Artwork Graphic Design Photography
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Faith / Emunah
Igniting Unity
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What’s new… an update
Quite some time has passed since my last blog! A lot has happened. So, please scroll down.
I’ve been immersed in building up the homeless ministry and I am happy to report, that it’s going GREAT! We put together 60 to 84 sack lunches on a weekly basis and pass them out in North Hills and Thousand Oaks. In addition, we organize clothes and sock drives. During the holidays, we distributed a generous amount of gifts. We also gave out a large supply of brand-new items like shoes, reading glasses, books, toiletries, underwear, shaving kits, etc. If you like to know more, follow us on Facebook. We have a Public Group and also a Facebook Page. Sharing these Facebook sites help create interest and awareness.
Regardless of being extremely busy, I’ve also been blessed with some really exciting projects. I’ve designed 20 different scarves for kiebortzjewishgifts.com. They are very multipurpose and can be used as everyday scarves, head coverings for Shabbat candle lighting, prayer shawls and even converted to tallitot. The scarves have already made it all the way oversees!
I am now working on some 53 x 53 in. square designs that can be used for either a chuppah cover, a sukkah backdrop or simply as a wall decoration. They are customizable. Here are some pictures of the process and new designs.
I was extremely honored, that the Charles E. Smith Life Communities have asked permission to use one of my images to thank their donors to wish them a Happy Passover.
On May 21st, the CAJE was having a Celebration of Learning honoring their Executive Director, Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar. As a gift, they chose “Trust”, because they wanted to present her with a painting that highlights powerful women in Judaism.
Last but not least… my “Shabbat Candle Lighting” is rapidly becoming one of the most versatile showcased mixed media collage. It is being used by an Orthodox Jewish Organization as well as a Spanish-speaking Catholic Music Ministry! It will also be exhibited at the Amsterdam Int’l Art Fair at the Beurs van Berlage from 25-26 August 2017. This International Art Fair features 3,000 art pieces of modern and contemporary art by 150 artists from around the globe! If you happen to be in Amsterdam, be sure to check it out.
Digital Mixed Media — The Making of “Passover”
[wpsr_facebook] More and more people have been asking about what medium I use for my new digital mixed media series. First, these new pieces are very simplistic, even minimalistic in nature. They are based on the flow of lines and the beauty of texture.
So, what exactly is digital mixed media? Before I show you how they came about, here are some comments I keep overhearing.
- It’s definitely NOT real art.
- Those who can, create awesome art the traditional way; those who can’t resort to digital art (sort of like the idiom “Those who can, do; those who can’t teach.)” I am sure teachers just love that.
- You don’t need any artistic skills to create digital art.
- It takes a fraction of the time that it takes to create real art—essentially, it’s a short cut.
- If you press random buttons on your keyboard long enough, the computer will automatically spew out gorgeous artwork.
- Major changes in layout and colors can instantly be changed with said buttons.
I am sure that most of my fellow digital artists have had to deal with some of these statements—not by folks who can barely tell the difference between a print and an original, but by colleagues in the art community. I remember that even a decade and a half ago; photographers were faced with the same dilemma: “Can digital photos be accepted as “real ” photography? Look at where we are now—today, reputable contests and exhibits feature even cellphone categories!
Back to the topic and end of mini rant… what then is digital mixed media? Super simple! Pretty much what it spells out. It’s a mixture of different mediums put together digitally. In my case, the sketch, layout and texture/paint is still being hand-crafted the traditional way. The final product is stitched together using Illustrator and Photoshop. Below is a photo journey of the creation of my new art piece.
Step 1: Always starts with a loose pencil sketch. 
Step 2: Creating the first layer. This included acrylics, sand, pumice, glitter, super heavy Gesso and Interference.
Interference colors are colorless, transparent paints made from titanium coated mica flakes rather than traditional pigments. They are also known as “Opalescent Colors.” This makes it possible for the underlying paint to shift color depending on the angle of the view. Below is an example.
The beauty and pleasure of working with mixed media is that you can use just about anything to create artwork. It’s not limited to just a canvas and paint. Here are some close-ups of the making of Passover.
Step 3: Creating the second layer — building texture, adding fabric and paper fiber.
Step 4: The Digital Layer. This forms the last and final layer. I used Illustrator for the white outlines and Photoshop for additional paint strokes.
PS: Obviously, my post yesterday was accidentally sent off without content. Also, WP is set up that only subscribers themselves can unsubscribe. I actually can’t do this on my end. If you no longer wish to receive my posts, you’ll have to follow the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the original blog that comes to your e-mail.
Original Artwork Apparel
It has always been my dream that my artwork would make a difference in this world, and now I’ve found a way. VIDA is a company, which produces original artwork apparel.
Vida means in Persian “A rare find”, in Sanskrit “Wisdom”, in Hebrew “Beloved” and in Spanish “Life”. This Holiday Season, they are raising money to impact one factory in New Delhi, India. They provide their makers (workers) with the ability to read, write, and do basic math in order to build a better future. Here is a 3:47 minute video about VIDA. Skip to 2:32 to view the story of the factory worker.
The 100% high quality modal scarf runs $40.00. For one week only, you can get 15% off. The code is STP1EGYRU8VD. So far, I have only submitted one design (Tree of Life). Here is my link to my personal collection. If you’d like to see a specific design on a scarf, please let me know. They also make dresses and tops.
There are many designs from other talented artists to choose from. If you want to buy a unique gift that makes a difference, be sure to check it out.