On my first day in Athens I was enjoying the mid-February sun in the park in Kypseli. After Iceland it felt like a warm summer day to me, when I spotted this girl and her dog.
I had to take a picture of her, because I haven’t seen these kind of plateau shoes in action since the Spice Girls. Turns out they are quite popular here. Maybe because the average Greek girl is rather short…? I think there are some fashion trends that should stay dead. Those shoes are one of them.
On an evening stroll with a friend around the Plaka area in the centre of Athens, we passed by this shop window. It was the only thing illuminated on a dark street and had something weirdly fascinating about it, so that I had to take a picture.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
One evening on my way home while I was browsing shop windows on Patission street in Athens. Can you spot the odd item?
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.
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.
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.
Did not know what to draw but felt like drawing something.
I´ve been in Athens for almost 2 weeks now. Got a bad cold just after getting here, so I have not done any major sightseeing yet. What I managed though is to find two aerial hoop studios in town. Of course I went there to try them out right away.
These are the last two drawings for my take on”People of CDMX” as I just moved to Athens, Greece! Yes! This happened rather short notice. I fled the country of “ice and fire” and will be here for 5 months to stuff my face with olives and to enjoy the sun!
I wanted to finish these illustrations before I left Iceland but didn´t find the time. And I left the book behind because of luggage restrictions. But I already got a new one which is waiting to be filled.
The ballon seller guys in Polanco.
And the girl in the pink dress on Avenida Horacio in Polanco. I have a summer dress the same colour which I can soon wear in Athens.
Happy weekend!
Melanie Franz 