ultraMARIN Sketch

Our last sketchcrawl was at a dance studio. We was invited to sketch a dancing lesson of a group which belongs to Rio Abierto movement . I love to sketch processes, people in motion - is really exciting mission, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity. But I didn't expected that combination of sketching with dance, and maybe with specific kind of dance - free, connected from inside to outside, would make the experience even stronger, and would take it to another level! I think that it IS possible to transfer energy, emotion, feeling in a fast and expressive sketch. For me those sketches like a memories in the bottle - when I look at them I can again to taste a bit the flavor of the experience. It was a huge fun! And I even joined to the dancers ;) We are going to organize another sketching-dancing meeting, stay tuned!

Levinsky market area is one of my favorite places for sketching and food. In the past one the poorest areas of Tel Aviv, today turning to be more and more trendy. Old shops start to give a place to super-cool boutiques, simple worker-class restaurants - to "authentic" chef-houses, the area gets full of all kind of touristic tours. Residents are contrast mixture as well - coffee shops full of hipsters and tourists, beggars and street sellers passing between them. I know that changes are inevitable, I don't know if I like them that way, though... view on Levinsky street from trendy Tonny&Ester coffee chop coffee drinkers in Tonny&Ester hipster with a red knitted hat

Last night I took a part in a protest march common to Jews and Arabs, for equality and against racism. You can call me naive, but  I believe that most of people just want to live in piece one with another and that we much more in common. And that it is the only way to survive in this crowded place. It was something very optimistic in those people marching together in the heart of Tel Aviv. As usual, people approached me to see what I'm drawing. I got ungrudging comments from both - Jews and Arabs - which is the first proof that I'm right ;)

Coffee shops aren't the most breathtaking places for sketching, but people are everywhere, and people in coffee shops are perfect models - busy by chatting and eating, telling to a sketcher-hunter a lot of stories. two not very young women grandpa and his grandson girls chatting hipster looking like 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 chatti...

So, at our last Sketchcrawl we had: December's gentle sun, unexpected Jazz festival, vintage flea market, coffee shop across the street, great company of sketchers - old friends and newcomers, all injected by the same germ of sketching. Could it be better? Wonderful street musician was playing beautiful songs at the entrance to the flea market. I set down on the ground and started to sketch, feeling like I'm inside the movie with the beautiful soundtrack.  great street musician near the flea market I passed between the stands of the market and stooped near the stand selling Soviet souvenirs. There were pioneer badges, exactly as I had when I was a kid! The seller approached me, I spoke to him in Russian, and he started to show me his goods: "All my badges are original, I also have medals from the WW2, they are great presents for the Novi God (New Year)!" I asked if I can draw him. " No! No!" he answered . "Why? I draw very nice!" - I sh...