Questions & Answers about Tablonun renkleri soluk ve sarımtırak görünüyor.
How does the suffix in sarımtırak work, and is it interchangeable with -msı?
The suffix -mtırak (or -ımtırak) adds the meaning of "-ish" or "similar to", just like the -msı suffix you're learning. However, -mtırak is mostly fossilized and used only with a few specific adjectives, especially colors (sarımtırak for yellowish, mavimtırak for bluish) and tastes (ekşimtırak for sourish). You can't attach it to just any noun like you can with -msı (e.g., you can say çocuksu for childish, but not "çocuğumtırak").
Does the word soluk here have anything to do with breathing?
Not in this context! While soluk does mean "breath" (from the verb solumak), here it is an adjective meaning "pale" or "faded." This version of the word is formed from the verb solmak (to fade, wither, or lose color) plus the adjective-forming suffix -k.
Why is the verb görünüyor used here instead of bakıyor for "looks"?
In English, "look" has two meanings: the action of looking with your eyes, and the state of appearing a certain way. Turkish strictly separates these. Bakmak is the active verb for looking at something, while görünmek means "to appear" or "to be seen". Since the painting's colors give the appearance of being pale, we use görünmek.