I’m Laura Gamliel from London and I’m married with 2 young children who I work around.
My professional accomplishment is making my own business with something I absolutely love doing, something that grounds me and makes me feel amazing! I am an artist and I make personalised Kippot, tzitzit and bags. I am called KippArt by Laura. I use my art in a way that really benefits people and it’s something I love to do. I’m loving that I can do this every day as well as build my family and be there for my kids/husband whenever they need me.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I am Laura Gamliel from London, I have been married 11 years and have 2 beautiful boys. I started painting on the kippot after my son turned 3 and I made him his own kippa. I just showed some people and before I knew it I had people ordering!! Then suddenly I had more and more orders so I made it into a business. I didn’t expect it at all and I am so so grateful for where this has taken me.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I did A level art and it really grounded me and made me feel calm whilst I was doing my other A levels. After I did my A levels I went to university to do teacher training, got married and had kids and before long I realised I hadn’t painted in 15 years. Then a few years ago my mum passed away and I realised I stopped the one thing that totally relaxed me and made me feel calm… painting! So I restarted it (I didn’t even know if I could paint anymore) but then I realised as soon as I started painting on the canvas that I didn’t forget how to and it just came naturally to me as if there was no break between! I haven’t stopped painting since and I realised I need this in my life.
What is your specialty?
My speciality is landscapes on canvas in expressionist style I’m very expressive and use a lot of bright colours and expressive brush strokes. And now I’m into painting on kippot as it is the business I do.
How and where do you work?
I work from home and around my kids. I get my orders from Facebook and from recommendations and just from people seeing the products and wanting them.
What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
I would actually say the most crucial thing for me to have is belief in myself and recommendations and other people’s belief in me… as without that it would be hard for me to do any of it with all the tools I have at home to do them with!
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
I just do what people want so it’s anything people ask me for. I work on commissions and it’s what people want and ask for so that would be what I paint on the kippot.
What projects are you currently working on?
Just more kippot for people who have recently ordered and just building my audience and getting more people to see what I do. I also want to get a website soon.
What are your favourite items in your current collection?
I get a lot of orders for dinosaurs/cars and I love doing them as the things I do more of come easier to me but I love doing anything I am asked to do and everything I do helps me to gain more experience and to further improve my skills
How do you know when a piece is finished?
It is finished when I’m happy with it. I’m quite a perfectionist and I never stop until I’m happy even if it takes me longer than I expect it to. I make sure every kippa I do is perfect and to a high standard.
Do you do bespoke work?
Yes, I can personalise all my kippot and I put names in Hebrew/ English or both and I find out what people want first and make it exactly how people want.
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
My kippot and tzitzit is the first artwork I sold.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I love making tzitzit as I have a lot more space to do the art on it so it gives me a lot more freedom but I love doing the kippot also.
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
I just want to make lots more kippot for people and particularly love making children really happy when I make them kippot they love. I want to get a website, gain more reach, and just grow this business as much as I possibly can.
Where can we find your work?
You can find me on my Facebook page kippArt by Laura. On Facebook I am Laura Gamliel so can message me on there and kippart by laura on Instagram.
