Methods & Materials Permanence

Inspiration
I draw my primary inspiration from two sources that intertwine over and around each other - the intricate shapes and textures of nature, and the poetry of the bible. I try to express visually my personal response to the lyrical, metaforic verses of King David, which express the yearning of man to connect with the his Creator, and the poetic imagery of the later prophets as they spoke G-d's message of redemption to the people.
When I include verses from the Book of Psalms or from the books of the prophets, it is not as a caption or a focal point but rather as an unobtrusive texture emerging from the background, merging with the delicate colors and graceful shapes of flowers and landscapes.

Methods & Materials
Most of my work is painted with acrylic on canvas, while some of the more detailed pictures are executed in a combination of watercolor and acrylic on paper. The collages are composed of pieces of watercolor paper which have been prepared by layering with acrylic paints of varying opacity, stamping with lace and metal lettering, drawing with pen and ink and colored pencils. Watercolor paintings, wood block prints and silk screen prints from previous years are torn up and re-worked with additional layers of paint before finding their place in the collage.
The freedom of composition enabled by the collage has heavily influenced my work in other media, and I will many times use experimental mixed media techniques to achieve certain textures and effects, such as that of ancient scrolls of parchment with writing partially obscured.

Permanence
The archival quality of my work is of utmost priority to me. The collages are constructed with acrylic medium which will not dry out in time as regular glues would, and are protected by a final coat of acrylic medium or matte varnish. My giclees (digital prints) are printed on high quality canvas or heavy weight paper with a neutral PH to prevent yellowing. The printers I use are the most technologically advanced digital printers in the marketplace today, such as Roland CJ500, Colorspan Giclee Printmaker and others. The inks used have been tested by an internationally accepted lab so as to ensure longevity of the final print. The finished print is coated with an archival-quality, non-yellowing, protective varnish. In order to be able to offer the highest quality digital prints, I am constantly evaluating the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field.


Home Biography

For further information, please contact Myra Mandel at (972) 3 960-7241
or e-mail me :  
joelmn@netvision.net.il