The most correct title should be: How I faced with mental stress, tension, and anxiety between sirens and dockets during the war.
The Diary of an Artist - blog 0012 by Marina Manukian - Star of David paintings
October 2023 will forever be remembered as one of the most harrowing months in Israel. On October 7, Hamas militants launched brutal and unbearable attacks on the residents of the south, killing thousands of innocent people. The devastating news spread as fast as the rockets that rained down on the southern and coastal regions during those hours. The fighting and defense of the occupied territories continued for two days, leaving us shocked, shaken, and bewildered by the situation imposed upon us. War was forced upon us.
The Diary of an Artist - Marina Manukian's blog 0012 - Star of David paintings
The Swords of Iron war
The war continues even as I write this blog post. Part of the time, I find myself in a bomb shelter, waiting for the rocket sirens to sound. I can also hear them in nearby towns. The rest of the time, I immerse myself in the one thing that gives me a sense of calm amidst the psychological pressure: my Star of David drawings. The need to protect myself from a situation that beyond my control, I started to draw a shape with various historical and Zionist meanings: the Star of David.
The Star of David shape
The Star of David is composed of six triangles interconnected to form a circle, or in other words, it's a star with six points. In more detailed terms, it is a structure of two triangles, one placed on top of the other, with a hexagon created in the center. It is a complex shape, shrouded in mysticism and deep significance in Jewish-Zionist history. The Star of David symbol can be found in Jewish synagogues and has been historically associated with protection. There is historical evidence that the Nazis used a yellow badge in the shape of a Star of David during World War II to mark Jews. The Zionist movement chose the Star of David as its symbol, which later became the flag of the State of Israel upon its establishment in 1948. Out of identification, a return to roots, and defense against danger, I began drawing the Star of David.
Meditative painting relaxes mental stress
In the first days of the war, I was under immense mental stress, filled with anxiety and fear due to the horrifying scenes I witnessed on the news and social media. I empathized with the pain of the victims and the wounded, and I felt for the trauma of the families of the kidnapped soldiers and the uncertainty about the fate of the missing. To fortify myself mentally and deal with the challenging situation, I searched for a way to strengthen myself. For me, creation is the best form of therapy. I started drawing Star of David shapes with a pen in my sketchbook. With each sketch, my drawings evolved. I began searching for new canvases, something more resilient than paper or canvas.
An old plastic cutting board
A few months ago, I collected used plastic cutting boards from several friends with the intention of restoring them. At that time, I wasn't sure what to paint on them, so I stored them in my warehouse, waiting for inspiration. The "Iron Swords War" and the tragic events of the accursed Sabbath turned these plastic cutting boards into the most suitable canvases for my Star of David drawings. Our country is wounded, marked by scars and deep injuries that may heal with time. We will need extensive treatment to renew our country, to heal from the trauma.
The process of renewing a plastic board
I renewed the plastic cutting board. I hope that our leaders will see them as tools for the renewal of our country.
The first step is cleaning. A used plastic cutting board absorbs remnants of food that were cut on it, so it's essential to remove all the leftover residue. I used a mixture of lemon, salt, baking soda, and vinegar to create a potent solution that clears the stains on the cutting board and lifts them.
The second step is polishing. After cleaning the cutting board from the fizzy solution, I dried it for 20 seconds, then started to polish it with sandpaper. I began with 80 gram sandpaper, using circular motions to smooth out the scratches. Then I moved to 220 gram sandpaper and finally to 300 gram sandpaper until the surface was smooth.
The third step is coating. After cleaning and polishing, I have a transparent base for painting a Star of David.
Art of doodling
Every day I drew a Star of David on a plastic board that I renewed. I documented all of them in videos that can be seen on my personal profile on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The planning, the work and the documentation turned the days of uncertainty into days of anticipation of the next thing. At the same time, the work became a therapeutic tool for me to strengthen my soul, to disconnect from the terrible news, to protect and comfort. During the first two weeks of the war, I was unable to paint personal portraits, only a Star of David. The more I continued to paint them and the more I perfected my paintings, the stronger I got day by day. Star of David paintings went from thoughtless scribbles to drawings with perfect ruler and circles.
Seven day - Seven paintings
Seven plastic cutting boards with Star of David drawings were created during this time. Each one is unique and carries its own story. I don't feel the need to continue drawing Star of David symbols because I now feel strong, whole, and secure enough to return to what truly makes me happy - portrait paintings. I may not return to drawing Star of David symbols unless requested.
Do you have an old plastic cutting board? Try renewing it following the steps outlined here or watch the video segment on my YouTube channel. Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.
Watch a video on My YouTube channel click here