“The Wailing Wall” – oil painting with impasto enhancements & 3D greenery elements.

The Wailing Wall, Western Wall, or HaKotel HaMa’aravi, is the last remnant of the expansion of the Second Jewish Temple. It’s one of the holiest sites of Judaism, and a testament to the ancient Jews’ ability to build massive structures without the aid of machinery. It’s also symbolic of the Jewish nation itself – no matter how many empires tried to destroy them, they’re still standing, like that wall.

For over 2,000 years, religious Jews have been coming to pray at the Wall, and to leave prayers written on paper in the crevices between stones – over 1 million every year. Even though the Temple itself was destroyed (and the Dome of the Rock built on top of it), the orthodoxy states that the Divine Presence never left the Wall, so praying there has a very special significance.

This painting was commissioned by a customer, with a request for orange and brown tones to match the interior of the room. I used a combination of paints and techniques to create the various textures of the Wall and the surrounding elements. 

The greenery throughout the painting is actual miniature artificial trees & bushes, meant for model landscaping. I wanted to add a small yet special touch, making the painted scene pop out in 3D.

For any questions, commission requests, or simply to drop a line – send E-mail to carmonaluxury@gmail.com, or use the contact form at the bottom of this page.