about Art By Netiva

"The true artist sees the harmony, the wholeness, the tendencies toward perfection in things everywhere." -Guggenheimer, Creative Vision 1950

"What is Art? It is the response of man's creative soul to the call of the Real."
-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet (1861-1941)

Many of my paintings can be found here and in this site by a student. My art powerpoint presentation shown at the Florida exhibit in Orlando, 2004, my recent Neiu-lib art exhibit (Jan. 2007) and the previous (Feb. 2005) exhibit at Northeastern Illinois University. A word on art and its meaning by David Caftori, my father, a great Israeli artist, selected as the artist of the year 1999 in Israel. My father passed away Dec. 17th, 2001, but left us with a wealth of creative knowledge in his paintings and his spirit that keeps on guiding me. See a video (not there now) on Real Audio of David Caftori's exhibit at Oakton College in the late 80's and a more recent exhibit of his pastel and water colors in Israel in July 2000.

I, Netiva, his daughter, also use a rich palate of colors and a free hand to translate the emotions within and transform them into sometimes mystical sometimes humoristic forms on paper or canvas. My media is pastel, oil, acrylic, earth colors from West Africa, and other materials found on my paths. I enjoy sharing of my art with others and that's why some of it is displayed here. Recently I have been illustrating children books like Death comes, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Death comes 7.

You may now view: Art here

I started painting during my year in Paris, 1991-92, being influenced by my surroundings, my father's visit (an artist), and having so much free time on my hands. My art is mostly abstract, mixed media (markers, pastels, chalk), oil or acrylic, on paper or canvas, and is distinguished by the very rich palate of colors I use. In 1994 I started sculpting in stone, at the studio of Omri Amrani, using pneumatic tools in addition to painting. During my sabbatical year, 1995-1996, I moved to sculpting figures in clay at Evanston Art Center, then worked on my first piece in beech wood, at the studio of Elliott Balter, using mostly a cheasel and hammer.

In 1995-96 I also learned intaglio printing and monoprint at the North Shore Art League. I continued there some more in 2002. My etchings are very different than my original Parisian works.