Featured Artist

David Schluss, was born in 1943. He started painting at a very early age in Israel. He attended school in the ancient city of Jaffa, the historical seaport in central Israel. It was there that the mystical walls of the city and the austere religion of the historic churches, temples and monasteries captivated him. It was during these early years in Israel that Schluss sensed his overwhelming desire to paint.

Influence from great masters such as Chagall, Miró, and Botero inspired Schluss to create an individualized style and technique. He began experimenting by using different approaches. Once, while painting, he created an area on the canvas that he didn’t like. As artists do, he grabbed a rag to wipe the area of its image and in the process made an accidental discovery. The image he created with his hands and a rag was far more interesting than what he had created with his brush.

It was this lucky accident that prompted Schluss to start painting with his hands. Since that fortuitous day, the Israeli-born artist has never looked back and continues to paint his works without any tools. Schluss begins his process of creating by applying a combination of gesso, glue, and egg white directly to the canvas. As this application dries, interesting textures appear on the surface of the canvas with an exceptional three-dimensional quality. Using his fingers as paintbrushes, he sketches his composition with black oil. He then applies the colors to the images with his fingertips and gives them dimension by creating light and shadow with the palm of his hands.

In the early works of David Schluss his images were a bit melancholy. Although somewhat somber, these images were universal in their mood.  His recent works reflect celebration, joy, and enthusiasm rather than sadness and sorrow which he attributes to his move from chilly Montreal to sun-drenched Florida. It is with this unique insight that Schluss creates his joyous playful images. Elegant musicians and dancers adorned with rainbows of color are signature figures that appear in his current works. Their whimsy and gracefulness exemplify the beauty of his artistic style.

Recently Schluss embarked on a new creative endeavor which turned out to be a very gratifying medium: bronze sculptures. Since Schluss has always felt that he “sculpts” his paintings onto the canvas by using his hands, this new medium allows Schluss to transform his style into three-dimensional bronzes. The figures from his paintings truly come alive in these limited-edition sculptures.

The works of David Schluss are exhibited in art galleries all over the world. The artist travels frequently doing one-man shows throughout the United States and South America.

As David Schluss persists on challenging himself with new creativity and artistic experimentation, his works continue to flourish with originality and vision. Through the eyes of this artist one can be lured into his magical world of hope and joy and can be enlightened by the inspiration of his paintings.