David Schluss

David Schluss was born in Israel. He started painting at a very early age. He attended school in the ancient city of Jaffa, the historical seaport in central Israel. 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 objective was the development of his craft. During his early 20s, Schluss and his family migrated to Montreal. He enrolled in the renowned art school "Ecole des Beaux Arts" in 1969. Soon after, he began teaching private lessons to other students. 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 painting with his hands, using no paint brush or spatula. "With the palm of my hands I can get a play of light that I could never achieve with a brush. I start with the abstract, and figures emerge."

Today, Schluss paints only using his hands. He sculpts images, textures, and colors directly onto the canvas. He opened a studio in Fort Lauderdale in 1983 where he still continues to perfect his painting technique. He travels back and forth from Florida to Tel-Aviv, drawing inspiration for his work. His paintings are displayed in the Teffen Museum in Israel, The Museum of Modern Art in Fort Lauderdale, and in many private and public collections throughout the world.