A shepherd in the village of Doğacı in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, is preparing for her first oil painting exhibition.

“My shepherd heart is pounding like crazy for its love of painting. As I grab my brush and paint on the canvas, I believe this is just a dream. I cannot believe I am painting,” said 32-year-old Ümmi Çetin, a mother of two.

While watching her flock, Çetin brings her canvas and paints the fields, producing still-lifes of flowers, sheep, lambs, chickens, roosters, cats, dogs and peasant women.

Her first exhibition will be opened in June at the Aydın Kanza Art Gallery in Antalya although the artist occasionally exhibits some of her paintings in the field for villagers.

A primary school graduate, Çetin said she was interested in painting during her childhood and freely drew figures on walls or on paper with crayons.

“My dreams came true,” she said, thanking painter Kıymet Türe, who helped encourage her love of painting.

‘I admire her excitement’

Türe lived in the Doğacı Village, where a number of summer villas have appeared in recent years. At one point, Çetin joined a free painting course Türe gave in the village.

“Peasant women do not have spare time. They are busy with vineyards, orchids, animals and household chores. Only Çetin came forward and said, ‘I am here,’ showing her courage. She created time for her work and joined the course even for an hour. I admired her excitement. She succeeded so much in such a short time. I am proud of her,” Türe said.