Rothschild corner of Herzel

We set our last sketchcrawl at Rothschild corner of Herzel - the South part of Rothschild Boulevard, one of living arteries of Tel Aviv. I came there few days before to check the spot. Started from a cup of coffee at fancy DaDa&Da - all these small tables facing boulevard and a lot of French speakers at the background (because of closeness of the French Institute) made me feel that I'm sitting at Champs Elysees.

After that I walked down the Herzel street, looking for something less fancy and more authentic. Finally, I found a bench from which I could capture a view to the street with iconic Shalom Tower on the background and all the colorful mess of people, smells, colors and noises in front of me.

 Here are sketches from the different places at Rothschild Boulevard - looking so different depends on point of view.

people waiting for the green light - challenging to capture

elder couple were sitting in front of me and sunken into drinking coffee and chatting without noticing me sketching them

lonely fountain - very calm in contrast with the colorful street

 It was beautiful day, beautiful weather and great company as well!

Urban Sketchers Tel Aviv occupating Afula!

Here are some sketches I did at the festival of 3D pavement paintings in Afula, where Urban Sketchers Tel Aviv was invited to take a part during Sukkot holidays. It was really nice event, full of colorful events, challenging, but fun!

my first "model" - street artist taking different postures and the audience

Hasidic wild dance

street musicians-kleizmerim 

the view on the bulevard with the 3d painting on the pavement

audience watching one of the street artists in action

It was really fun, different and in fresh Northen atmosphere!

Dizengof Center - the sketchers' heaven

It have been a long time I wanted to set meeting for the Sketchcrawl at Dizengof Center - crazy urban Tel-Avivian labyrinth. Our last Sketchcrawl of the end of summer were needed air conditioned place, we met at the second flour and I saw excited and a bit scared gazes of the arriving sketchers - so many things, angles, subjects... what to start from? how to choose the scene, the tools, the time to invest?
Indeed, the place like the Center, with so many irritations, more than any place, deserves time for loitering, understanding the space, its energy, what attracts us here. While waiting for the other sketchers, I tried to think what I want to start from. I wanted very much to start from the space, black and white drawing which will deal with the monster building. But when I saw the "parliament" - the group of old men sitting around the table in MacDonald's, I couldn't resist! Sketching with markers is something I don't do very often, and I felt that this scene fits to markers graphical qualities.

After this warm up, the entrance to the movie theater attracted me. This place had a more quiet and even mystical atmosphere, and the huge poster of the Almodovar's movie "Julieta" added to the feeling. The perfect technique for this scene would be acrylic, but I were needed to satisfy with watercolor which I had. 

After another  round in the Center, we decided with Nathan and Rachel to sketch the view from the window on the junction outside. This time I stayed with graphite and touches of red, that's how felt for me this place, burning in the heat of the end of August.

The last sketch, before the final meeting - again with markers, wonderful characters in the "Sudoku corner".

Time flied so fast, I felt that I just started to warm up. This place is a real sketching heaven, it has everything you can desire, fits every taste and style, exactly as its many shops full of various products for every taste and budget.

This drawing was done after the sketchcraw, while me and Rachel was waiting for someone. It was in totally different atmosphere...

To save the trees at the Jerusalem Boulevard!

Last Friday we met for the our group sketchcrawl at the Jerusalem boulevard in Jaffa. Our sketchcrawl started from the guided tour about the history of this beautiful 100-years old boulevard. We learned about this place, full of layers of history and different cultures influences. The silent witnesses -  tall green trees, giving a great shadow and so unique look to the boulevard - are going to be uprooted soon, because of building there one of the lines of the light train.
By the initiative of Orna Marton, one of our group members, USk Tel Aviv decided to join the struggle for keeping the trees.
Tel Aviv sketchers documented the Jerusalem boulevard, each one from his authentic point of view and small group exhibition, which will be open soon, will help people to rise an awareness about this place and hopefully we will help to save the trees.

warming up at one the coffee shops at the boulevard

huge trunks and small coffee shop at the background

all kinds of people are passing by...

it was hot, but we were brave! ;)

Tel Aviv here and there

Every time I'm in Tel Aviv - I can't not to sketch. I wonder when I stop to feel like tourist there. I hope never ;)

Feeling like a tourist in Jerusalem.

Last Friday I joined newborn Jerusalem USk branch for a sketchcrawl. Every time I visit Jerusalem I feel like a tourist, this city is so different from every place in Israel, it has a plenty of levels, each time it shows me his different side.
The skechcrawl was at very colorful part of Jerusalem - Nachlaot Neighborhood and it was fun to meet new sketchers. Here what I managed to sketch.

I loved colorful lamps decorating pedestrian street and couldn't help not to draw it.

 I did this sketch trying to capture other sketchers sketching :)

Various public filled Zion Square

 There were a group of teenagers dancing and trying to fund-raise money for something.

group of young people smoking Shisha

amazing girl-violinist playing at the Zion Square

people passing by

and listening to the music

religions Jews offering to put Tefillin  

two religious Jews

It was a great sketching-trip - feeling a tourist sharpen my vision and makes me look better.

Friday morning at the Greek Market in Jaffa

Friday morning we meet at the Greek Market in Jaffa for the sketchcrawl. It was perfect spring weather, little by little narrow streets started to become full by merchants and buyers.
Here every merchant feels like an owner of his street. At least Arik, who manages used bicycles shop, feels as a king of his corner. He yells on his workers, bargain with clients, arguing with competitors, chatting with passers by. He was very proud to be our "model". "In real life I'm ugly! Draw me young and beautiful!" - asked Arik the wish of the most of models ;)

Later I sit down to drink a coffee at one of the coffee shops, full of models as well.

Meeting Nefertiti at Tel Aviv

Urban sketcher always attracts people. It's easy to start conversation with someone sitting at the middle of the street and drawing his surrounding. It can be just a few words, someone would drop while passing by, or it can start real conversation and sometimes connection.

Last time I met my friend and fellow sketcher Nathan at the "Congress Bazel" bar, our sketching meetings almost always accompanied by some food ;) After finishing plate with hummus and shawarma we had a perfect mood for sketching customers of this very typical Tel-Avian place.

Suddenly, colorful woman with dreadlocks designed into a tall tower on her head approached our table and started to talk to us. After a while, he and her husband passed to seat with us and we continued chatting as an old friends and sketching them, of course! She told us the she's also an artist (sure!), she's painting on a flour kind of oriental carpets (she showed us pictures). She also communicates with spirits and ghosts (of course!), if we need once. They live in kibbutz and are inviting us to come and to be their guests whenever we want. From the first glance Etti (that's her name) reminded me the Egyptian queen Nefertiti, because of her hair style. "Don't I look like Nefertiti?" - she asked me while I was drawing her. 

Sketching really opens a gateway the people's hearts.

At "Beta and Grega"

Beta and Grega - is the name of the coffee shop at the corner of Alenbi and Levontin streets in Tel Aviv. This area of the south of the city is full of contrasts - beautiful renovated Bauhaus buildings and crumbling walls full of graffiti, trendy coffee shops full of celebs and beggars passing through.
As you can understand - perfect place for sketching and finding stories.

it was Nathan's last day with his new beard ;)

Cowboy in Tel Aviv

Sima - woman that lives at the street, everybody knows her, asked us to draw her