Photo: Courtesy of Debora Zemble
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
My name is Debora Zemble, née Yudelevich Roizblatt. I was born in Chile in 1974. My grandparents escaped from Europe in the 1930s, as did the grandparents of most of my friends. I had the privilege of having a warm home built on Jewish values. My grandparents spoke a lot about their poverty-stricken but spiritually rich past, and I was brought up with a strong affiliation to the European tradition.
I am fortunate to have parents who are true role models. My mother is involved in the Jewish community and included us children in many of heractivities. She raised funds for a home for Jewish children with broken backgrounds; I still have vivid memories of her on the phone with potential donors saying, “I’d like to invite you to do a mitzvah!” . She often took us there to play with the children. We also used to visit poor people and old age homes; and never empty-handed. My father likewise is the embodiment of old-world Jewish values through his honesty in business and his respect and concern for his workers.
My parents nurtured us with culture. I grew up going to museums, galleries and art auctions. I studied art since a young child under Ida Gonzalez, wife of renowned artist Mario Carreno. I majored in fine arts at Universidad Finnis Terrae. The professors there were top Chilean artists. The summer after my second year in college, I traveled to Israel, where I studied under the tutelage of Avinoam Kosovsky, a relative of mine, in the Machon Avni in Jaffa.
After college, I moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where I had the opportunity to teach art for the municipality and for the Hayoshon Seminary, as well as to give private lessons. I also had paintings exhibited at several exhibitions. I met my husband and was married in Jerusalem in 1999.
We moved to Lakewood, New Jersey, in 2004, where we had our three children. I continued to work as a ‘teacher artist,’ and eventually I opened a private studio and gallery, “Expressions of Art Studio and Gallery.”
What inspired you to become an artist?
I was so inspired by my art teacher Ida Gonzalez that even at that young age I never thought of doing anything other than painting. She totally believed in me and inspired me with confidence. She had a tremendous awareness of the wonders of creation. I remember on one occasion she looked at a seashell and exclaimed, “Look how perfect it is!”. I was very struck by her sensitivity and perceptiveness and saw art as a means of developing my own appreciation of the perfection of the world.
What is your specialty?
I have worked with different media, but oil paints work best with me. The drying process is slower, and I can work in different layers, blending colors to give an atmospheric feeling.
How and where do you work?
I paint in my studio, “Expressions of Art Studio and Gallery.” I like to paint listening to music; the rhythm depends on the painting.
What is the most indispensable item in your workshop/studio?
I don’t know if anything is indispensable, I was taught to manage with what I have, but there are some things that I enjoy using. I use a big piece of glass on a wheeled table to place and mix colors. It has a lot of space to mix the colors, and it can be moved everywhere in my studio. Also, good brushes and good lighting are very important. And I very much enjoy painting with music.
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
I feel a need to express my inner self and to be able to give a message to the world. I have been working on Judaic and Biblical themes, because these are things that interest me and have strong values. However, in art, more than the subject is the language that expresses the subject; the “how”—the brushstrokes, color, and composition for example—is more important than the “what.” I can choose different subjects, because I focus on the language of the work.
An artist is always discovering, looking for new things, like an insect with its antennae exploring the world around it.
Do you do bespoke work?
Although I generally do not do commissioned work, if there is a project that fits in my style I would certainly consider it.
What projects are you currently working on?
Currently I am painting a Jerusalem view, but I have another 10 or more ideas for what to do next. Everything in its right time.
What are your favourite items in your current collection?
I have a painting of my husband called “Learning” that is very colorful and full of rhythm. Looking at it gives me a gratifying feeling. I also have two paintings, “Rose” and “Blue Flowers,” that are also very free and evoke a spiritual feeling. These paintings are part of my private collection.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
When you paint a painting, sometimes it goes easily, and sometimes it is a struggle, even if the viewer does not see this. But then comes a point when the painting makes sense. It is like a continuous dialogue—the painting talks to you so-to-speak, and you have to listen to what it says. This dialogue also helps you to know yourself better; you have to be honest and humble to be able to achieve the results that you are aiming for.
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
In my first exhibition when I was 20 or 21, I sold an oil on cardboard painting of a lamp to my father. I was just the start I needed to give me the confidence to continue! Since then I have sold many more paintings to known and unknown people. It is a very nice feeling when people identify with what you are creating.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I like to make painting series and sets. I like the challenge of working on each individual piece, but at the same time connecting them all together. I also had a lot of fun painting our own sukkah on wooden boards. Every year people come specially to see our “holiday exhibition!”
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
Painting gives me the opportunity to discover myself. Every human being during his or her lifetime is on a road of self-discovery, and painting helps me in this. Exhibiting my work allows me to share that self-discovery with others. I am always looking for additional possibilities to exhibit my work.
Where can we find your work?
I have my own studio and gallery, “Expressions of Art Studio and Gallery” in Lakewood, New Jersey. The telephone number is 848-245-5789. My website is www.expressions-of-art.com and I can be found on Instagram @deborazemble. I also exhibit in Zohara Art Gallery (@zoharaartgallery) in Lakewood.
Photos: Courtesy of Debora Zemble
