Drawing Tel Aviv

What I Have (Not) Been Painting

2010-12-21T17:14:00.000+02:00

I have been starting and not finishing a lot of painting for the last few weeks.

I think part of it is that I am trying a lot of new things and my ideas get ahead of what I am doing and I want to move on - not continue what I am working on. It started when I got so frustrated with my watercolor that I decided to try and paint in oil. Of course, that means learning a lot of new things, both materials and the way oil works, not to mention doing some amazingly cruddy painting.

Then, Awesome Myrna Wacknov

came to town and I went back to watercolor in order to try out all kinds of new ideas and techniques I watched her demonstrate over the course of a 6 day workshop.

Notes from the workshop...

Now, I have watercolors and oils which are all in some degree of an unfinished state.

Below are some examples. I do plan to finish something from here, but for now -

I am posting only the fruits of my discontent!

a larger, unfinished watercolor version of this sketch

maybe 1/2 finished oil of my son, Seth

New (to me) technique
of drawing directly onto
tracing paper. (Thanks, Myrna!)

Almost finished watercolor of my dad from the drawing above.

Seth (10 years old)

Charlie

watercolor just barely started from the above drawing.

Studies in preparation for the oil painting started below

Plan for a Painting

2010-11-17T17:24:00.000+02:00

Last summer I went to Italy with a friend. When we would pull up to the dock on the vaporetto, the way our reflections bounced back against the shadowy figures of the people waiting to board always caught my eye. I combined a few of the photos I took into a drawing to see if I could capture the contrasts for a painting.

Maybe, maybe not...but the drawing was kind of interesting on it's own.

click on photo if you want to see larger

SiriOm

2010-11-16T17:50:00.000+02:00

SiriOm

watercolor 8"x8"

Water color sketch from drawing last weekend.

click on photo if you want to see larger.

More Drawings from Last Weekend

2010-11-10T18:28:00.000+02:00

Daniel

Banjo Player

SiriOm

SiriOm again

click on any of these if you want to see larger. They are just small sketchbook size in pencil

Music Weekend

2010-11-09T15:02:00.001+02:00

I spent the weekend with good friends and lots of music in Zichron Yaakov, thanks to the local folk group in this area. A great get-a-way and now I am trying to work up some of the sketches into lights and darks for ideas for painting.

Harold

Mindy and Larry

click on any of these if you want to see larger. They are just small sketchbook size in pencil

Tel Aviv Friends? Consider this.

2010-10-28T11:14:00.000+02:00

I live in a lovely, but miniscule apartment in Tel Aviv. I am at my wits end finding a place to paint.

Does anyone know someone in Tel Aviv that might know of someone that knows someone?

Please forward this to them if you do?

I need a small (1/2 room size?) private space to use as a work space during the day time hours 5-6 days a week in Tel Aviv. I paint (watercolor - no fumes or mess). I would need access to a bathroom/water but do not need the use of a kitchen or evening hour access. Does anyone have a space available they would be willing to rent to me for a modest amount of money or in exchange for a private parking spot?

Thanks,

Carol Feldman

http://drawingtelaviv.blogspot.com/

CarolFeldman@gmail.com

052-534-9605

Painting at Susanne's

2010-10-23T21:37:00.001+02:00

In the Kitchen

3.25" x 5.25

Watercolor

click on photo to enlarge

Susanne is off showing her friend around Israel,

so I get to use her place to paint this week. Nice friend, huh?

Tiny watercolor sketch to leave behind.

Cafe Shefer in Tel Aviv

2010-10-23T11:45:00.005+02:00

Cafe Shefer

8" x 9"

Watercolor

click on photo to enlarge

If I stand on the top floor of my apartment and look across the street,

this is the view I often see.

This cozy cafe greets me every time I walk out the door,

but this view is always fun because I can watch, unseen.

I especially enjoy this cafe in the evening

because the tapping of spoons stirring coffee rise up

and sound like delicate wind chimes.

Tel Aviv: 29th World Wide SketchCrawl

2010-10-16T22:46:00.003+02:00

Our corner of the world participated in today's World Wide Sketch Crawl.

Below see photos and drawings from Nachalat Binyamin in Tel Aviv this morning.
Creating a community of friends passionate about drawing around the world.
Click Link to see Tel Aviv on Worldwide SketchCrawl
and other cities and countries

Click drawings and photos to see larger.

Susanne's work below

Leon's work next

Ida's drawings

Miriam's drawing:

and Lola's

Wendy's drawings below...

Renate's drawing

and what happened to Jane's???

Harriet's work

and below are mine.

Except, really, this photo was not taken today...

it was taken by a friend when we were in Venice this summer.

If she had shown up today, I would given her credit for the photo ;-) xo

and some more photos of us enjoying the sea breezes, drawing and making new friends.

Don't Forget! Saturday Oct. 16th

2010-10-14T21:22:00.000+02:00

Nachalat Binyamin

Tel Aviv

29th World Wide SketchCrawl

People from all over the world will be sketching today. I will be at
LovEat on 3 Nachalat Binyamin a little before 9 a.m. this coming Saturday morning for coffee. Come any time, we will be around into the afternoon. We have an assortment of people who will be sketching - with all different levels of experience, so bring a pencil and paper, or whatever and join us.

If you will email me and let me know you are coming, I will send you my cell phone number, in case you want to double check where we are. I think we will be pretty obvious.
There is plenty of parking on the west side on Allenby on the side streets on Saturday.

When we are finished, we will photograph the drawings and you can see them here or on the Worldwide Sketch Crawl site.

Please come!!

