Natalie Leichtman: How long have you been
doing art for?
Natalia Kadish: Since I could pick up a
pen. Since I was two or three.
NL: So that’s a long time….
NK: I often say that that’s how
long it takes to make a piece. Each piece I’ve done has led to each following
piece, they build up like that. If I didn’t do the first piece, I never would
have done the last piece. Everyone constantly gets better with practice-that’s
G-d’s gift-everything we’ve done in the past affects each moment.
NL: What got you started in
art?
NK: I grew up with it. My
father is an illustrator-he does picture books, and advertisements. My
grandparents are professional artists too-they even have a few pieces in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, which is pretty awesome. People say
that it’s in the genes, and that’s true- talent is inherited. But people need
to work at it, to train, to learn. If they didn’t, it would just sort of stay
hovering in potential, it wouldn’t be actualized. It may be in the genes, but
you need the passion and the patience.
NL: What medium do you use and
why did chose the medium you work in?
NK: I used to do everything-you
need to do all to fully appreciate the one you choose. All mediums are great in
context in their own way, but I am most proficient in and prefer colored
pencil, for several reasons.
NL: What are your reasons?
NK: I was using everything, not
really paying attention to medium. But in my junior year of college when a good
teacher, the kind who notices the little things and then knows what’s right for
the individual student, said that by the way my hand moved I should use colored
pencil. So I did, and I realized that my teacher was right-colored pencil is
the best way for me to express myself and the world on paper. With colored
pencil, a person can get a lot of detail and a person can get a picture with
many layers. You can go over things, be precise. You can turn mistakes into
merits, into a picture that would have never been that beautiful if it wasn’t
for that mistake. Paint uses broad strokes-and I just finished a painting-but
it can lose details. And life is like that-you need to pay attention to the
details. It’s nice to know that every little detail is there and part of the
huge picture.
NL: What do you consider to be
your biggest inspirations?
NK: God. (laughs) I need to
think a little, but God. The way God builds the world, He is part of creation.
Before creating a picture, you need to do the same. You need to be a part of
it, to love every little bit. When I become part of the piece, I understand how
God can be part of my life, and that gives me hope, that everything can be
spiritual even if it seems mundane. Also, that we can create a whole 3D world
on a 2D piece of paper!
NL: What is your artistic
process, as in, what is the procedure for creating the art?
NK: First, I think about the
concept that I need to create or illustrate, and I think about the different
things in the physical world that represent that concept and the different
elements of that concept. And then, I sit and I speak to the Most High in my
own words and say how thankful I am for everything in my life and I think about
how grateful I am for a while. At the appropriate time, I ask for assistance
from Him. Then, I psychologically step into the space that will become the
picture, and I see the different objects that are part of the elements of the
picture there. I look at them, and where the light is coming from and
everything, and I try to get as much as possible into my memory. And then I
step out. This meditation all usually goes on during Shabbat, when we are most
connected to God, since all the spiritual channels are united into this strong
energy, so it is easier to get into a meditative state. After that, the art has
become a part of me, so I go onto the computer and start searching for
references, and sometimes even build the objects for the various elements and
symbols, because realism, especially spiritual realism, is important to me and
I want to get as much of that reality as possible onto the paper. I then go on
a photo shoot, either with the images, or photographing still lives and my
sculptures, and eventually scan it into Photoshop. I put it all together in
Photoshop, trying to arrange the various images to resemble closely the picture
that I saw during my meditations. And then I grid it out, inch by inch,
occasionally even having to do the math for the grid, occasionally even dot by
dot for the details. Then I print it out and send it to the client to make sure
the prototype is ok, or looking at it myself if I’m my own client. (laughs) And
all this is only for the first kind of picture that I do.
NL: What’s the other kind of
picture?
NK: Sometimes the client has a
favorite meditation, or Torah passage, or recurring dream, or something, and
does most of the first meditation for me. Sometimes it’s very general, like
something with hands, and sometimes its more specific, and they tell me exact
colors and places where they want things to be. Sometimes I really have to get
inside their head, and it can even take a couple tries, before I understand
what the client wants. But the first part, the meditation, is a lot of fun.
(laughs)
NL: So all of this is even
before you even start the picture?
NK: Yeah. During the picture, I
put on really nice music, like reggae, or spiritual Israeli music, basically
music with a lot of prayers, positive music. I also listen to Torah lessons
from big rabbis at the same time. And these steps allow me to stay creative and
inspired while still being real and organized. These steps help me merge the
spiritual and the physical, the infinite and the finite, the paradoxes.
Sometimes artists get caught up in the specific deadlines or else the creative
inspiration. This process helps allow me to merge everything together and
create, which shows through my art. Everything I listen to is drawn into the
piece, which is what makes it so beautiful. God gave me everything, so by
listening to these lessons and music, I can give back to Him. After I’m done with
the piece, I send it to a professional photographer and he turns it into a
really high-quality photo, and puts it on a disc so that I can then go to a
less expensive place and get it put on posters and cards and things so that I
can sell it wholesale. Also, I always sign my pieces with a blessing to God. My
name means nothing-it’s all from Him whether I get the inspiration or not.
NL: Can you describe a typical
day?
NK: My typical day is fun. I
wake up, and I meditate, and I try to be thankful for living and everything.
And then I make breakfast for me and Aaron, my husband. I make whole wheat
pancakes! This gives me energy for the whole day. I also learn with my husband,
either after breakfast or during. We learn Jewish laws, and some mysticism, and
some Torah, so that we can be connected. Then I draw, or I do errands for
drawing. But this is hard, because I’m a horrible driver, so I am lucky that
Aaron helps me so much. He’s one of the best husbands ever! And then I do a lot
of business stuff, or work on the computer, or draw some more. After 5, I give
my art lessons to my students, and that’s really inspiring. The kids have such
raw talent, and really teach me what it is to be an artist. It’s such a
blessing to see them grow, to help them actualize their potential and become
artists. And then I go to learn Torah, and we sometimes have a mysticism class
at my place. And then my husband and I watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and go
to sleep. The show’s not just for kids-it’s for adults too!
NL: What do you think are your
biggest challenges as an artist?
NK: Well, making money…but I
pray for money, and it usually works! Also, my husband is more practical, and
prays too, but I don’t know. I don’t know how we do it, but we do. We have
everything we need. It’s what God gave us, so it’s everything we need.
NL: What is your favorite part
about being an artist?
NK: Because that’s my mission
in life, so I should love it. And I do! I love that I can express the love that
I have for life and for God, the Source of life who is also within all life, on
paper. And being able to put words, or difficult mystical concepts, or the
beauty of the world, onto a page, and inspire others, is inspiring! I am so
happy to be a part of that inspiration, and to appreciate the small things and
see things in different perspectives. We can look out a window and see the sky,
or see our own reflection in the window, or see both at the same time. Being
able to express that in art is incredible. I can’t see myself being anything
else.
NL: What advice can you give
people interested in being artists?
NK: So basically, keep doing
it. Look at the world with positivity, take classes, but also be patient.
Patience is the key, and sticking with it is really important-especially for
artists. Sometimes it can be really difficult, and sometimes we aren’t in the
mood, or are blocked creatively or have constricted consciousness. Well, get in
the mood. We are made of creativity, of inspiration and can always reveal it.
The creativity is in us, it’s not far away. Notice it. Look at other artists
and the world, think positively, and do good deeds. That is what will bring out
the creativity and inspiration. If it comes from anger, the art should be done
to transform the anger into happiness, into something positive. Love life and
see goodness always.