Portrait Studies

Annika, Gesture Studies, Watercolor Crayons and Water, 24 x 18

From our model days at Kamillia's Studio. These are 5 - 10 min. studies.

New Silk Prayer Shawl

Tree of Life, Oranges, 22 x 70, Hand-Painted Silk Tallit
(Jewish Prayer Shawl)
Detail below (click either image for a larger view)

Peace any way you look at it, #1

Peace (Up and Down), 11 x 60, Hand-painted Silk

This is actually the first silk piece of this design, it preceded the rainbow version by some months. Here's a fun fact to know and tell: a word or words that are the same upside-down and right-side-up are called ambigrams. Not to be confused with palindrones, something of which my father is an expert. His creation for my second son: Sail, Elias!

My father adds the following:

Two points please,

1. Ambigrams were celebrated in 1961, of course.
2. The first son's palindrome is more elaborate providing you accept CA for California:
Did Isaac nix a tax in CA as I did?

Geometric Scarves

Geometric Scarves, 11 x 60 each, hand-painted silk

Peace any way you look at it

Peace (up and down) Rainbow, 15 x 60, Silk Painting

Turn it upside down, and what do you see?

Denise

Denise, Watercolor, 16 x 16
From the model...
Click on image for a larger view

CD Cover - Latest Commission

In September, I posted two watercolor sketches I created for a CD by musicians Peter and Ellen Allard. They selected the first design, with a few modifications. Above is the finished silk painting for the CD cover. Below is the outside of the finished CD cover, and underneath it is the inside. The music is wonderful - it makes you want to sing and dance! You can hear some of the music at Sounds Write Productions, a division of URJ Books and Music. Click on any image for a larger view.

Sunburst III

Sunburst III, Hand Painted Silk, 22 x 70

A new prayer shawl (tallit) which is for sale at Dayenu, Judaica at the JCCSF, a Jewish gift store inside the Jewish Community Center right in the heart of San Francisco.
For purchase, you can give them a call at (415) 563-6563.
Click on image for larger view

Creation III Tallit

Creation IIIb Tallit, 22 x 70, hand-painted silk

Cherry Blossom Tree of Life Tallit

A new tallit (Jewish prayer shawl).
70 x 22 inches, hand-painted silk.
This piece is available at Dayenu, Judaica at the JCCSF, a Jewish gift store inside the Jewish Community Center right in the heart of San Francisco.
For purchase, you can give them a call at (415) 563-6563.
Click on image for larger view

Annika

Annika, Watercolor, 16 x 16

Our group is back to painting from the model on a regular basis. What fun!

Cactus Shot

Cactus Shot, Watercolor, 8 x 8

When Erika left California, she bequeathed me many beautiful plants. A cactus, which is now in bloom is one of them. These are two blossoms that fell off the plant and landed in a shot glass.

Yellow Tomatoes

Yellow Tomatoes, 6 x 9, Watercolor

Another little painting before they're all gone...

Yellow and Red Tomatoes,Watercolor, 8 x 8

We had a great harvest of yellow and red tomatoes this year, I wish I had had time to paint more of them. These are among the last of the crop.

Latest Commission

Ellen Allard, a wonderful musician who specializes in children's music, contacted me recently to create some artwork for her new upcoming CD, entitled, "Little Taste of Torah." These are two color sketches I sent to her, based on discussions with her and her producer. They are watercolor with a little gouache, about 5 x 11 inches.

Rainbow Challah Cover

This was a warm-up piece for the rainbows on the "Noah's Ark" tallit.
Hand-painted silk, 17 x 17

Noah's Ark, Part 8, Grand Finale

Grandma and Granddaughter came to the studio to tie the tsitsit on the tallit.

A happy granddaughter who will soon become an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community as she becomes a Bat Mitzvah.

Noah's Ark, Part 7

One more detail shot...

And the painting is done! This tallit (prayer shawl is 22 x 70 inches). In Part 8, you'll see the happy recipient...

Noah's Ark, Part 6

Finishing up the details...(click image for larger view)

Noah's Ark, Part 5

Corner Patches...

John draws the animals

My father John always has pen and paper ready to go, and is inspired by almost anything. Sometimes he gets better ideas than the one I'm working on... Here's a couple of his suggestions for "Noah's Ark."

Noah's Ark, Part 4

The fun is in trying to get each animal doing something just a little bit different than the next...(click image for larger view)

Noah's Ark, Part 3

I've stretched the silk piece, which when hemmed will be 22 x 70 inches. The area where the animals and letters will be has been prepared with anti-flow. I've written most of the Hebrew Cursive Calligraphy, and outlined all the animals with colored dyes, and used colored gutta for the clouds' outline.
Now the painting fun begins. The rainbow colors needed to blend together, just like a watercolor wet into wet, so there's no anti-flow in those areas.
Rendering the animals is time consuming, but it's so fun to see them come to life. Click on any picture for a larger view. Stay tuned for Part 4...!

Noah's Ark, Part 2

A little bit of painting and calligraphy practice before I stretch the large piece of silk... In order to paint the detail work, you need to apply some anti-flow to the silk before you paint.

The Story of Noah's Ark, Part 1

In the Bible, Noah's ark begins with a conversation between God and Noah. This is how it begins for me, after a conversation with a bright, lovely 13 year old and her classy grandma. Sort of a mess of books and photos and paper and tracing paper...
The drawing takes shape slowly. Some pieces need to be drawn and redrawn, so they are just the right size to fit in with all the others....Finally, the drawing comes together. You need to click on the image in order to get an idea of what's going on. Part two coming soon....

Glazing Study

Glazing Study, Watercolor, 8.5 x 11

This was a workshop demonstration of glazing - creating layers of transparent watercolor. The blues and purples that were the first layers come subtly through the other layers, and pop out in the foreground as the lighter stalks of weeds and grasses.

Remembering Harry

Harry, Watercolor, about 12 x 12

This demo piece was painted during one of the watercolor workshop that I have given from my studio. Martha - friend, neighbor and student - asked for a demo on painting fur in watercolor using her hairy friend Harry as the subject. Sadly, Harry left us last month. He is fondly remembered!

Paisleys

Here's the latest tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) I've created. 14 x 72, Hand-painted Silk.

Painted Box

This is a tsedakah box. The literal translation of the Hebrew word, "tsedakah," is righteousness or justice. The usage of the word tsedakah is the religious obligation to help others. A tsedakah box is a collection vessel for giving donations to those in need.
This Tsedakah box was was painted in acrylics, and donated to a non-profit organization which then auctioned the donated boxes and collected the moneys for various charitable organizations. On the top, in Hebrew, is the word Tsedakah. In English, it says, "turn night into day." That phrase is reflected in the outside and inside images of the box.

Vineyards Tallit

This hand-painted silk tallit (prayer shawl) is 35 x 70 inches.

Vineyards Tallit, detail 1

Vineyards Tallit, detail 2

Tie Die Shawls

Top and Bottom are 15 x 60, middle is 11 x 60.

New Challah Covers

Here are the latest designs for my challah covers. These cover the sabbath braided bread, adding some visual beauty to the celebration of the day of rest. 17 x 17, hand painted silk. You can see other designs on my challah cover page.