Neve Tzedek Ladies

2010-10-11T15:54:00.000+02:00

9"x9"

watercolor

Neve Tzedek is an old neighborhood just south of where I live in Tel Aviv. This is the second attempt to paint these ladies. I'll post the third if it seems any better/different.

Window Box

2010-10-04T17:48:00.000+02:00

Window Box

6"x11"

watercolor

Miriam was off to Italy, so I had a place to paint for a couple of weeks. I left this little watercolor sketch at her house as a thank you. It is of a small window box in which she put some lovely things she has collected. The shape in the back is the outline of some leaves from outdoors you can see through the frosted glass.

It's Time to Meet!

2010-10-04T12:25:00.001+02:00

Saturday the 16th is the

29th World Wide SketchCrawl

We will be meeting in Tel Aviv.

I would like to meet at LovEat on 3 Nachalat Binyamin. I will be at the cafe a little before 9 a.m. next Saturday morning for coffee. It would be fun if we could all meet, there, but really, come any time. As far as I am concerned, I could stay there drawing, up and down the street for as long as anyone wants to stay.

If you will email me and let me know you are coming, I will send you my cell phone number, in case you want to double check where we are. I think we will be pretty obvious.

There is plenty of parking on the west side on Allenby on the side streets on Saturday.

Last time we organized this, we met on Rothchild Bld. in Tel Aviv. While Rothchild is usually fun and sometimes lovely, it is always very crowded on Saturday.

Nachalat Binjamin has a little something for everyone, I think.

People, bicycles, dogs, cats, restored buildings, decrepit buildings, coffee shops and restaurants

and lots of benches and best of all: no traffic.

The people who come to this range in skill from 0-100. Just bring what you want in terms of drawing - sketch book, journal, paper, pencils, markers, crayons, ?

I will photo what everyone draws and put it both on this blog site and also on the

Worldwide SketchCrawl site, as well under Israel.

For those who cannot make the trip to Tel Aviv, scan or photo sketches you did on this day (and where you were in Israel) and email them to me. I will also include your sketches.

See you Saturday!

From past sketch times on Nachalat Binyamin...

Sketch Crawl Oct. 16th

2010-08-15T22:23:00.000+03:00

Tel Aviv, Israel

by carol feldman » Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:14 pm

I am coordinating the

Tel Aviv Sketch Crawl

Oct. 16th 2010.

29th World Wide SketchCrawl

Please let me know if you can join us.

Time and place to be announced soon.

Carol

CarolFeldman@gmail.com

http://drawingtelaviv.blogspot.com/2009/01/

21st-world-wide-sketchcrawl-results.html

Miriam's Table

2010-02-02T17:04:00.003+02:00

and I stayed in Miriam's cozy spot hidden within Shuk Bezelel (or as I always knew it...the shmatah shuk) while she traveled.

Hermit Crab

2010-01-31T13:39:00.005+02:00

I was (and am still) touched by all the words of encouragement sent via comments and also to my personal email when I quit painting (and therefore also blogging). I always thought I would take the time to answer each one personally, but I never did. But, allow me to tell you here, all the notes meant more to me than you could ever possibly know.

And now, more than a year later, I post one tiny watercolor sketch I did for a friend and again you come out of the woodwork to tell me you are glad to see me back. I don't even know how to show my appreciation. Thank you again.

A close friend of mine has dubbed me a Hermit Crab. I love to stay in other people's homes when they are away traveling. Not that I don't have a home of my own - I do. A very pleasant one. But there is something about just slipping into someone else's life for a short time that really appeals to me. And then there is the solitude...

Above is a watercolor sketch I did in Ronni's home while staying there recently.

Happy Birthday Miriam

2010-01-21T22:20:00.000+02:00

Thank you

2009-06-18T14:17:00.001+03:00

Thank you for checking in here. There is nothing new for a while because I am too sad to paint.

I hope I will come back soon. Love, Carol

Watercolor crayons

2009-04-29T23:28:00.003+03:00

20 x 30 cm Watercolor Crayons and Watercolor on Arches 140 WCP

I am back in the saddle again and decided to jump in at the last minute to try the latest challenge from Karin Jurick - drawing from a photo of a statue.

I used 3 Caran dAche watercolor crayons to make the drawing: Royal Blue, Bordeaux Red and Golden Ochre. Then I used a brush full of water and blended these colors to define my shadow areas. While it was still wet I dropped in some regular watercolor (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue and permanent rose) to finish it off. My friend Hillary Miller sent the crayons to me as a surprise after I admired some drawings she had done with them.

These crayons are such a joy to work with! I can't wait to take them with me to my life study group next week!

This evening begins Yom HaZikaron

2009-04-27T20:15:00.002+03:00

Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day, Hebrew: יום הזכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ולנפגעי פעולות האיבה‎, lit.Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day) is an Israeli national holiday.

This is where my daughter and I were when the sirens began at 8:00 this evening, just a few steps from our flat in Tel Aviv. This is her first Yom HaZikaron as a soldier.

