From the outside, a painting may seem like a finished thought, complete, composed, and ready to speak for itself. Yet there is an entire world hidden behind every brushstroke, a quiet rhythm of habit, ritual, and inspiration that brings each of my canvases to life. Today, I invite you to step into that world with me. I want to give you a glimpse of art behind the scenes, where the creative process begins long before my paints meet the canvas.
Mornings in the Studio, Art Behind the Scenes
My day often begins quietly, in those early moments when the world is still waking up. There is something inspiring about the gentle morning light in Jerusalem as it filters in, setting a peaceful tone for what’s to come. I like to start with a moment of stillness—maybe a warm coffee, reflection, and a prayer. It’s a small but essential ritual that helps me connect to my creative flow. These quiet beginnings are part of the art behind the scenes—the unseen rhythms and routines that shape each piece long before it comes to life.
A Studio Filled with Memory
My studio is small but rich with meaning. When I made aliyah from Moscow, I brought with me not just paints and brushes, but the heart of my artistic identity. Chief among these is my traditional wooden palette, worn and weathered from decades of use. It is stained with countless colors and memories. Each layer tells a story of a painting, a place, or a season of life. This palette is not just a tool, it is a companion.
On one side of the room, I keep my oil paints: thick, rich, and expressive. On the other side, acrylics. They are fast-drying and bold. Both mediums have their unique voices, and I often move between them depending on the mood or message I wish to convey. My brushes are arranged by size and purpose, and my easels, each well-loved, stand ready like old friends.
The Spark of a New Idea
Often, the inspiration for a new piece will strike at unexpected times. It could be the way the sunlight hits the Western Wall at dusk or a melody from a street musician playing old Klezmer tunes. Sometimes, it’s the memory of a holiday table filled with laughter, or the quiet dignity of an elder wrapped in a tallit.
Once an idea takes hold, I turn to sketchbooks, many of which are stacked in my studio and around my apartment. There, I explore composition, color schemes, and themes. This stage of art behind the scenes is deeply intuitive. I ask myself questions: What story am I telling? What emotion am I conveying? How can this painting honor the tradition it draws from while speaking to the present moment?
Art Behind the Scenes
When I begin a new painting, I almost always start with a pencil outline or a faint acrylic underpainting. These early layers are like whispers, quietly guiding the path forward. If I’m working in oils, I often prepare the canvas with a toned background to create warmth and depth.
Every painting develops in stages. First, the foundation with its light washes of color and general shapes. Then, gradually, I build up detail, texture, and contrast. In oil, this takes time and patience. In acrylic, the tempo is quicker but no less deliberate. Throughout, I return again and again to my palette, mixing colors with care, trying to capture the precise tone of a Jerusalem sky or the gleam of candlelight on Shabbat.
In truth, one of the great lessons of art behind the scenes is learning to trust the process. Some days the brush flows with ease. On other days, the canvas resists. But with persistence and humility, the image reveals itself.
Rituals That Nourish Creativity
Like many artists, I rely on rituals to anchor my creative flow. Classical music or traditional Jewish melodies often play in the background as I work. Their rhythms help me enter a focused, meditative state. Sometimes I even light a small candle at the start of each session as a quiet act of presence. It reminds me that this space, this work, is sacred.
I also make time to step outside during the day, even if only for a few minutes. A short walk through the streets of Jerusalem, a moment of listening to birdsong or watching people pass. These moments replenish me. They remind me that art behind the scenes is not confined to the studio. Inspiration lives in the world outside too.
Finishing a Painting
Knowing when a painting is finished is both an instinct and a decision. I step back often. Literally stepping several feet away from the canvas to gain perspective. I adjust a shadow here and soften a line there. Eventually, I reach a moment of quiet satisfaction. The completion of a painting.
A Life Devoted to Beauty and Meaning
To live as an artist is to live in a continual conversation between past and present, between the seen and the unseen. It is to build bridges through paint. Bridges between memory and imagination, tradition and modernity, Moscow and Jerusalem.
I hope that by sharing this glimpse of art behind the scenes, you can feel not only the techniques and routines that shape my work. But also the love and reverence that guide every piece I create. Each painting is an offering, a reflection of faith, a celebration of Jewish life.
And tomorrow, like every day, I will return to the studio, to my brushes, and to that old wooden palette that has been with me through it all.
You can follow along with more of my artistic journey here.
