Why I Rarely Paint from Observation

One of the main reasons I rarely paint directly from observation is that it can create a visual barrier keeping me too close to what’s in front of me, instead of letting me follow the atmosphere or message I’m trying to express in the painting.

People often ask me why I don’t paint from life. The truth? I’ve asked myself the same question more than once. Over time, I realized that reality is rich and beautiful as it is but that’s exactly why I don’t feel the need to replicate it. I’m not trying to document what I see. I’m trying to create my own interpretation of what I’m feeling, or what I’m trying to evoke in the work.

To me, a good painting doesn’t need to be accurate it needs to be alive. It should carry a certain energy, something the viewer can feel, the same way we feel music even if we don’t understand the lyrics. Sometimes a small distortion says more than perfect proportions ever could.

For example, in the portrait of a woman shown here, there’s more than just realism. Her expression, the colors around her, and even the subtle hint of a phoenix behind her all of these elements come together to suggest a moment of transformation. That’s why I called the painting ״Rebirth״.

Maybe one day I’ll work more from observation. But for now, it still feels like something that limits my imagination. When I paint from within, something else opens up a different kind of freedom.

Rebirth - oil on canvas, 70 x 60 cm