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.

Israel in the Gardens

Please note: I'll be away until June 22 - I'll look forward to reading your comments when I return!

Here's my booth at Israel in the Gardens, which was held last Sunday at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. On display were my hand-painted silk tallit (Jewish Prayer Shawls), challah covers, secular silk scarves and shawls, and watercolor paintings.

My ever-faithful friend and assistant, Julie, above left, is extolling the virtues of my work to a customer. Behind her, and in the photo below, is my wonderful neice Rachelle, who lives in the city and came out to help us.
Our new display of challah covers (above and below, with yours truly) looked great, and often became a beautiful sail as the wind whipped through the tall city buildings which you can see beyond me in the photo below.
The festival was well attended, and we were delighted to greet many returning customers as well as meeting new and future patrons.

Here's where I'll be this weekend...

This is an annual and hugely popular Israel Fair, held in the Yerba Buena Gardens of San Francisco. One day only, Sunday June 7th. Please stop by and say hello - it's free!

Portrait of Patty

Patty, Watercolor, 16 x 16
From the last life-drawing day...until we resume in September.

New Silk Tie Die

So intense, it's almost too much for the eyes! 44 x 44 inches

Silk Tie Die

14 x 70. Silk tie die has lots of beautiful detail. Below is a close-up shot (click images for larger view)

Here's the finished prayer shawl, Tree of Life - Moon Peace, 24 x 72, hand painted silk. The watercolor sketch for this design was posted May 8th (click image for a larger view). The owner of this tallit is having his Bar Mitzvah this month. I had the privilege of making his brother's tallit a couple of years ago. Here it is, below:

Watercolor sketches for a silk triptych wall hanging. 3 x 3, 3 x 3 and 3 x 6 inches

The silk wall hanging triptych. Side pieces are 18 x 18, center piece is 18 x 36. Commissioned by my cousins Barb and Bob. It's nice to have relatives with good taste (click the image for a larger view).

This is a watercolor sketch, about 5 x 15 inches. It is a study for a prayer shawl that will be about 24 x 72 inches.

Your Art

This art work is a silk wall hanging, around 19 x 36, commissioned by the famous poet Jill Levy, who wrote a poem entitled "Your Art," and had this vision of her work and my art work working together to create this work of art called "Your Art." I think it works, don't you?

Painting for a Cause

Recently it was "Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week" at UCI Medical Center in Orange. I was asked to create a silk banner that people could help paint over three afternoons. The idea was to draw people in with something creative and fun while they learned about facts and resources for young people with cancer. The event was produced by my friend Mindy Inselberg who works at UCI Med Center.

The text and image of young people in victory stance was the logo I was given to use as a basis to create the banner for people to paint.

Doctors, nurses, orderlies, security guards, office workers, patients, people visiting patients and all manner of other individuals came and smiled and painted. I was met with so much enthusiasm that everyone finished the banner before the end of the third day, so I whipped out a couple more pieces for participants to paint, as seen in the last photo. In the background of that picture you see the finished banner. I'm told it will eventually hang in the cancer center at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

For more information on resources for cancer patients aged 15 to 39, please check out www.seventyk.org.

Portrait Study

Pauline, Watercolor on gessoed watercolor paper, 16 x 16

Life Study

Pauline is new to modeling for painters, but she was a natural. This is 20 x 14, watercolor on gessoed watercolor paper.

Portrait Studies

Here are two studies of our model Susan, each is about 14 x 10, each sitting was about a half hour.