From a Photograph to a Painterly Portrait

Dana Bitau Yosef is an artist whose works explore moments carrying personal and complex stories of the individual in relation to society, opening a space for dialogue about the collective narrative. Through working techniques in watercolor, oil, and acrylic, Dana has developed her own visual language, through which she engages with portraits—not only as a study of facial features, but also as a means of personal and social expression. In the portrait series “Larger Than Life,” Dana explores key figures from the history of Ethiopian Jewry, whose place is absent from the historical narrative, with the aim of granting them visual presence and dignity. The illustrated portraits of the various figures create a space for dialogue and discussion, in which viewers are invited to confront memories and historical testimonies that are not always heard.

Inspired by her works, we will embark on a creative journey through photography, form, and color, and discover how a photographed portrait can be transformed into a personal work of art full of character.

In the workshop, we will work from a personal photograph or a photograph selected by each participant from the artist’s collection. We will break the portrait down into geometric shapes and create a personal acrylic color palette. Through playing with colors, contrasts, and shapes, we will discover how to preserve the figure’s unique characteristics while giving it a new visual interpretation of our own. Each participant will leave the workshop with an original, colorful portrait that brings together the photographed figure and the participants’ personal perspectives.

No previous drawing experience is required—only curiosity and a willingness to experiment.