ultraMARIN Sketch

This year I started a course of etching - technique I've never tried and always wanted to learn. The first etching I made was drypoint on acetate sheet. I simply wanted to imitate my sketching line with burin like if it was a pencil. I was a bit disappointed by its different, less flexible nature. But totally charmed when my first print have come out - really little miracle! my first etching -drypoint on acetate sheet As far as I continued to learn the technique, I started to understand that there is no reason for etching if all I want is to get my free and expressive sketching line. Actually, etching process is totally opposite to sketching on location. Drawing from direct observation is spontaneous and sometimes coincidental. Etching requires preliminary planning and thinking. Sketching on location should be done fast. Etching includes long process of preparing plate, covering it with ground, scratching off the ground, dipping it in a bath of acid, washing, and so on... The ...

It was very spontaneous sketchcrawl - my youngest daughter and me sketching in Park Ra'anana. Really, there is no need to go far from home for a nice sketching atmosphere!

I live in Ra'anana, small town 20 min norther from Tel Aviv. Every time I come to Tel Aviv, the only really big city in Israel (for my opinion), I feel a bit like tourist. There are different pace, different sound, different people around me. Here are some last sketches from the state of Tel Aviv.

Last Saturday was 4th Sketchcrawl of Israel Urban Sketchers . This time we met in Neve Zedek, beautiful old area of Tel Aviv. The neighborhood, with its narrow streets, beautiful old buildings and strolling people  was too perfect for sketching, so it took me a hour to settle myself and start sketching. corner of Lilenblum and Pines, opposite to old cinema "Eden"   sketching sketches ;-) last 10 minutes bfore our group met near Suzzan Dellal center so fun to sketch together! When 5 months ago I've initiated these Sketchcawls, I had no idea if it'll be any followers, besides some of my friends. I'm so happy to see that every sketchcawl there are new sketchers that joining us, and "veteran" sketchers, that continuing to come again and again.There are new correspondents that joining our group blog , each one have his  own style and own stories. Visit us and see Israel, one drawing at a time!

Yesterday was an opening of an exhibition organized by Israel Association of Illustrators , in which I took a part. The subject of the exhibition is food - very wide subject, so is the variety of styles and interpretations in illustrators works. Here are my works, kind of placemates, decorated by sketches of people eating: Actually, that's what I often do - sketching people eating near me directly on my placemat ;-) The exhibition will be on until 17/03 in Yad Lebanim Ra'anana.

Lucky me, I don't need to go far for subjects of my sketches. I always have my family near me ;-) Of course, I do love to go out for sketching as well. Waiting for this Saturday for our local USk branch Sketchcrawl. If you're in Israel - come to sketch with us! More details here .

I'm very excited - today I've got my copy of "Urban Sketchers in Lisbon" - the book that put together amazing experience 2nd Urban Sketchers Symposium . What a memories! I'm turning pages of the book and feeling again the energies of the symposium - sketching among more than 200 sketchers from all over the world. Finally meeting in person the people behind the sketches! Exploring together the beautiful city of Lisbon, chatting, eating together, switching tools and sketchbooks and, of course, sketching, sketching and sketching... the book and my Lisbon sketchbook, opened on one of the sketches which is featured in the book. The beautiful cover is a sketch of  Largo Camões by Frank Ching and the book is in  Portuguese and  English. It is available on amazon .   Speaking about memories - here you can see more my sketches and some photos from the Symposium: Urban Sketching Symposium Lisbon 2011 In these days we're waiting for an official announcem...