04.09.2026 17:21
In Zonguldak, 81-year-old Şahinde Ermiş created 80 works using the oil painting technique she learned from Bob Ross on television, and she will open her second exhibition on September 15-17. She says painting gives her a zest for life.
Şahinde Ermiş, 81, living in the Alancık village of Zonguldak, has added a new color to her life thanks to her passion for painting. Ermiş, a mother of 4 children and a grandmother of 5, struggled to raise her children after losing her husband 39 years ago.
Ermiş, who has been interested in painting since her childhood, began watching American painter Bob Ross's program on television 22 years ago. Inspired by Ross, Ermiş started painting at home with materials she bought from a stationery store.
Having prepared dozens of oil paintings over the years, Ermiş opened her first exhibition in 2006, featuring 44 works. Now, she is preparing to present approximately 80 works to art enthusiasts. Ermiş's second exhibition will be held between September 15-17 at the Zonguldak Fine Arts Gallery.
Ermiş, who paints and solves puzzles in her spare time, particularly enjoys depicting nature, landscapes, and old houses that no longer exist.
Explaining how she started painting, Ermiş stated that while watching Bob Ross, she said, "I will learn from these, I will do it, I will work on it, I will hang it in my house."
"I FORGET THE WORLD WHILE PAINTING"
Ermiş, who says painting is not just a hobby for her, expressed that this pursuit has given her a renewed zest for life.
Ermiş said, "While painting, I forget the world. I think about how this place will be, how I will do it. Now I look at a postcard, but I also want to add something of my own."
The 81-year-old art enthusiast is experiencing the excitement of presenting her works to visitors at her new exhibition.