Your works are so vibrant and somehow contain movement in each, I don't know if I 'look' at your paintings as much as 'watch. Very aptly named show."Never Still Life

On June 24 I will be opening a show of my recent works. The title reflects my fascination with surface tension in painting: Painting was by definition 2 dimensional, but in reality, it is anything but that.
Paint has body. Paper and canvas have texture, little mountains and crevices. And all patterns and repetitions indicate movement.
I will plagiarize a lovely comment on my Facebook page, that expresses my goal:
"Your works are so vibrant and somehow contain movement in each, I don't know if I 'look' at your paintings as much as 'watch. Very aptly named show." (Thanks Ruth)

If you are in Jerusalem, please come by!

Project Update

After making many revisions, I am quite happy with the color balances and harmonies, the naive perspective and the clarity of the pattern filled surfaces.

Most of the interesting shades were created by combining opposite colors, especially sap green with carmine, and Naples yellow with purple. Actually, a bit of Naples yellow in everything. In the final version, I used metalic colors sparingly.

The Hebrew lettering remains to be applied.

A New Revised Sketch
I gave each chair an individual character - as if to represent the personalities of the people who are invited to sit in them.
I wish to paint the landscape peeking out beyong the garden wall, in warm sunlight - therefor placing candlesticks on the table isn't appropriate. I added challot with an embroidered cloth, as was suggested.

Sketches for Nancy's Painting


Rectangular Table


Oval Table

The Imagery:

I chose to set the painting withing a partially enclosed family garden. But the garden has an opening with a generous view to the world beyond.

Within:
The family table is a traditional and familiar symbol for the Altar - and thus for all worship and service of God. I like it in particular, because the table expresses how within Judaism, the concept of serving God has evolved from somewhat of a supernatural ritual, to our behaving in a God inspired fashion in our daily lives. An of course there is the famous saying in the Talmud, "When a man and woman live together in peace, the Shekhina, the Divine Presence dwells among them."


Pomegranates are symbols of good deeds and merits, as we wish on Rosh Hashana, " May your merits be numerous [like the seeds] of the pomegranate. They also represent the Torah and Mitzvot, as they traditionally contain 613 seeds. Of course pomegranates have universal symbolism as well, especially as symbols of progeny and thus our continuing contribution to sustaining the world.

The fig is the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge within our tradition. I'd consider adding in small lettering,
חכמת נשים בנתה ביתה
"The wisest woman builds her house" Proverbs 14:1

A young olive tree is also a symbol of children and posterity, " Your children shall be as olive saplings around your table" Psalm 128.
The olive is also a symbol of Israel's posterity, "Why is Israel compared to the olive tree? Just as the olive does not shed it's leaves, neither in the rainy season, nor in the summer heat, so too Israel shall not cease to exist, neither in this world, nor in the World to Come.

From what I understand, Nancy loved offering hospitality. The chairs remind me of
הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell (literally sit) together in unity!

Beyond the garden, in sun drenched colors, I plan to include 2 more images. The closer is a synagogue. I chose the wonderful pagoda like wooden synagogues from Wolpe or Zabludow in Poland which were pinnacles of Jewish folk art.. (You may be familiar with the model in the Diaspora Museum) Beyond that is a stylized, idealized view of Jerusalem.