THEY GOT MARRIED - MAZAL TOV :-)

                              Oss and Yaron
          Larnaca - Cyprus - 24th of February 2015 
                             A very happy day

THE WONDERS OF HA BONIM BEACH

HaBonim is maybe the most beautiful beach in Israel. It is composed of a rugged shoreline, with sculpted rocks, and ridges and platforms of kurkar, the fossilized sand dunes which are native to the land. And there is the blue Mediterranean, spreading to the horizon, endless and forever...

This coastal Nature Reserve is a true soul soother, a filler of the heart, a gift for the senses.
It is located at the base of the Carmel mountains, stretching from Kibbutz HaBonim to Moshav Dor. Walking routes pass through a very unique natural world with fantastic sites. Inlets with rising rocks of calcareous sandstone, their tops flattened and leveled down to flats, abraded by the constant crashing of the waves, alternate with little bays, some filled with millions of shells. The trails are pleasant and easy to hike, and provide stunning views, winding past small pools and blue lagoons edged with fine sand.

To be there is a treat all year around, but winter and spring bring forward a great variety of plants and wildflowers along this shore, and that has been the reason for our visit some days ago. While strolling we met the lovely purple irises, we saw the ground dotted with white and pink and blue and yellow, and we enjoyed it. 

But we came for the tulips. Yes there is a flower hill and at this time of the year it belongs mostly to the tulips and provides a stunning and fantastic show of flaming red. Thousands of exquisite short, firm and strong tulips are blooming above the sea. It is like an explosion of gorgeousness. Their bold crimson color, together with the blue/turquoise/green of the sea, the azure sky and the soft light hue of the sand cause a striking sight.

A salty wind was blowing that day. Only the sound of the waves invaded the stillness, except for an occasional shriek of a sea gull. Taking all the goodness in felt like hiding away from daily reality, like magic, hm, yes like happiness pure.

There is much more to explore at this wonderful strip of coastline, breathtaking sunsets included. Bathing and swimming is prohibited at the reserve, but there is a public beach to enjoy only a short distance away.

P.S. And then I painted it...

 

Photos by Uri Eshkar.

AFTERWARDS... :-)

So it is two weeks after the opening and the excitement has calmed down. My husband took the above photo yesterday during a quiet hour at the gallery.

This painting is called "Time flows" and there are the eyes for "Watch" and the hands for "Touch" and the lips for "Talk" and the notes for "Listen" and the heart for "Feel". There are the fish and the hands and the eyes and the blue color against the evil eye. There are the clocks ticking and the river of time flowing. There are European towns and trees and Mediterranean towns and trees, palm trees, yes. There is silver and gold for the glitters of life, red and orange for joy, and greens for calm and quiet. There are the stars and a dose of yellow for hope. It is a painting without sadness.

Many people came to visit. Of course my whole family was there and almost all of my friends. My oldest guest was 98 year old Ruth Dayan, who did us the honor of a lovely speech, and was very much welcomed by everyone.

My husband said kind words about me and my art which made me blush. I sold two paintings at the opening and one yesterday.

                       "Going to the Game"


It was a good day. People liked my paintings, they talked about the colorfulness and the humorous images. They asked me about meanings and had explanations by themselves. They smiled a lot and I liked that. I think I will go on painting... :-)

                 "The Heart Messenger" (very important task)

The manager of the gallery, Michal Shibolet, and the curator, Dorit Talmon, did a great job in organizing the event, advertising, and arranging the paintings in a pleasing manner. I am very thankful to them.

The exhibition will be open till March 14.

Photographs as always by my husband Uri Eshkar.

All images are my copyright, please do not use without asking permission.

EXHIBITION OF MY PAINTINGS - So sangen mir die Farben - The way the colors sung to me

In two more days it will be happening! There will be an opening of an exhibition, and the twenty four paintings displayed are mine. I still can scarcely believe it! 
It is less than two years ago, that I started painting. Very small and humble in the beginning, only in a little sketch book. Slowly I got braver and repainted some of the journal entrees in a larger scale. I posted about it here and here and six months later here.

I started to seek information and acquire knowledge from the Internet. How to contrive a consistent body of work, where to find inspiration, how to focus on originality and a recognizable "line", how to welcome the muses when they knock on the spirit door. I learned the properties of acrylic paint, to prepare a canvas, to varnish the finished work, to fix the hanging device, how to find a title and the best way to write it, how to sign, and last but not least how to price a painting.

                                "Gefillte Fish"

I received advice and encouragement from a knowledgeable woman who generously evaluated my labor and said it is art. Yes, well, I got serious with the painting thing. But to approach a gallery? That certainly needs much more courage. A very dear friend had some connection and helped me in that matter. The curator and the manager of the gallery loved my work and they decided on an exhibition date - which now has arrived, it is the day after tomorrow.

I am very excited, please wish me luck! 

All my paintings were professionally photographed by Karin Tal

MAGIC MORNING - and a finished painting

Time ticking away - 80x80cm - acrylics on stretched canvas
                                               (copyright Yael Eshkar)