Photo: Courtesy of Shully Ratzon
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
In the first years of my career, I worked as a graphic designer and practiced painting in as a secondary occupation. Later on, I realized my yearning for art and that it needs to occupy a more central place in my life. This caused me to start working in a studio of Judaica paintings on parchment, for three years. I worked eight hour days and just painted, gained experience, and deep understanding of this world. Following this, I decided to become an independent artist. In my first job I had the pleasure to work with an amazing boss who guided and provided me, later on, with professional knowledge and practical advice. This helped me establish and grow as a freelancer. Thanks to him, I am trying to answer and help artists who approach me with various questions in their artistic path.
While searching for my artistic path, I am autodidactic, mainly by researching and analyzing good works. In addition to that I contacted teachers whose work I was impressed with and asked to study with them. Furthremore, I continuously develop my ‘toolbox’ with academic, theoretical and practical artistic knowledge while creating.
I live in Jerusalem, married and a mother of five sons and a daughter.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I did not need inspiration to be an artist, art is a state of mind I always had, and it is an oxygen tube that helps mediate and release an inner charge of emotions. It allows me to express my worldview and values that I live by and connect to. I also see art as a powerful tool to connect to eternal Jewish history and values with material, and by the aesthetics created this light becomes accessible to everyone.
What is your speciality?
For 18 years I created mainly jewish art on parchment, an art that requires precision and control of line and color, and rich in ornaments, gilding, and miniature paintings.
In recent years, I had the urge to go the opposite direction, and during the lockdowns of Corona a renewal began, and I began to create oil paintings on canvas on a large scale, with motifs of holy places like Jerusalem, City of David, Jewish landscapes and biblical scenes.
How and where do you work?
I have my own studio in Jerusalem.
What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
Quiet. Concentration. Coffee. Time. And in certain stages in painting – music.
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
Connecting with nature, which is the best teacher, helps me to open my mind and heart, then the ideas just come. At this point, all I have to do is just choose.
The maturation process in the creation of actual paintings, is a combination of external impression and subjects that I decide to paint, and from an internal feeling of a visual message that I want to convey.
Do you do bespoke work?
Absolutely! A work of art which is adapted to the space in which it is located, brings out the maximum from the painting and the space. Some customers come to me want to ensure that my work fits their space perfectly in terms of dimensions, colors , etc.
The same goes for works on parchment, there were customers who ordered 60 cm high scrolls, and customers who preferred miniature works 20 cm high.
Some customers love rich colors while others prefer solid colors.
In addition to that, I worked with publishers to provide artwork that was intended for a specific target audience and as such I had to adapt the work to their needs.
In general, I try to meet the design brief to ensure I meet everyone’s needs and tastes.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently busy developing new styles of Judaica paintings in oil
What is or are your favourite items in your current collection?
In oil, the painting of the parting of the Red Sea was the painting I had the hardest time parting with and selling…
In parchment, I am most attached to the scrolls of Esther I have illustrated.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
I’m a perfectionist at work, I rarely know when a piece is finished.
Usually what happens is that at some point the piece looks good and I decide to stop, so as not to continue and then spoil it…
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
The scroll of Esther, 65cm tall, in blue and red.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I most enjoyed working on a creation of the Book of Esther called “Medieval” because its style is innovative and groundbreaking, and I created it from a very authentic place.
In oil I especially enjoyed a work called “City of David”, because since I started creating in oil, this was the first work I decided to “cleanse” from all the theoretical studies that I learned and create from an authentic place.
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
I would like my works to be scattered all over the world, contributing to an atmosphere of light, beauty and good energies. Also, I want it to connect the viewers to holiness and to God.
My ambitions are to innovate in the market and create works in large formats that give a strong impression.
I would like to be able to practically express all of my artistic dreams and fantasies.
Where can we find your work?
You can see my works on the site: www.shullyratzon.com
Photos: Courtesy of Shully Ratzon