Charles Reid Workshop Spring 2009

2009-03-31T22:02:00.001+03:00

Originally, I had all my workshop photos here in 6 different posts. I decided to put all of the postings together into a single post and put a link here so I wouldn't have to see them among all my regular postings. Below are some things I did in that workshop, but if you want to see what Reid and my fellow workshop participants did, please go here:

Charles Reid Workshop Spring 2009

Sad to say, this is my first attempt, post Reid exposure. I wouldn't have posted it, but was afraid if I didn't you would imagine it to be even worse! (He really liked the shoes, though. :-)
My afternoon effort with a different model.
Opening comments.
I was sitting right behind Reid while he was drawing this day.
This day I moved to where I could watch his face while he painted.
This is another painter intently watching. He is an archaeologist who had worked in a dig near Haifa (Carmel) in the early 70's and lived on a Kibbutz while he was there. He was also very generous, printing some old black and white photos for me for our "historical photo day".
Another painter, mesmerized.
I got to paint Nicholai this day. Reid was very complimentary of my work, and he pointed out the shadow side of the face, the hands and the left side of the shirt and arms as good examples of using what he had taught. (In case you are wondering.) It feels funny to say this, but it made me feel good at the time and I was really enjoying using the different focus and way of seeing that he taught.
My initial drawing from b&w photo. (my parents in Chicago in 1947)
Above is my study in preparation for the larger painting from my photo.
Above, on the left here, is all I got done the last day of the workshop. I have since worked on it some more.

Jetlag or Culture Shock?

2009-03-22T23:49:00.008+02:00

watercolor pencil and water in sketchbook 14.5 x22

Gorgeous day today. Looks like spring in Columbia, South Carolina.

I walked around the area near my hotel but it was pretty dead because it is the weekend and this is a downtown (no residents) area. Lots of bars and restaurants, which I assume will liven up as the evening wears on, but I will be long asleep by then. , but where are the cafes?

There was a little Starbucks across the street, but it was full of old ladies with nametags. (Well, Imay be an old lady, but I am not wearing a name tag in public!)

There is no one on the streets walking. There are hardly any crosswalks...like only every 3 or 4 blocks, and then you have to push a button to get permission to walk and the light immediately starts counting down from 20 seconds and that's all the time you have. I missed it the first time because I thought it was counting down to when I could walk. Then I had to wait another 5 minutes for another 20 second light!

The buildings are beautiful and I spent a long time on the grounds of the capital. I should have painted the scene above, the colors were incredible. That little tree in the front is bright pink. So many different kinds of trees and they are all so tall! And lots of squirrels. I had forgotten about squirrels. Very busy little animals.

The workshop begins tomorrow. I'm ready.

To the Land of the Round Doorknobs

2009-03-21T23:34:00.000+02:00

HB Pencil in sketchbook 14.5x21 cm

Long day of flying and waiting, but no real problems. There is no way around being tired of 24 hours of airplanes and airports. No tripod, scanner or proper lighting, but you get the idea.

Sushi with Vuillard postcards

2009-03-14T22:56:00.013+02:00

Transparent watercolor on Fabriano 17 x 23 cm

I think this is the first time I have ever set up a still life to paint. It wasn't so bad. I needed to get that sushi in there somewhere for Karin Jurick.

I have been very preoccupied, excited, having fun getting ready for my trip to the U.S. As I have probably mentioned like 500 times, I am going to participate in a workshop in South Carolina with Charles Reid the end of this month.

The following can be filled under"probably more than you wanted to know".

I have gone through all my watercolors and chosen the 20 colors I am going to take with me (closest to the colors he recommends).

I made new value charts, mixing charts and even glazing charts with all 20. (This is just one of the mixing charts. I think there are 6 altogether.)

(I say "even glazing" because C Reid doesn't use that technique, but I thought, why not, as long as I am being obsessive.)

I have reread all 5 books I have by him. I cleaned and sorted all my brushes.

I have a new easel, a new, smaller folding palette and I have been trying to work exclusively on it so I will be used to it, and the angle I will need to use to paint. (I usually paint either flat on my little desk - to the right on the photo- or on my lap outside.)

and here is a close up of my palette after I finished the little painting above. See? No muddy puddle colors.

And not only am I excited about going to this workshop, but it has also been one and a half years since I have been to the U.S. or seen my parents, brother or my favorite cousin, Dorothy. I will be gone for an entire month and am going to join another workshop near Tulsa with my old painting buddies from around there with Pat Weaver. I am feeling like one lucky woman!

Watercolor Women

2009-03-05T01:34:00.003+02:00

Transparent watercolor 33 x 42 cm

This is in response to Karin Jurick's DSDF challenge.

Friends, I promise, I will not tell people who these women are supposed to be. I kind of got in over my head (no pun intended) with this one.

Women in my life

2009-03-03T17:34:00.003+02:00

#2 & #4 B pencils in sketchbook 21.5x 28 cm

This little project started because I was trying to do a Karin Jurick project and wanted to put some different sorts of faces on the manikin heads.

As I was looking through my photos I started thinking about the women that make up my life these days. What started out as a few quick sketches became a drawing project that took up all the time I had allotted to finishing the initial project, so I most likely won't get that done this time.

This was really good practice with a lot of different sorts of faces and it made me feel good to think about each woman as I was sketching her.

More Figure Studies

2009-02-25T20:52:00.002+02:00

#4B pencil on drawing paper 36x48 cm

This drawing represents four 15 minute poses of the same model.

The last time I posted some figures drawings, I had just found a figure drawing group and was very excited. Now, I am even happier because my post of the drawings led someone from Tel Aviv to let me know there is a figure drawing group only a short bus ride or quick bike ride from my home in Tel Aviv! The other class was a 40 minute drive in heavy rush hour traffic.

And, this Tel Aviv group meets 3 times a week, so I have my choice of morning, afternoon or evening sessions.

lake

2009-02-24T20:36:00.001+02:00

Transparent Watercolor on Yupo 12 x 20 cm

from Virtual Sketch

funny drawing, huh?

2009-02-19T21:42:00.003+02:00

black ink in sketchbook

I know it looks like a doodle, but really it is a drawing from a pond. I also tried a watercolor that was so bad I wouldn't dream of putting it here! The part of this that you cannot see is the wonderful sounds and smells and lushness of this little pond, so seemingly out of place in my world.

