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.

Silk Collage

Hannah's Challah Cover

Brad's Challah Cover

These are two challah covers (sabbath bread covers) that were commissioned as gifts by my sister-in-law Betty Ann for her friend's twins B'nai Mitzvah. Each piece contains work created by the child, and then complementary pieces painted by me. I have also calligraphied the blessing over bread, the child's name and B'nai Mitzvah date. All the pieces have been sewn together to create a challah cover about 16 x 20 inches.

Starry Night

Starry Night, 43 x 72, Silk Dyes on Silk Fabric.

Here is the finished tallit (Jewish Prayer Shawl). I posted the watercolor sketch of this piece on 3/20 (about three posts down). It is 43 x 72, silk dyes on silk fabric.

Red Kale

Red Kale, Watercolor, 10 x 12

Green Silk Scarves

Two new scarves, 11 x 60 each.

Watercolor Sketch for Large Prayer Shawl

In December I posted two watercolor sketches (1) (2) that were studies for a large Jewish prayer shawl. The client asked for a third and final sketch, which is today's posting. Next week I'll post the finished silk prayer shawl that is based on this sketch. Stay tuned!

Figure Study

Susan in the Boudoir, Watercolor with Watercolor Crayon, 22 x 15

Gesture Drawings from Life

I'm continuing my participation in the Modeling Sessions that Kamillia organizes. We usually warm up with a series of 3 and 5 minute gestures drawings. Here are a few samples. Done on Bond paper with Caran D'ache watercolor crayons.

Thank you to Dean, Erika and Irit, who have recently tagged me or honored me with a blog award. I am really grateful to them all for their interest in my work and blog. Please visit their blogs to see the great art they are creating (If you love trivia, I played the tag game in November - you can find it in my blog archives...)!