New Feature on COLlive.com: Q&A With Artist Mira Eisen

COLlive.com is proud to inaugurate yet another new feature on the community news service: Art & Soul.

Launched in cooperation with the Leviim Jewish Art Gallery in Crown Heights, it will interview renowned and up and coming artists who specialize in Jewish and Chassidic scenes and themes, and showcase their works.

This week, meet Mira Eisen, 36, and a mother of 5 children.

Please tell us about yourself.
I was born in Israel and attended Beth Jacob from preschool through seminary. I took art courses throughout from Rikki Yakabovitch, Rachel Roth, Chaya Rechtcherfor and others.

Artwork Accomplishment?
Many Judaic artwork I produced were featured for the public in Haggados for Pesach, Kesubos, school artwork and school wall murals.

How did you get started?
By nature, I was always drawn to artwork. Every arts and craft in my childhood was a springboard for more creativity as I developed it into a piece of art. As I got older, my artwork matured along with me. My family had many artistic people, so this also served as encouragement.

Describe your art?
My art is traditional subjects and ideas as a base with a modern/abstract twist in the presentation.

What artwork are you most proud of?
A set of Shabbos paintings and the picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Favorite part of being an artist?

I feel like I connect to Hashem, my creator through art. Each piece takes me so much time and I am amazed again and again how Hashem created this magnificent world with no effort! I become more and more grateful each time!

The Lubavitcher Rebbe said to “live with the times” – Everything in each Parshah, Yom Tov, and our life is meant to be re-experienced and lived once again and I do this through art by painting and connecting to subjects that are relevant to that time.

For example, my series about Shabbos are four painting: Candle lighting, A father blessing his children, Learning Torah, and the Sefer Torah/Torah Scroll. When I painted that, I felt the whole week was Shabbos. I also put in a lot of yellow/brightness expressing my excitement for Shabbos.

What is the most challenging part of your work?
Finding the time to do it and connecting on a deep level to the person I would like to paint.

What is your dream project?
Every time I dream it becomes my next art project and then I am on to the next dream!

Mira Eisen will be presenting her art this Sunday, June 23rd, 3:00-7:00 PM at the Leviim Jewish Art Gallery at 271 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, NY. For more information, see leviimart.com