My Jerusalem digital paintings are part of a learning curve for me as an artist.
Until recently, I painted mainly in oils. In particular, Jerusalemites may have seen many of them, as they have been on show at Hechal Shlomo, where, in recent years, I have had two solo exhibitions.
Indeed, I might still be working only on actual canvases if I hadn’t run into a problem.
The Problem
I started my digital artwork after struggling with some commissioned poster designs in 2015.
As I used oil paint, I had difficulty fulfilling the orders to a deadline, due to the slow drying time of the medium.
Subsequently, I wondered what I would do if I got future commissions.
Then one day in 2015, I found the answer
On the train on the way to Leeds, whilst returning from visiting my family, my husband suddenly asked, ‘Shall we get off at Salford and go to the Salts Mill David Hockney exhibition?’
Actually, I thought this was a great idea, as I have always liked a lot of Hockneys artwork.
In fact, I first saw his sketches whilst studying at Bradford College of Art, where he also studied shortly before me. I remember at the time thinking, ‘Wow. Who did these?’.
To get back to the point, we soon arrived at Salts Mill Gallery, and spent a long time viewing David Hockney’s permanent exhibition.
However, the best part for me was his new ‘The Arrival Of Spring’ paintings, all of which were done digitally. Most interestingly, his earliest digital art was done on his phone, for fun, to send to his friends. The later pieces on show were done on his ipad.
All in all, I was intrigued to see the development of his artwork on display.
In sum, my interest in digital art, triggered by the Hockney exhibition, continues. To start with, like Hockney, I used free software, and a simple stylus on my phone.
After a while, finding that I was enjoying the technique very much, I invested in a large ipad specifically to use for digital art.
More Commissioned Illustrations
Furthermore, when I agreed to do some line drawings to illustrate two of Ruth Fogelman’s poetry books I was very pleased to use my new ipad. Working digitally helped me make changes more easily, and, of course, without the need for drying time.
Jerusalem Digital Paintings
However, digital art is not, for me, simply a practical solution for my illustrations.
I am thrilled to have found a new exciting medium to use alongside my oil painting..
So, I love to paint on both virtual and actual canvases..
In conclusion, I hope that you enjoy looking at my Jerusalem digital paintings, and understand a little bit about their background.
“I had always planned to make a large painting of the early spring, when the first leaves are at the bottom of the trees, and they seem to float in space in a wonderful way. But the arrival of spring can’t be done in one picture.”DAVID HOCKNEY