David Schluss, born in 1943, began studying art at an early age. He was fascinated by form and texture even as a child and as a young boy was eager to paint. He attended school in the ancient city of Jaffa, the historical seaport in central Israel. It was there that the mystical walls of the city and the austere religion of the historic churches, temples and monasteries captivated him. It was during these early years in Israel that Schluss sensed his overwhelming desire to paint.
Unable to afford the necessary painting materials as a young artist, Schluss began sketching with charcoal and cheap pencils. He gave his sketches away to anyone who showed interest in his work. His main objective was the development of his craft. During his early 20’s, Schluss and his family migrated to Montreal, Canada and in 1969 he enrolled in the renowned art school “Ecole des Beaux Arts.” Soon after, he began teaching private lessons to other students of the school. In 1971, he pursued his interests in art education at the University of Sir George Williams in Montreal where he earned his fine arts degree.
Influence from great masters such as Chagall, Miro, and Botero inspired Schluss to create his own individualized style and technique of painting. He began experimenting by using different techniques. Once when working on a painting he created an area on the canvas which he did not like. As artists do, he grabbed a rag to wipe the area of its image and in the process made an accidental discovery. The image that he had created by using his hands and a rag was far more interesting than what he had created with his brush. It was this lucky accident that prompted Schluss to start painting with his hands. Since that fortuitous day, the Israeli-born artist has never looked back and continues to this day to paint his works by using no paintbrush or spatula. He explains, “I must feel and sense the canvas as it takes its personality from the oils and materials I use. I don’t really know at the beginning what will develop. I start with the abstract, and figures emerge. With the palm of my hands I can get a play of light that I could never achieve with a brush.”
Schluss begins his process of creating by applying a combination of gesso, glue and egg white directly to the canvas. As this concoction dries, interesting textures appear onto the surface of the canvas with an exceptional 3-dimensional quality. Using his fingers as paintbrushes, he sketches his composition with black oil. He then applies the colors to the images with his fingertips and gives them dimension by creating light and shadow with the palm of his hands.
In the early works of David Schluss his images were a bit melancholy. Although somewhat somber, these images were universal in their mood. “The thought, the look, the position could be myself-could be anybody,” Schluss says, who expects his viewers to interject themselves as an element in his paintings.
His recent works reflect celebration, joy and enthusiasm rather than sadness and sorrow, which he attributes to his move from chilly Montreal to sun-drenched Florida. It is with this unique insight that Schluss creates his joyous playful images. Elegant musicians and dancers adorned with rainbows of color are signature figures that appear in his current works. Their whimsy and gracefulness exemplify the beauty of his artistic style.
David Schluss continues to perfect his painting technique in his studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that he opened in 1983. He travels back and forth from Florida to Israel drawing inspirations for his work. Recently Schluss embarked on a new creative endeavor, which turned out to be a very gratifying medium; bronze sculptures. Since Schluss has always felt that he “sculpts” his paintings onto the canvas by using his hands, this new medium allows Schluss to transform his style into three-dimensional bronzes. The subdued, soft-colored patinas are hand applied to each sculpture creating a sophisticated elegance to the image. The figures from his paintings truly come alive in these limited-edition sculptures.
The works of David Schluss are exhibited in art galleries all over the world. The artist travels frequently doing one-man shows throughout the United States and South America. His works have been displayed in the Teffen Museum in Israel, the Sheraton and Hilton in Tel-Aviv and in many private and public collections throughout the world.
As David Schluss persists on challenging himself with new creativity and artistic experimentation, his works continue to flourish with originality and vision. Through the eyes of this artist one can be lured into his magical world of hope and joy and can be enlightened by the inspiration of his paintings.
