Completed commission: Aniversary Tree

This is the completed "anniversary tree" commission I just completed and delivered.

Created in celebration of a 25th wedding anniversary, the husband commissioned the work as a surprise gift for his wife. The trunk of the tree starts out as two colors, which mingle and intertwine as the tree grows, become inseparable where the leaves start to branch out. Within the leaves are the Hebrew names of the couple's three sons.

There are a few comic pieces thrown in (that's what I do, after all) but this is mostly backed with colored art papers.

Commission in progress: Anniversary gift

This is a detail from a commission I'm working on right now. It's a surprise anniversary gift from husband to wife, and (at his request) an arboreal piece, with the Hebrew names of their three children worked into the greenery.

Briskin commission:"Zeh dodi, v'zeh ra'i"

This is the completed Briskin commission, a gift from my clients to their parents on their 50th wedding anniversary. The verse is from Shir haShirim (Song of Songs) 5:16: "This is my beloved, and this is my friend." As it's a gift from their children, I've used a pomegranate branch to symbolize the fruitfulness of their union, and the Hebrew verse floats along the edges of the leaves and branches.

Briskin commission:In-progress photo 2

Briskin commission:In-progress photo

Starkman Anniversary

In February 2008 I completed a ketubah for David Starkman and Samara Polansky. It reflects their desire for a contemporary feel and a non-standard shape. I based the elements and color scheme on the Torah portion from the week they were to be married, which detailed the building of the traveling Ark of the Covenant. I spelled out their Hebrew names, found quotes from the Torah that related to their biblical counterparts (David and Sarah), and voila:


This year David called me to do a related piece for their first anniversary -- which is, traditionally, celebrated with paper. This one is smaller, but you can see how the letters-on-patterns is carried through, as are the warm reds and burgundies of the ketubah; however, here the Hebrew word is "ahava" -- "love." And of course, some grape vines around the piece for joy and celebration.