degree and spending nearly two decades in clinical practice.

Yet, as much as she loved practicing optometry, she couldn’t ignore the lack of creativity in her life, which left her feeling unfulfilled. This led her to explore various creative outlets until she finally discovered a surprisingly profound connection with oil painting. In 2017, with a great big push from her husband, Didem took a leap of faith and left her practice to study and spend more time painting.

Driven by insatiable curiosity and a desire for growth, she finds that her artistic journey presents unique opportunities to constantly challenge herself, take risks, embrace vulnerability, and connect with a deeper part of herself.

Although it’s always a messy process, by welcoming challenges instead of resisting them, Didem continues to find more joy, inner peace, and meaning in her life.

“No matter what I’m painting, my goal is to capture the joyful playfulness and sense of peace in my subjects. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I fail, but I’m always trying… because these are the emotions I want to cultivate for myself, and they’re what I want to share with you through my art.”