Ein Karem Sketch Retreat — A Few Thoughts
December 2025
We spent most of our time outdoors, sketching on the spot and exploring how watercolor can stay light, spontaneous, and joyful. I shared my own process — how I choose what to focus on, how I simplify a complicated scene, and how a sketch grows step by step. The group’s curiosity made the experience even richer. Their questions pushed the conversations forward and opened new directions in the work.
This retreat in Ein Karem was a really special three-day break from everyday life. We stayed in a quiet monastery surrounded by nature, old stone houses, winding streets, and layers of history. It created the perfect environment to slow down, observe, and sketch without rushing anywhere.
I don’t approach these retreats as strict teaching. It’s more about exploring together: reacting to the place, trying ideas, and understanding what makes a sketch come alive. And I always leave with new insights for my own practice.
This kind of immersive format — living, exploring, and sketching in one place for several days — creates something different from any regular workshop. There’s time to experiment, to connect to the surroundings, and to enjoy the process without interruptions.
I hope to return to this kind of experience soon. And I’m open to collaborations with organizers who are interested in creating similar sketching retreats or multi-day workshops in unique locations.
