The following was an email I got from Emma, who asked me about my art process: Hello, i\’m currently a student at Scarborough Sixth Form College and am very inspired by your work. It would be wonderful if you could answer a few questions for me, as it would be a big help for me to wright up an artist study in my sketch book and extend my project further; if you could possibly tell me a bit about how you became involved in art that would also be a help. What are your main mark making techniques? What are your main inspirations? Who are your influences? How long does each piece take you to create? What are the main ideas behind your work? How important is colour in your work? Is the scale of your work a vital element? Do you feel that different people will interpret your images differently? and finally Do you work with anyone else? Thank you very much for your time and i hope you can get back to me, thanks again Emma Thompson

The following was what I wrote:

Dear Emma,

Thank you for your email. It is wonderful to inspire and effect young people lives. To answer your questions:

1. Getting involved in art is not a very romantic story. I took art classes as prerequisites requirements for my MA in art therapy, at the George Washington University, in
   Washington DC. It was surprising to me how fascinating and interested I was in sculpting.  That is why, when I was required to take paintings my paintings were thick, and most of them are, until this day.
2. My main techniques are whatever comes my way and to my mind – as daring as I allow myself to be. I am an experimenter. I used to use pallet knife, cardboards, my fingers. I go as wild as possible. There are no rules beyond looking and listening. I go back to look at my art while in the process of making. Almost every spot/line/color requires new observation. Take into account that my most important artwork is a large scale (120 X 120 cm/ 120 X 150, and some are even bigger. I have one piece that is 6 miters by 120 cm,) for me observation can take third off the time of the art making process.
3. Some of my inspiration comes from amazing artists like Nathan Oliveira. He live now at the San Francisco area, but used to live here at the
   Seattle area. Another artist that I admire is Jack Shadbolt, a Canadian artist who died in the 80s. But my main inspiration is my gut feeling. I do not plan what do drew, I just allow it to happen. I think in abstract terms (lines/shapes/colors.)
4. Time, as far as making a piece of artwork varies. In the past I could finish a work in three hours. The more mature I get, the more time I need for a piece. It also a challenge as far as taking care of two children and a baby as well.
5. Color is almost everything in my work. It is one of the most important components. I am fascinated by stains, and how the effect each other. It is interesting what fascinates peopleJ Colors effect their surrounding colors in relation to each other. It is a very interesting and deep world to explore.
6. Different people by definition, are different, and for that brings different worlds when observe my artwork. Every art show, different people connect to different pieces. In some cases many people will like one specific work, but each one for a different reason.
7. I mostly work with artists that do not come from the visual art field. In October, for instance, I am going to give a performance with a pianist. I am going to paint while she will play the piano on stage

Art Definitions and Perspectives, Audiance letters, My Art Process | No Comments »

Hi everyone.
It is amazing how times fly. The summer is almost over, and I just got back to work in my studio, following about two and a hulf months of doing mostly drawings and small artwork. Nothing big, mostly working in my office. So now, with more energy and a bit more time, I bring you here the development of my recent artwork. To see how it looked before please go to In my studio May 2008

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Gallery 309 had it’s first opening on May 22nd. It was a great success. Art lovers, artists, gallery owners, all came together for a magical night of art, food and wine. I wanted to thank all my friends and family who came to support me.

This show is coming down now, and solo shows start. Each month a different artist will show their artwork. During the month of June, the art of the artist Anne Simernitski, (to see her work go to www.simerart.com,) will be on the walls. My solo exhibit will take place during December 2008. Looking forward to that. To see more images form the opening, please go to www.arts4biz.com.

Thanks for your support,
Enjoy,
Yael Zahavy-Mittelman

www.YaelsArt.com

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Gallery 309 entrance is about to be formed. I was asked to paint on the entrance for the art exhibit opening, and the opening of the new gallery in Belltown, Seattle, Gallery 309 . (Please click on images to enlarge.)

I started by drawing on the walls with a pencil.

Second phase was to cover to walls and ceiling with acrylic paint and start to draw with black acrylic paint on it.

The entrance as it looked mid painting process – lots of fun for the artist.

It is Saturday, the hit is creasy, painting is almost impossible. But my daughter wanted to see my art project and her mother paints.

I cover the edges with black and brown and it does not work very well for me. I change the dark edges to blue-black paint. It works much better.

