Windtowers Dubai

In Dubai there is this old quarter called Bastakiya. It is beautiful restored and most of the houses are used as cultural spaces. From the terrace of the new Tashkeel house you can see this landscape of windtowers. They were use to collect the fresh breeze, cooling the air in its way down to the central courtyard.
Tashkeel is a cultural organization that promotes the arts in the UAE.

In The National newspaper UAE

I went to the Abu Dhabi Book Fair two days ago. They have this year an illustrators corner. I have the opportunity to meet really talented people and enjoy talking about their work. I show to them also my sketches and they liked them too. I don't remember how it started but one asked me if I could do a portrait of him and then the others followed. When I was doing one portrait the press arrived and started doing some interviews to the illustrators. They also took some pictures of them. The photograph asked me my bussiness card, I though because he liked the portrait I was doing, but I was surprise to find my name and my picture (at least my hands ) in the newspaper next day.

Kathakbox

I went to see the Sonia Sabri dance Company in Abu Dhabi. The company is from Birmingham and was making a tour in the UAE. the show name was Kathakbox and was a mix between traditional indian Kathak dancing , hip hop and contemporary dance. It was very interesting to see the similarities between the different dance styles, and how at the end they are able to express the same things, the show was like a Rosetta stone giving you the keys to understand each dance style. For me that I have never seen Kathak before it was a great way to get to know it, appretiate it and get curious to see and learn more about it.

I try to make some sketches. It was very difficult but I guess I learnt some things....
1.- First I concentrate on drawing hands heads and feet. Not the body, in many cases I didn't even look at the paper. Later I added some light color arround the "ghost" of the body and I was surprise to see how clear the figure was. I had lost my waterbrush so I use a brush pen instead. It allows me to work fast but I still think with the watercolours the result could have been more interesting.
2.-Other new thing I learnt is that if I draw the negative space (between arms and body) that also gives you a very clear image of the figure.

January 22, 30th Worldwide Sketchcrawl (first UAE)

January 22 was the 30th Worldwide Sketchcrawl. I have never been in one, So I organized one in Dubai, I guess is the fist one in the UAE too.
I had meet a few people in Dubai that also sketch and they were happy to join.
One of them was John Knight, an architect resident in Dubai, he has been sketching all his life, and has wonderful sketchbooks. I convinced him to open a flickr account to share his drawings but he still have to scan more. Please check his profile here and encourage him to share more sketches.
There were also many kids present. It was really a joy to see them sketch.
We met in the Dubai Creek and then we moved to Bastakiya (the old part of Dubai).

Here are John's two drawings followed by mines. Since most of the people left after lunch. I could not make pictures of the others work.

National Day UAE

Ok, I know: it is a bit late. But I just happend to find an scanner...You know that I don't have one and it is quite a problem to scan my drawings. Anyway the UAE National day was the 3rd of December and all Emiratis went crazy. They decorated their cars with the UAE Flag and their colors and put stickers with the pictures of the presidents.and they star driving in the main streets celebrating like a carnaval.This picture was done in Abu Dhabi. The owner of the car had a teddy Bear on the top of the car dressed with the UAE flag colors.

Praying

As you know muslims pray five times a day. There are mosques everywhere in Al Ain. And all public buildings have praying space. Here people were doing the last pray of the day. The door was open, and the room full of light. People left their shoes in the steps of the stair before going inside.

Urban Sketchers: Al Ain Aerobatic show

Urban Sketchers: Al Ain Aerobatic show: "As every Year the international aerobatic show took place in Al Ain. It was the first time I watch one. And I have to confess I found it e..."