On the other side of the globe is a marvelously talented and tireless artist who sent me to this pond on my side of the globe. The pond belongs to her sister, who is also an artist, who also lives in Israel and also loves watercolor. This sister invited me into her wonderful garden to paint and draw with her today. Beautiful and fun. Can't beat that combination! Thank you Myrna!

Today

2009-02-17T18:29:00.011+02:00

Transparent Watercolor on Yupo paper 13 x 18 cm

It's not as though I haven't been painting. It is just that everything has been ending up in the trash. I have become increasingly frustrated with my lack of understanding of the characteristics of watercolor and seem to be incapable of discerning values. Over the last 2 weeks I have reread all my watercolor books, color theory and drawing books. I made color charts, value scales and tested all my watercolors for transparency and staining characteristics. I took on as a student a very nice person who wants to learn watercolor.

(Teaching is the best teacher?)

I signed up for 2 watercolor workshops in the U.S. and made plane reservations. (Any one else going to the Charles Reid workshop in South Carolina or the Pat Weaver in Oklahoma?)

Today I really wanted to paint something besides little pie-shaped swatches of watercolor, so I pulled out the Yupo again :-) and did this quick painting (?) of the same girl I did a drawing of a few weeks ago. Yupo is so fun. And, magically, in the mail, I received a wonderful package from a wonderful artist full of info about how to use Yupo!

Thank you Hillary!!

I know what I will be doing tonight!

Also, something else I have been preoccupied with... my baby daughter began her mandatory service as a soldier in the IDF a little over a week ago.

This is an extraordinary challenge for her,beyond the usual reasons, as she only began learning Hebrew about 5 years ago. But, she has gone in with a good attitude and is really moved by feeling a part of something larger than herself.

Look at how wonderful she is.

Figure on Yupo

2009-02-05T18:09:00.005+02:00

Transparent watercolor on Yupo 28x35cm

This is the watercolor on Yupo Paper (?) I mentioned in the last post. I think it is interesting. I don't know as I would do it again with a 20 minute pose because the paint just cant dry that quickly on this paper in order to allow much more than floaty kind of colors, but it was a nice change and no one in the group had ever seen Yupo before, so that made it fun, too.

Another Figure Study Night

2009-02-04T23:55:00.001+02:00

I drew this tonight in my figure drawing group. I also did one on Yupo I want to post, but I will have to wait until daylight so I can photograph it because it is too big to scan.

Playing on Yupo

2009-02-03T15:57:00.001+02:00

Transparent watercolor on Yupo paper 13x18 cm

Another attempt at watercolor on Yupo feels more like play than painting. It is very fun, but hard for me to take very seriously. Very similar to fingerpainting from kindergarden, but you don't have to get your fingers dirty. You just keep sliding the colors around with your brush until you are satisfied - or give up.

One more creative way to attempt to make challenges feel relevant.

Old Water Tower on Rehov Mazeh

2009-02-02T23:30:00.001+02:00

Just to let you know I am keeping busy. Also my contribution to day 2 of Thing-a-Day 2009.

Old water tower on Rehov Mazeh in Tel Aviv built pre-state by Arpad Gut. (Also built the synagogue on Allenby Street.)

Figure Studies

2009-02-01T21:19:00.005+02:00

I am so happy!

Not only did I finally find a regular figure study group,

I found a new friend to come along with me!

Drawing of a girl

2009-01-27T12:05:00.007+02:00

Pencil Drawing 12.5 x 18 cm

Happy Birthday Z

Oranges

2009-01-24T21:57:00.009+02:00

Transparent Watercolor 18x18 cm

A grey day seemed a good day to paint oranges.

I worked too hard on this one and decided to try a new paper (Yupo) and see if I could get a little more expressive. (see below). Now if I could just get somewhere in the middle!

Transparent watercolor on Yupo 20x24 cm

Painting on yupo is kind of like painting on glass. The paint just slides around and doesn't sink in. Any of my painter friends know of a good source explaining how to paint on this stuff??

I painted these oranges along with other painters on the Virtual Sketch Site.

Visit there to see more.

I feel so rejected!

2009-01-22T18:37:00.006+02:00

Probably because I was. :-(

What do you think? (Anyone who happens to find this by accident!)

Reference Photo

My Painting

I have been participating in Karin Jurick's fun challenge site since the 1st of September, 2008.

It has been the single most influential source of my beginning to paint on a regular basis again.

It got me started and I have looked forward to every week,

each new challenge, all 15 of them so far.

But, this time my painting was rejected and so I was despondent all day.

It did not look enough like the photo.

(Actually, it was more like..."it didn't resemble the reference photo in any way.") That's Karin...straight to the point. And, that's what I have really appreciated about her all along.

And today, I went back and read her words she posted on the blog this week...especially "#3. work every day at it regardless of the applause because that's what ultimately improves your work."

Anyway, I have to agree with Karin, that she has to make this decision every time and there are people out there that would interpret that exception such a deviation from the photo as an invitation to go much further afield...

Look for me out in front on the next challenge, though!!

Boring stuff- for painters, only:

Granted, the building itself in the photo didn't do much for me. However, the way it was lighted from the interior with the light spilling a little did, very much. I also liked the dark trees against the purplish sky wrapping around to frame the sky and memorial. That was what I was going for.

I was trying to think of a building around here with columns that I could relate to more easily, and the only thing I came up with was the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (mosque) - which I cannot go to. Then I remembered that silly kiosk from the sketching the week before and tried to use that from the same angle and placement as the Memorial. I thought I had gotten the lighting and the composition down (and added people because that is what I do. Paint random people.)