EXHIBITIONS:
1971 Centrum Gallery, Amsterdam
2003 International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
1972 Galerie Colbert, Montreal, Canada
2003 Décor Expo, Atlanta
1975 Galerie Gallien, Nice, France
2004 Coral Springs Art Museum, FL
1981 Galerie Matisse, Montreal
2004 Art Expo New York
1982 Heritage Gallery, Toronto
2004 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1982 Delining Gallery, Chicago
2004 Palm Springs Expo, CA
1983 Vaggo Gallery, Florida
2004 Art Philadelphia, PA
1985 Delining Gallery, Chicago
2004 Israeli Bonds Show, Washington D.C.
1986 Daniel Gallery, Florida
2004 Art Expo Atlanta, GA
1989 De Lisle Gallery, Montreal
2005 Art Expo New York
1992 Galerie 35 Nice, France
2005 Galerie St.Catherine, Honfleur, FRANCE
1993 Lawrence Gallery, California
2005 Nuances et Lumiere, Lyon,FRANCE
1993 Gesher Gallery, Tel-Aviv
2005 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1994 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2006 Israel Cancer Assoc. Benefit
1994 Rotkopf Gallery, Tel-Aviv
2006 Art Expo New York
1995 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2006 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1995 Butterfly Gallery, Australia
2006 Blue Gallery, Delray Beach, FL
1996 Rotkopf Gallery, Tel-Aviv
2007 Art Expo New York
1996 Art Beapue, Hong Kong
2007 Art Expo Las Vegas
1997 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2007 NCL Cruises
1997 Palm Beach Art Expo, Palm Beach, FL
2007 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1997 Smart Gallery, Tel-Aviv
2007 Blue Gallery, Delray Beach, FL
1997 Frame of Mind, Toronto, Ontario
2008 Art Expo New York
1998 Art Expo New York
2008 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1998 Image 98, Amsterdam
2008 Blue Gallery, Delray Beach, FL
1998 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2009 Blue Gallery, Aspen, CO
1998 Art Expo, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Fine Art Ltd.-Beijing, CHINA
1998 Smart Gallery, Tel Aviv
2009 Art Expo New York
1999 Art Expo New York
2009 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1999 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2009 Crystal Cruises
1999 Smart Gallery, Tel Aviv
2009 Princess Cruises
1999 ParkWest Galleries, Detroit, MI
2009 Blue Gallery, Delray Beach, FL
1999 Frame of Mind, Toronto, Ontario
2009 Blue Gallery, Aspen, CO
1999 North Shore Gallery, Northbrook, IL
2009 Galerie St.Catherine, Honfleur, FRANCE
1999 Art 21, Las Vegas, NV
2010 Wentworth Galleries, USA
1999 Frame One, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2010 Blue Gallery, Delray Beach, FL
2000 Art Expo New York
2010 Blue Gallery, Aspen, CO
2000 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2012 Coral Springs Art Museum, FL
2000 ABC, Atlanta, GA
2011-2014 Blue Galleries, Florida
2000 Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
2013-2014 Wentworth Galleries USA
2000 Art 21, Las Vegas, NV
2015 Wentworth Galleries USA
2000 Cagnes Sur Mer Museum, FRANCE
2015 Art Expo New York
2001 Art Expo New York
2015 Art San Diego, CA
2001 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2016 Galerie St.Catherine, Honfleur, FRANCE
2001 International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
2016 Wentworth Galleries USA
2001 ABC/Décor Expo, Atlanta, GA
2016 Art Expo New York
2001 Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
2016 Blue Galleries, Florida
2002 Art Miami, Florida
2017 Wentworth Galleries USA
2002 Décor Expo, Orlando, FL
2017 Art Expo New York
2002 Art Expo New York
2017 Art Spectrum / Red Dot Miami
2002 International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
2018 Artexpo New York
2002 Art Atlanta, GA
2018 Blue Gallery Delray Beach, Florida
2002 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2019 Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary
2003 Art Miami, FL
2019 Art Palm Beach
2003 Ambiente, Germany
2019 Art Wynwood, Miami, FL
2003 Art Expo New York
2019 Artexpo New York
2003 Wentworth Galleries, USA
2019 Art Miami-New York
2019 Art Market Hamptons, NY
2019 REVEAL Saratoga Springs, NY
2019 Art Aspen, CO
2019 Sofa Chicago
