Ever heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? It means that instead of using 1000 words to say something, a single picture can do the job. Take a look at Gadi Pollak’s masterful illustrations and that’s just what you’ll see.
Have you read The Terrible Trap of the Bad Middos Pirates? Or A Never-Ending Tale? Did the illustrations transport you into a different world? If you’ve ever flipped through one of Gadi Pollack’s books — and chances are, you have! — you’ll know that he’s one fantastic artist. Whether the pictures are comic or lifelike, his work is a result of remarkable talent given to him by Hashem, combined with lots of hard, painstaking effort. We caught up with Gadi in his small studio in Kiryat Sefer, Israel, and asked him to paint a picture for our readers of what it’s like to be an artist.
MJ: Thanks so much for meeting with us. Many of our readers are aspiring artists — just take a look at our Readers’ Gallery. Were you an artist as a child?
GP: Like all kids, I colored on the walls. But unlike other kids, I never stopped! I grew up in Odessa, in the Ukraine, and my parents wanted me to learn an instrument and become a musician like the rest of my family. But I wasn’t interested. All I wanted to do was paint. Finally, my father agreed to let me go to a special school and learn art. I studied for four years in art school and another four at an art academy.
MJ: So did you start illustrating right after you finished school?
Create a free account to keep reading.