EspressoBarKiosk

2009-01-21T18:15:00.005+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor 20x25 cm (approx 8"x10")

Inspiration from Karin Jurik

and the sketching we did from the Sketchcrawl a couple of weeks ago on Rothschild.

Karin posted a photo of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC lit from the interior at night. Never having seen it, I still thought it was a beautiful idea for a painting, so turned to our coffee kiosk with the pillars and put it into the same composition as Karin's night scene.

21st World Wide SketchCrawl Results

2009-01-11T21:40:00.001+02:00

looking down Rothchild Boulevard in Tel Aviv

Israel's full day cross-country SketchCrawl plans were scaled back because of the worry in the country, but I managed to find a couple of friends willing to go out with me for a couple of hours and participate in the 21st World Wide Sketchcrawl. We were all 1st time participants, and considering they had no idea what they were getting into, my friends were very good-natured and downright enthusiastic about settling down and drawing. My friend, fellow artist, and veteran SketchCrawler, Marcello, stayed close to home and family in the Galilee, but managed to complete some lovely drawing and paintings all on his own. We were with you in spirit, Marcello! Click to see Marcello's sketch results here.

To see sketch results from all over the world, go here. Maybe you will find a group to join!

We perched on the beautiful boulevard Rothchild and here are 3 different drawings of a building directly across from us:

Savta Dotty's drawing

Miriam's drawing

My drawing

Here are more sketches:

umbrellas in front of a cafe by Lola

a coffee kiosk by Lola

a sketch of me sketching by Miriam

a sketch of Lola, Miriam & Savta Dotty sketching, by me

random people by me

And photographic proof we were there!

Lola, Miriam & Savta Dotty

21st World Wide SketchCrawl

2009-01-09T22:55:00.008+02:00

It is tempting to let this one go by because it is a very sad, difficult time here in Israel. However, we are going to go ahead with an abreviated, short sketch and hope that by next time it will be a better time for all of us here is this part of the world. We are meeting to participate in the 21st Sketch Crawl in Tel Aviv at 2:00, Saturday, January 10 on Rothchild. You are welcome to come and join us.

So far there are about 4 or 5 of us planning to be there. All of us are first timers with the sketchcrawl. I will scan and post any and all drawings.

Here is the web address for more information: http://www.sketchcrawl.com/

Info from the website:

World Wide SketchCrawl 21

Portrait of artist John E. Vander Stelt

2009-01-05T14:48:00.007+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor 20x25.5 cm (8"x10")

This is a painting of John (website, blog), who is an artist living and working in Iowa. We have never met, but traded photos of each other via Karin Jurick's blog. Everyone who asked to participate received an anonymous photo to paint in any way and interpretation we wanted. You can go there and see how everyone painted everyone else.

(boring...the following is for other painters to read, only!!)

The first watercolor portrait I ever attempted was of my daughter at about 10 years old. (Actually, it was about the 3rd watercolor I had ever attempted.) Anyway, it was enough to scare me away from portraits for a long time. However, I didn't want to get left out of the fun over at Karin's, so I sent my photo in and received a photo of John to paint.

Then I chickened out. After about a week I forced myself to sit down and at least draw him. (Sorry to disappoint anyone who guessed the drawing was of a stoic Israeli!)

Then I sat around for another week or so and painted 2 little paintings of him and finally a larger one, each time getting a little more confident. Having just a couple of more days left until the deadline, I finally locked myself in my room and painted this one last night using one of my last sheets of my favorite wc paper, Arches 140 cp. (If anyone wants to volunteer to shlep over a roll of this paper for me in Israel when you come on a visit, I would be very grateful and indebted!) Anyway, it turned out to be fun and I am glad I did it.

Drawing of a guy

2008-12-25T22:00:00.004+02:00

(click to big)

6B Pencil 20x25.5 cm (8"x10")

Khayalot on the Way Home

2008-12-11T14:01:00.025+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor 20x26 cm

This is how I saw 2 soldiers on the train on their way home for the weekend. I love the affectionate way of people here - the natural coziness, being comfortable with being close - both physically and personally. It is especially endearing between soldiers, classmates and the elderly.

This watercolor was painted from the sketch which I made into a value study last week and was inspired by Karin's challenge entitled Work Boots.

Usually, I don't like to talk about the process of painting, but I have to say -

I learned so much while painting this, that it felt as though I had taken a class when I was finished. While it may be overworked and the colors may not be what I had envisioned, this painting will change the way I approach my next work.

Khayalot Drawing

2008-12-07T22:17:00.004+02:00

(click to big)

#2 Pencil 20x26 cm (value study for a painting)

Soldiers on the way home for the weekend.

Tel Aviv Cafe Drawing

2008-12-04T20:02:00.003+02:00

(click to big)

#2 Pencil 21.5x27 cm

I have been so enamoured with Urban Sketchers that I decided I wanted to start sketching more city things so one day I, too, will be one of the urban sketchers on this great site. So, I coaxed my trusty friend who lives quite near to meet me in a local cafe to start the series. However, it was so much fun to watch her draw, that I sort of lost sight of my original goal. (OK, I know it is not terribly flattering of her - but hey - it's art!)

Maybe some of the locals can figure out which cafe this is!

And 5 extra points for identifying my friend (a well-loved blogger in town).

