Really liked this lamp in a coffee house in the centre of Athens. I unfortunately forgot the name of the place and also the street it was in… So I haven´t been back there…
Author: Mel
I'm a painter, curious student of life and traveler.
Balcony dog of Athens
There are no roof dogs here in Athens, at least I haven´t seen any yet, but plenty of balcony dogs. Jumped a few times when I heard sudden barking just above my head. This guy lives just down the street from me.
Cats of Athens II
This cat likes to nap on that car near the university. The cat is actually not the size of a tiger and the car is small but not that small…. Somewhere along the movie watching, beer drinking, drawing process, the proportions were thrown out the window.
One of the Many Cat Corners of Athens
I thought it was time to return to Athens again. My Greece sketchbook is still very much empty. Time to fill it up.
On one of my strolls around the centre of Athens I came across this cat meeting corner. Feral cats are pretty much everywhere but especially around the Acropolis. There are also plenty of people that feed them. So far I haven´t seen a skinny cat (or dog), rather the opposite.
More people…
The last page of people in my sketch book.
Came across a joke the other day. Two crows sitting on a fence next to a corn field. In the distance the outline of a person. The crows are discussing whether it is a scarecrow or a human.
“Don’t worry its only a scarecrow.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“He is not looking at his smart phone.”
Still on #OneWeek100People2019
Second last of my people doodle pages from the One Week 100 People challenge. Now fully coloured. Had a short break from drawing as I was entertaining visitors the last weeks in and around Athens.
Big thank you to Gabriela for the inspiration to put in speech bubbles. Put the idea straight to action in this doodle. Also check out her brillant blog Artschaft about art gems and her exploration of paintings.
#OneWeek100People2019 – Day 5
Back from Crete! It was the best holiday ever! The food, the Raki and the mountains were incredible. I will draw some of it next week I think!
I also managed to colour in day 5 of the One Week 100 People challenge from the beginning of April. No more rainy days here. Has been beautiful sunny the last couple of days. I’m loving it!
#OneWeek100People2019 – Day 4
Finished colouring in Day 4 of last weeks 100 people challenge. It was sunny that day for a change, therefore the lack of umbrellas. I used mainly Pinterest images for reference as I prefer being comfortable on the couch while sketching.
I will be heading to Crete for the next week. So the rest will have to wait until I am back in Athens.
Happy Easter holiday everyone!
#OneWeek100People2019 – Day 3
I managed to colour in Day 3 of the One Week 100 People challenge yesterday. I also finished the last couple of people during the weekend, so I made it to 100 with a bit of delay! But I really had fun with it. Will post the remainder in the following days.
#OneWeek100People2019 – Day 3-5
So the One Week 100 People challenge finished. I made it to around 80, not counting the little shadows in the background. So with them I think I got the 100!
Started off rather tense and stressed of how and what to draw but I think I got more loose during the week. I think I also got a hang on how to draw feet and hands a little bit better and a better idea about people´s movement in general. So all in all I think this was a great success and great practice that I should do more often!
Any suggestions for another similar challenge out there? I need a bit of preasure to get motivated.
I will finish the remainder of people this weekend. I also want to colour them in and work on my watercolouring a bit.
#OneWeek100People2019 – Day 2
This was Day 2 of the #OneWeek100People2019 challenge.
We had more rain, so I am sticking to the same theme. I am trying to get a better idea of people´s posture while moving and also to be more lose in my style… I am not counting the tiny shapes in the background. So I still have about 20 people to go today.
#OneWeek100People2019
It´s been a bit since the last post. Have been busy with visitors and locals roaming around Athens. The bit of time I had in between I was either at aerial hoop practice or tried myself on the #OneWeek100People2019 challenge. I thought it is a great opportunity to actually force myself to practice to draw people, something I am usually too lazy to.
It was pissing rain at the beginning of the week, that´s where the inspiration came from.
I have made it to about 60-70 by now… not sure if I manage to get to 100 by tomorrow… lets see…
Magic Forest
From the park with flowers in bloom to the magic forest. I actually love how this one turned out. The paper was not great but I like the idea and I think I will re-do it on better paper at some point.
Inspired by Iceland Throwback
Went through my photos as I was looking for something specific. Found anything but the photo I was looking for. But amongst them I discovered this gem from 2016 – an inspired by Iceland kitsch compilation postcard that I drew to send to the boyfriends family.
The “Cat-Catcher” of Athens
When I saw this man playing the flute surrounded by cats, the first thing that came to mind was the story of the Rattenfänger von Hameln (Rat-Catcher of Hamelin).
There are plenty of stray cats everywhere and people put out food for them like at this spot near the Acropolis. I walked this path several times by now and there are always a fair amount of cats gathered around.
Cats of Athens
One evening on my way home while I was browsing shop windows on Patission street in Athens. Can you spot the odd item?
On Top of Mount Lykavittos
Went to watch the sunset on top of Mount Lycabettus/ Lykavittos here in Athens the other week. Got a beautiful view over the whole city.
What caught my eye at the viewing point though was the white cat that was chilling at the jewelery seller stand without a care in the world.
Sun is out
I spent the day in the park, where a lot of flowers are in bloom already. I tried to draw something different but ended up with this. The paper is anything but ideal but so far I haven´t found anything better at the art supply shop. I need to expand my search.
I also finally found inspirations for my Athens watercolour book and what I would like to put into it! So I will start with that later today. It took me a while to get used to the city but I think I am getting there.
Hanging Out in Athens III
I am finally getting better at this One Leg Hox hang as it is called. But it still hurts quite a lot and also leaves nice bruises on the back of your knee.
But at least I am able to do it now more easily. Pratice makes perfect. Although I certainly don´t feel as light as a balloon floating in the air.
Melanie Franz 