When I painted the portrait my focus was to make it softer and put the light on the hands. I also wanted the color more soft warm golden then the picture, still, I can see the likeness of the child on the photo even if it was not my main focus. I call the painting "Silent prayer". Oil, 65x45 cm.

When I made the painting I used black gesso for the background before starting the portrait. Gesso dries faster than oil and is a good alternative to acrylic or tempera. I love painting on freehand not making up lines or other techniques, it is more of a challenge, and so much fun! I sketch the face and body with yellow ochre (Michal Harding) and a small brush. Then I start to paint with Isabey brush. I use these brushes in different sizes, one off my favorite brushes! You can find them and Michal Harding oil color at Färg, Elektravägen 18, Hägersten, Sweden, farg.nu

If you are interested in a course how to paint a portrait, you can order the course here: ninabjorkart

I used a warmer tone in the painting because I wanted the painting to be warmer in the colors than the photo. The hands were important to me, I love the way the child try to put her little fingers together, you can see in the photo she has a problem to put them together correctly. But there is no right or wrong when it comes to prayers, the only thing that is important is the heart, and the heart of a little child is always right. I wanted to capture that moment and the black huge emptiness around her, still safe, warm and aware of her true safety. May we never forget our childhood faith.

If you are interested in a portrait on commission, send a photo to me, more info and price contact me at; [email protected]

Or if you are interested in the painting above, contact me a here or at the same e-mail.

My blogg is in Swedish, but becouse my readers sometimes is English I will switch to English... If that is okey for my Swedish readers?

In overwhelming love, I went home to the studio in Sweden and began painting one of these wonderful families. Investigations I made showed that the small businesses survived becouse of the initiative of Lev Haolam. The founder is the lawyer Nati Rom and his family. I contacted Nati and told him I would like to paint a portrait of him and his family. He felt honored and it was okey that I made the portraits.

Nati Rom has now the original paintings, as an artcollector he knows the value and quality of the paintings and wanted the first hand opportunity to buy them. So happy and grateful that the paintings now is with the family I portrayed back in 2016, now the paintings have "come home".

Why it happend to be Nati Rome and his family I painted, has to do with their impressive work in Samaria and Judea. with the project Lev Haolam. An organization for small entrepreneurs., Lev Haolam collects products from entrepreneurs and exports the package to the whole world! A fantastic initiative by the founder Nati Rom, who does this for entrepreneurs in Israel so they can live on what they love to do in a country facing many difficulties, boycotts and terror, despite all this, they work against all ods and have a huge hope for the future. A lot of amazing work is taking place in Israel and behind all projects and inventions stands heroes. People of Israel, who makes an incredible sacrifices for their country, a country they love, it gave me inspiration to paint these paintings.

Oil on linen canvas

”On the mountain Elon Moreh, back where we came from. finally home….”

A Jewish man and his children stand together on Mount Elon Moreh and look down into the valley where his ancestor Abraham came in to the land of Israel with his people, several thousand years ago. Today Abraham’s children has returned to the country they belong. The Jewish man and his family have peace, becouse the land and the people is one, they are home. The gratitude and joy that the family feels I try to capture in this painting. I understand their love for the land of Israel. I also feel it, every day… in my innermost part... and rejoice together with the people in Israel from distance. I share their faith and their hope for Israel, for the future of all the people of Israel, that they can live in peace in the land of their ancestors forever and never be uprooted again.

Oil on linen canvas

”I have a dream, a dream where I see the children of Israel sitting in the grass on the heights of Hebron without fear of terror and threats, becouse terror will not exist in the land no more”

I know Israel has a future and a hope, and when I see people with great curage and faith it inspires me and that is why I felt inspired to paint these paintings of Nati Rom and his family. The work Nati and his family does for the business pioneers in Samaria and Judea is so amazing and I know it have to be inspired of The Creator of heaven and earth becouse it give Israel and the whole world a future and a hope.

Oil on linen canvas

”Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, you have ordained strength becouse of your enemies, to silence the enemy and avenger”.(Tehillim psalm 8:3).

It is impossible to describe the feeling of love and gratitude bubbling up inside of me when I'm in Jerusalem, but maybe it's possible to describe it through the mother's love and gratitude when she looks in to her child's eyes. A child is the treasure of the mother’s affection, Jerusalem is HaShem's treasure of love and affection, all of you who visit Jerusalem can feel this because The Creator of heaven and earth heart is attached here forever”.

Ge dig själv ett kreativt 2018.

Gå i en konst kurs och lär dig grunderna eller ta en inspirationskurs i måleri för att komma igång. Kurs i Stockholm eller via Skype.

Är en kurs med fokus på grunderna i teckning och måleri. Du får även möjlighet att måla stilleben. Kursen är upplagd på fem lektioner men det finns även möjlighet att gå tio lektioner, då du ges möjlighet till fritt arbete utifrån vad du lärt dig.

Är en fortsättning av Art 1. Här går vi igenom olika sätt att måla och du får även pröva olika målartekniker. Vi går även igenom konsten att måla ett porträtt.

En inspirationskurs i konst. En kurs för dig som kanske behöver ny inspiration i ditt måleri eller för dig som önskar måla mer fritt.

Maila: [email protected]

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