Flowers on Rehov Balfour

2008-12-03T15:24:00.008+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor 14x20 cm

Roses are in season right now, 10 sheckels (about $2.50) for 10, so even though they barely last a week, I buy 30 at a time and enjoy the mass of warm color that picks up the color of the building across the street on Rehov Balfour so nicely. Part of living near shuk haCarmel is the wealth of fresh flowers in addition to fresh vegetables all the time. I love my life here.

Thanks to Karin Jurick for the inspiration. She posted a photo of some things she sees and loves every morning: a buddha and hydrangeas flowers. I didn't really relate to her loved things, but I certainly related to loving to see them in the morning and just traded my "view" for her's.

Thanks, Karin!

Hardest Part

2008-11-24T21:11:00.003+02:00

(click on photo)

Transparent Watercolor 20x24 cm

This is a watercolor I started the first part of October, then got busy and forgot about it. It is from some sketches I did on Bograshav Street during Yom Kippur. All I had done was sketch it on the paper and started a couple of too-tentative washes. (Which is probably why I gave up on it so quickly.) However, it saved me from having to begin something new, which is the hardest part of painting for me.

Pasta Mia

2008-11-20T22:08:00.009+02:00

(click to big)

You should have seen the looks I got when I walked into my favorite pasta place aound noon today and asked if they would mind if I took a couple of quick photos of their (fresh daily) pasta. I think they would have been happier if I had said I wanted to steal some. Especially when I told them, actually, I wanted to paint it. Uh...yeah.

Wonderful pastas and sauces if you are in the area of

Ibn Gvirol and Lincoln

(pronounced the local way "Leen'-ko-lyn").

Pasta Mia - 10 Wilson - Tel Aviv

Walker

2008-11-16T21:40:00.007+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor 15 x 18 cm

My weekly watercolor challenge from the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog. Thanks Karin!

And yes, I painted it upside down* (except for the sunglasses) and no, I wasn't particularly happy with it, but I have promised myself I would post everything I am doing because I learn from it all and it is good to have my progress here to look at.

*sometimes, because of the nature of watercolor, I had to turn on its side or right side up so the watercolor would flow the right way.

draw a remote

2008-11-15T22:28:00.008+02:00

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So, I made a drawing of our "Hot" cable remote. Needless to say, we pay extra for the special features shown.

draw a rope

2008-11-14T22:06:00.003+02:00

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transparent watercolor 10x14 cm

The task was to draw a rope. This elegant egret was hanging out on a rope near the shore just north of Netanya.

On the Corner

2008-11-11T22:30:00.002+02:00

(click to big)

transparent watercolor 20x28 cm (approx. 8"x11")

I moved the corner to Tel Aviv and took everyone's coat off.

Thanks to Karin Jurick for her inspiration this week!

Waiting (Room)

2008-11-08T22:15:00.011+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor

Watercolor sketches from the waiting room at Assuta Hospital in Petach Tikva on the afternoon my daughter had her tonsils out. We sat in there 6 hours before her turn came for surgery...about 9 p.m. Long day for everyone.

The surgeon was really gentle and nice to her both before and after. We felt lucky our family doctor found him for her. It has been 11 days already and she is just now starting to be able to speak a little. How long before she can sing again??

What Dr. Rosenzweig (sort of) looks like.

Saturday morning coffee in Tel Aviv

2008-11-08T15:03:00.006+02:00

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Transparent watercolor 17.5x24cm

Looking across Sheinken at coffee shop Sus Etz (Wooden Horse)

Big Day in the USA

2008-11-04T21:23:00.003+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor 14 x 22 cm (approx. 5.5” x 8.5”)

Different Strokes from Different Strokes challenge
Karin Jurick

http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-9-challenge-us-capitol-washington.html

Draw a fork

2008-11-03T17:35:00.003+02:00

Random sketches Interlude

2008-11-02T20:27:00.004+02:00

(click to big)

Tonsil Saga part 2 (AEDM#1*)

2008-11-01T16:31:00.010+02:00

While we were waiting for my daughter's new surgeon to see her, I sketched this father and daughter who were also waiting. The man (Thomas) was from Peru and has lived here many years. They went in to see the doctor before us, so we didn't see them when we left.
.
About an hour later, across Tel Aviv on Allenby and Balfour, we got off the bus and there they were. Thomas asked to see the sketch, I showed it to him, then ran upstairs and made a scan of it for him.

*AEDM stands for Art Every Day Month, an online project byartist Leah Piken Kolidas, in it's 6th year.She invites artists to be more creative during the month of November and also links to their efforts. Click on the side-bar button on the right to see her blog and other AEDM artists.

Tonsil saga part 1

2008-10-29T17:11:00.000+02:00

IV antibiotics at the after-hours emergency clinic on Yigal Alon.

Actually, this tonsil story started not quite a year ago when my daughter was 18. Never having had strep throat before, she began getting strep every few weeks. (Large, white blisters in the throat, fever, pain with the potential to cause kidney damage and/or rheumatic fever). Not to mention she is a classical singer involved in performances.

After 4-5 of these infections we began to explore a more permanent solution than dietary changes, vitamins and antibiotics. A couple of surgery dates were scheduled, but were canceled for various reasons by the doctor. The day after she finished the antibiotics for her 7th strep infection, she woke up with the beginnings of another infection. As it was a holiday, we took her to the emergency health care clinic, they remembered her from a couple of other strep related visits, cultured her, inserted a port into her vein and started IV antibiotics. She returned for another dose and we left with determination to get those tonsils out.

These sketches were done while waiting for the antibiotics to finsh going in.

