Urban Sketching Retreat in Ein Kerem

Join me for a special urban sketching retreat in the beautiful and atmospheric village of Ein Kerem. Over the course of three days, we will slow down, wander through narrow streets, orchards, and cafés, and learn how to translate the life of a place into personal, expressive sketches.

This retreat is not only about drawing what we see, but about learning how to notice. Together, we will explore how to choose, from the abundance of details around us, the few elements that truly tell the story of a scene. Using watercolor, watercolor pencils, and simple graphic marks, we will build lively images step by step — through washes, lines, shapes, and hints of people, movement, and atmosphere.

During the retreat, we will look at practical and creative questions that often arise when sketching on location: how to begin without getting stuck, how to work comfortably outdoors, what to do when people move before the drawing is finished, when it helps to sketch directly from life and when photography can support the process. Most importantly, we will explore how urban sketching can turn us from passing visitors into engaged participants in the life of a place.

The program includes guided sessions and walks from Thursday through Saturday, with themes such as overcoming the fear of the blank page, using simple visual symbols to suggest posture, movement, and action, finding the details that make a scene unique, and understanding how to work with both close and distant views. The retreat concludes with a shared exhibition and open conversation about the work created במהלך the weekend.

The retreat takes place at Casa Nova, the guesthouse of the Franciscan monastery at the Church of St. John in the Hills, located in the heart of Ein Kerem — a historic setting full of charm, mystery, and inspiration.