I extend that effect into the ceiling, as well as into the edges of the wall. OK, I can live with that.

The right wall is being finished as well and is extended onto the door frame.

My work is done. The gallery has a very creative fun entrance.

All needs to be done now is enjoy the Gallery opening event.

Come see when you are in the area. Gallery 309. 309 Cedar St. Seattle WA.

Art exhibit openings, My Art Process, The Artwork of The Week | No Comments »

You are invited to an art exhibit opening in a new and exciting Gallery 309. Please join us.
Please click on the image to enlarge

Enjoy,
Yael Zahavy-Mittelman
www.yaelsart.com

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05/12/2008  

It is always interesting to me how we artists all see the world so differently. Your work is fascinating – obscure but enlightening.

I will look forward to seeing more of your work.

Cyndy Carstens – a fellow oil painter

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05/16/2008

Hi Yael-

I am completely blown away by your work! Wow! I love your artist statement and the inspiration for your paintings. I visited your website as well to get a closer look. Absolutely amazing….

Cheryl 

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To all the artists in the Seattle area. A Ballard studio space for a female artist. Check this one out:

Please click to see A Studio Space

Artists Opprtunities | No Comments »

I am sitting here, at the hospital, waiting for my daughter to finish her surgery, a short procedure of taking her ear tubes out, following two year of not being able to swim of fear of getting liquids to her ears. So, even though it is the simplest procedure, and it will be over in no time, sighing up all these forms remides me of the fragility of our lives. How important health is. How much we do not appreciate our healthy organs and destroying our health with stress, aimless fears, and endless diets.

Anyway, the pictures you see here in an update from my studio. These are two canvases of 48″x60″ each. It is not a new technique for me. I have been using it in my painting on and off in varies ways so far. It takes me back to my childhood when I used to scribble with black ink pen on white paper. In this technique, though, I learned as an adult that when I add colors as you can see in the second picture, I have to cover all the white areas before I can start going deep into the images and consider the whole composition. So what you see in this picture is the covering of the white areas. It is only the first layers though. It will change along the way.

So enjoy.

Yael

www.yaelsart.com

My Art Process | No Comments »

April 21, 2008 Dear Mrs. Zahavy-Mittelman, I am a youth growing up in the country. I yearn for a refreshing niche for myself. I go to a junior high called South Cache and I am in the ninth grade. I looked around on the internet for ‘abstract artists’, your name was among others with a sample of your art. Yours was the first I clicked on. The picture, I believe, was from your scream series; “My Scream 4″. It stirred up some memories of my own and I was drawn in, immediately curious. Now, I will tell you something that happens daily but is not very pleasant. Because you declared to the world your personal story of your car crash I feel that you should hear back from someone who has also been in a car crash. For those were the memories your painting conjured from the depths of my mind, pushed to a part in my brain that remembers every little detail, every desperate scream but let’s no one on the outside hear. You’ve inspired me to let the outsiders hear me through my own painting. Make them feel what I feel, know what I know. The pure desperation, terror and maybe even hope I feel when I look at your paintings is a relief. I also am interested in your painting, “The Mystery of The Pink Rose”. It reminds me of a book being read all at once on a canvas. A whole story is laid before the eyes of your audience; to soak it in, to relish every moment. One of those stories that leaves you hanging at the end with no hope of a sequel. The author allowing the reader to use his/her imagination; letting it flow to a rhythm that would usually belong to a young child; with a mind that’s uncontaminated, \’un-influenced\’. Your art makes me see things in a fresh perspective, an \’un-influenced\’ mind. Thank you so much for reading this letter, taking time away from your schedule to read the thoughts of a stranger. I hope to be able to see your work in person at an art gallery someday. Thank you again, Mrs. Sincerely, Caroline H. Ramsey Mr. Petersen’s art class 10 South 480 West Hyrum, Utah 84319

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I went to an art talk yesterday given by Andrea Lawson, a North West artist. Very expressive in her colors and color strokes. In her talk she described her art process, her way of work. Her art expresses freedom and movement. Her work moves from abstract to realistic. You can see her work in Gallery By The Bay in Stanwood, www.gallerybythebay.com/  or at www.andreaklawson.com/
Thanks Andrea for the interesting talk. It was wonderful to get to know your work better.

The Artwork of The Week | No Comments »