Cow

2008-10-29T11:46:00.003+02:00

(click to big)

transparent watercolor 12x14 cm (5.5"x4.75")

Different Strokes from Different Strokes challenge

Karin Jurick

See the whole herd:

http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-8-challenge-alabama-cow.html

Hummus

2008-10-26T22:52:00.012+02:00

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Transparent Watercolor 10x15 cm ( approx 4"x6")

What I had for lunch yesterday at one of my regular hummus hangouts, Kaful, near where I live in Tel Aviv.

There really is a reason I painted this.

I joined a group called Every Day Matters. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/everydaymatters/)

The assignment this week was to draw a baked potato with the toppings. Except, I haven't seen a baked potato in about 5 years, much less with things like...bacon bits and sour cream. This is the closest thing I could think of , and I really didn't want to be left out!

This hummus had ful (beans), kuzburro (cilantro), tachina ( umm, sesame something?), skug (hot chili paste), olive oil and a few falafel balls with a slice of onion and some hot peppers. There was also pita and a Goldstar, but I didn't want to stretch my luck.

Onat Meduzot*

2008-10-22T23:21:00.005+02:00

(click to big)
Transparent Watercolor 10x10 cm (4"x4")

July is called Onat Meduzot* because our beaches are invaded for the month by thousands of the things. They are creepy and beautiful at the same time.

This little painting was done in response to the challenge for this week of the

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/everydaymatters/

#193...Draw a small part of an every day object.

*jellyfish season

Serious Business

2008-10-21T17:16:00.004+02:00

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Transparent Watercolor 15x22 cm (6"x8.5")

Another assignment from Karin Jurick's website:

Week 6-7 Challenge - New York Stock Exchange

Tiul to Bet Keshet area

2008-10-17T15:29:00.003+02:00

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transparent watercolor 12.5x17cm

(click to big)

transparent watercolor 12.5x17 cm

Nice Sukkot hike up the the Bet Keshet area yesterday. I used my new little solid 1/2 pans to catch some scenery during our rest break.

Boats on the Yarkon

2008-10-15T15:34:00.009+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor 12x16 cm (approx 4.5"x6.5")

This is from the Every Day Matters group.

(Yes, I am more than a week behind already!)

The assignment was to draw "something that floats".

A watercolor sketch of the boats for rent on the Yarkon River, in the old north of Tel Aviv.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/everydaymatters/

More YK drawing

2008-10-11T14:54:00.001+02:00

I am working on a larger (20x24cm)watercolor from this sketch (12x16cm) I did over Yom Kippur in front of the Sinai Synagogue on Bograshav.

A generous friend shlepped little 1/2 pans of solid watercolor for me from the U.S. last week and I can take them with me when I go out.

Bograshav on Yom Kippur

2008-10-10T12:54:00.001+02:00

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I did a bunch of sketching over Yom Kippur of all the people in the streets, walking, biking, skating, skateboarding...some even just sitting, for the fun of there being no cars on the sreets for 25 hours. I hope some of them will magically turn into paintings.

Big Plans

2008-10-08T22:25:00.005+02:00

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I hated my submission to Karin's challenge this week. I wanted to snatch it back as soon as I saw it posted on her site. I just had no investment in the subject and couldn't get interested. I have learned my lesson and will aim at the trash can rather than the scanner next time I feel this way.

There were some tiny sections I kind of enjoyed doing, so this is what you see above.

If you want to see the others, look here: This week's Karin Jurick challenge over at http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

Now go look at this!!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EsB-sSXrsYw/SOzlznKCJ0I/AAAAAAAABF4/C_SWBSbNL6o/s1600-h/mudmk-diego-sierro.jpg

wow

from: Diego Sierro http://artsierro.blogspot.com/

Shkalim

2008-10-06T14:53:00.019+02:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor on arches cp140

17.5x13cm (approx. 5"x7")

This is a painting from the Web Group I just joined "Every Day Matters". I have only just joined and am not sure of how things work on this group, so this is a trial run, of sorts. A new subject is posted every week. I am jumping in in the middle with last week's assignment #191: Draw some paper money. Maybe I will work backwards, too, but I want to work on what everyone else is working on so I can see how other people handle the subject and maybe learn something along the way.

For more info, see Karen Winters' blog: http://www.karensblog.com/

EDM's: http://karenwinters.com/kblog/edm-challenge-list/

The Israeli New Sheqel (שקל חדש, sheqel ḥadash, abbr. NIS; symbol: ₪; also spelled unofficially shekel; pl. sheqalim or unofficially shkalim - שקלים is the currency of Israel.

When I came to Israel in 2003, I could get 5 sheqel for every American dollar I had. As of today I can only get about 3.50 for each dollar, (which is very bad for people whose savings are in dollars.)

.
The first known usage of the sheqel is from Mesopotamia around 3000 BC.

Here is a photo of an old one:

Undated issue (year 3 - 134/5 CE). Bar Kokhba's Tetradrakhm/Shekel/Sela. Obverse: the Temple facade with the rising star. Reverse: A lulav, the text reads: "Year one of the redemption of Israel"

Jazz @ Shabul

2008-10-01T19:19:00.007+03:00

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I managed a few sketches while enjoying music with friends the other night at Shablul Jazz Club in the Nemal. (Hangar 13-Tel Aviv Harbor). http://www.shabluljazz.com/

Small place with an intimate atmosphere and very nice music. This was Mel Rosenberg's group, celebrating the release of their new CD, "The Essential Mel" . http://www.melrosenberg.com/

(click to big)

stupid pumpkins

2008-10-01T18:38:00.002+03:00

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2 things I didn't know about myself until this week...I hate painting pumpkins and painting on hot press wc paper.

