An award winning painter and author of the classic artist’s guide; Problem Solving for Oil Painters (now in it’s twentieth year of publication), Gregg Kreutz has been drawing and painting all his life. After graduating from N.Y.U., he pursued his training as a painter in earnest at the Art Student’s League of New York winning a merit scholarship. He studied with Frank Mason, Robert Beverly Hale, and, most significantly, David A. Leffel. After his training at the League, he signed up for the Washington Square Outdoor Art Show where we won best in show and from there was able to get in galleries and become a full time painter.

He has won numerous awards including the Frank C. Wright Award, the Hudson Valley Art Association Award, 1986, the Medal of Merit (first prize in oils), Knickerbocker Artists; the Council of American Artists Awards, Salmagundi Club; the Grumbacher Award, Knickerbocker Artists; Most recently he won the Merit Award at the 2005 National Portrait Society of America.

He has had one man shows at Grand Central Galleries, The Fanny Garver Gallery, the Newport Art Association, and the Hilligoss Gallery in Chicago. He is currently represented by the Hilligoss Gallery, Eleanor Ettinger Gallery in New York, Fanny Garver Gallery in Madison, and The Wendt Gallery in Laguna Beach, California.

He teaches painting and drawing at the Art Student’s League in New York City as well as at The Fechin Institute in New Mexico, The Scottsdale Artist’s School, The California Art Institute, and other workshops throughout the country. His videos are popular learning tools used by artists all over the world.

About making art Kreutz says, "For me, painting is an opportunity to learn what is meaningful. Each picture is a visual separation of the highly significant from the less significant. Painting is really a window into the essential.”

A quote from Problem Solving for Oil Painters. “Painters are fortunate in that they can convey large ideas with very modest means. And realistic painting is an especially rewarding endeavor, to actively go after it means to learn what makes art, and what the external world really looks like, and how the two can be fused.”

The reputation of Istanbul's contemporary art scene has been steadily growing in recent years with it recently being called "one of the most innovative in the world" by ArtKnowldedgeNews.com. It has also been named 2010 European Capital of Culture. I found this quote from an American artist who spent time plein air painting in Istanbul:

"In Istanbul, while painting the Blue Mosque, a group of charming high school girls surrounded us, and when the painting was done, prevailed on us to sing them an American song. The only one we could remember was Jamaica Farewell, not quite American, which my wife and I did in harmony. Two of these girls continued corresponding with us for several years. On the Acropolis, I certainly experienced more visitors than any other place I have painted. Most of them were speaking in unfamiliar languages -- but all were obviously of good will".

Here's a link to another American plein air painter. Kenny Harris spent a month painting in Istanbul and you can see the results of his work here.

We will be lodging at the Hotel Niles in the middle of old Istanbul. Here are two photos of the roof garden which overloooks the city.

Some photos of Istanbul

Istanbul is hot. And we’re not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that’s a lot). The international fashion and design press have been talking up I.stanbul ad nauseam, but the most significant thing about the accolade ‘World’s Hippest City’ is that I.stanbullus themselves have come believe it. The creeping sense of decrepitude that had fallen like a pall over their once-all-powerful home town has vanished, replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the days of Süleyman the Magnificent.

The city’s over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it’s at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action. Locals are flocking to see and be seen at an ever-growing array of bars, clubs and restaurants, bringing with them an infectious sense of joie de vivre and a discerning ability to judge these places on their standard of service, drinks, music and food as well as their position in the what’s-hot-and-what’s-not stakes.

That’s not to say that the locals are turning their backs on much-loved city institutions such as the rak?-soaked meyhane (tavern) or tranquil çay bahçesi (tea garden), because they wouldn’t dream of doing anything so foolish. They know, after all, that such institutions are one of the reasons that their home is – and always has been – rightfully dubbed the ‘City of the World’s Desire’.

Here's a nice link to a brief history of Istanbul. At this page you will find links to all kinds of additional information.