After 3 tries at those silly pumpkins on some hot press wc paper, I finally switched to my regular arches cold press just to soothe my tortured soul. Now I am not sure if it was the paper or the pumpkins, but the paper switch didn't help all that much. And why am I trying to paint a white pumpkin? I don't know.

Go look at some good ones at Karin's...

http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/2008/09/photo-of-week-miniature-white-pumpkins.html

Frustrating painting day

2008-09-30T00:39:00.004+03:00

I started 2 different pumpkin paintings for Karin's Different Strokes - each one worse than the other. I guess part of the problem is I tried some hot press paper for the first time and the paint just slides on so beautifully, but then I want to keep, you know, adjusting it, and the paper just says no, leave me alone.

I would rather draw from a model. It is fun and soothing and I don't think about anything else while I am doing it.

Shana Tovah

Waiting for Dr. Brondvine

2008-09-27T21:29:00.007+03:00

(click to big)

from sketchbook 9x12.5 cm

Since I have been spending so much time waiting for doctors with my 18 year old daughter this week, it seems appropriate to put up a sketch of one of these waits.

She was supposed to begin her mandatory army service last week, but ended up with her 6th case of strep throat in less than a year. Now she has to get her tonsils out before she can go into bootcamp. It is complicated, also by the fact that she is a classical singer and is really not happy about having her throat cut.

** I love the healthcare system here -

Doctors are very accessible, most having appointments

at least once a week in the evening. The lack of

informality startled me at first. If there is a receptionist at all,

she is just there to keep people from going before their turn.

You are expected to figure out who is next in line, and

wait your turn to go in. When one patient leaves the

doctor's office, the next patient just goes on in and

sits down across from the doctor (who is usually in shirt

sleeves, maybe jeans and crocks) at his/her desk. The

doctor types everything into the computer as you talk (no
paper files) and if he/she needs to "have a look" you just

hop up on the exam table, conveniently located next to the

desk. (Yes, I am talking about gynecologists, too!)

Here is a painting I have been looking at all this weekend. I really like it:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NLTuW9s8BOQ/SNzwiwbKe7I/AAAAAAAAAzY/wxwUm7z5Zyw/s1600-h/sunsetluberons.jpg

It is from Susan Abbott's blog: http://susanabbott.blogspot.com/

How do you learn to put paint down and then not touch it? I can never stop myself. I think this is so beautiful and feels like a direct line into what she was thinking as she painted it.

Sigh.

Maariv

2008-09-23T22:18:00.009+03:00

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor

22x22cm (approx 8.5"x8.5")

I did manage to find time to paint, after all. I used 3 colors (Colbalt Blue, Permanent Rose and Aureolin Yellow).

I would rather paint people than any other subject and this scene is just absolutely a daily sight here. However, I rarely see an outdoor horizontal surface without a cat or three hanging around. When I first moved here, I was shocked by all the cats. Now I hardly see them.

Thanks again for the challenge, Karin!

Different Strokes from Different Folks

drawing

2008-09-20T22:07:00.006+03:00

This is a sketch I made for another small painting I want to work on for Karin Jurick's weekly challenge.

I love this painting;
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EsB-sSXrsYw/SNDwVpPKDiI/AAAAAAAABBo/ERpo-ufbD_E/s1600-h/via1-diego-sierro.jpg
I found it on Diego Sierro's blog.
http://artsierro.blogspot.com/

This is how confident I want to be. Every color perfect the minute the brush hits the paper.
No belaboring the details. Delicate and strong at the same moment. I made this my background on my computer so it would remind me each time I see it.

Posted

2008-09-16T19:30:00.008+03:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor

15 x20.5 cm
(approx. 6"x8")

Another entry in Karin Jurick's challenge of the week.

http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

I am so happy I found this generous woman and her ingenious ideas! It has gotten me back to thinking about working again. I wish I could find someone here to paint with. It seems as though everyone works in acrylics or oils. Actually, what I really wish for is that I could find a watercolor workshop . There are so many basic things I don't know.

Anyone have a good suggestion for a watercolor workshop? Am willing to travel. :-)

more fun

2008-09-14T15:12:00.002+03:00

fun

2008-09-12T14:57:00.003+03:00

Goodbye Jack

2008-09-09T14:00:00.011+03:00

Transparent Watercolor
22x17.75 cm
(9"x7")

I started this blog as a way to motivate me to start drawing and painting again after many years of not. It hasn't worked so well.

However, a couple of days ago I ran across a new blog by a long time favorite blogger of mine Karin Jurick. Her regular blog is: http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/

Her idea of a new blog is to post a photo and allow people to interpret it as they wish in the media they prefer and she will post the results on her blog.
"A weekly challenge for any artist who would like to join in."

Voila! I painted today!

Thank you, Karin.

Here is the link to her new blog: http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/
and the above is my response to her first challenge.

Try a little color

2008-09-01T13:14:00.005+03:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor and Pencil

5x27.5 cm

(2"x10.75")

Friends

2008-08-25T16:04:00.002+03:00

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Pencil
22x28 cm
(8.5"x11")

Walking on the Beach

2008-08-24T10:00:00.004+03:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor
16.5x13 cm
(6.5"x5")

Watching the show

2008-08-23T17:22:00.003+03:00

(click to big)

Transparent Watercolor
16.5x11.5
(6.5"x4.5")

Friend

2008-08-22T08:00:00.000+03:00

Yarkon 2

2008-08-20T19:00:00.002+03:00

Transparent Watercolor

Yarkon

2008-08-20T03:11:00.003+03:00

Transparent Watercolor

Tel Aviv Beach

2008-08-18T16:00:00.001+03:00