Yam Levi
Self-taught Israeli artist Yam Levi creates expressive, mixed-media acrylic portraits of women, known for their rich colours, textured palette-knife technique, and strong emotional focus.
Yam Levi is a self-taught Israeli artist whose work centers on acrylic portraits of women, created in a mixed-media, abstract-realist style. Working primarily with a palette knife, her paintings are characterized by rich color palettes and layered, tactile textures. Yam draws inspiration from anything that evokes emotion in her — from subtle facial expressions to organic textures found in nature.
After studying architectural engineering and interior design, she chose to pursue art full-time, dedicating herself entirely to her creative practice. Alongside her personal work, Yam creates custom commissions, and her artworks are displayed in a variety of spaces across Israel. In parallel, she taught herself photography in order to document her creative process and share it with a wider audience; today, revealing this behind-the-scenes journey is an essential part of her artistic expression.
At the heart of Yam’s work is a desire to convey emotions — the kind that invite viewers to pause, reconnect, and remember what they need to feel.
Interview with Yam Levi
In this interview, self-taught Israeli artist Yam Levi shares the story behind her expressive, mixed-media acrylic portraits of women, created in an abstract-realist style defined by rich colour palettes and layered, tactile textures. Working primarily with a palette knife, she builds depth and movement across the surface, drawing inspiration from subtle facial expressions, natural forms, and colour combinations that evoke emotion.
After studying architectural engineering and interior design, she chose to pursue art full-time, dedicating herself entirely to her creative practice. Alongside her personal work, she produces custom commissions and exhibits her paintings across Israel, while also documenting her process through photography to share a behind-the-scenes view of her studio life. At the heart of her work is a desire to capture emotions that encourage viewers to pause, reconnect, and reflect.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
What inspires me to pick up a brush every time is the need to express an emotion or a thought that’s hard to put into words. Sometimes it’s a colour combination I saw or a look that caught my eye, and I just have to see how it looks through my eyes. Painting is my way of processing the world – it’s where I feel most free and present.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
My love for art started at a very young age. I grew up in a creative environment with a deep appreciation for art. Drawing was always my way to escape and express my feelings. I filled sketchbooks and covered my bedroom walls with drawings.
As a child, I actually dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I didn’t imagine that painting art works would become my profession, but I always knew I would work in a creative field – something in art or design. Looking back now, I can see that the love for art was always there; it just took time for it to be the center of my life.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
My advice is to play and try everything. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes – they’re a natural part of learning. Be patient with yourself, and remember to enjoy the process, not just the final result.
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
The best tip I was given early on is: “If it’s possible in the world, it’s possible for me.” This sentence completely changed my mindset. It reminded me that if someone else could turn their art into a career, there’s no reason I couldn’t do it too. It gave me the courage to stop being afraid and start believing in myself.
How have social media platforms helped your career?
Social media has been a huge help in reaching a wider audience, new customers, and people who want to learn from me. I believe that sharing the creative process and behind-the-scenes in the studio creates a deeper connection to the artwork and to me as an artist. For me, creating content and storytelling isn’t just marketing; it’s an integral part of the art itself.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from anything that makes me feel something. I’m very connected to nature and love breaking down what I see into shapes and textures. I’m curious about colour combinations and the connections and emotions they convey to the viewer.
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product & why?
System3 acrylics. I love their strong pigment and how easily they blend. I also use their brushes a lot – they are excellent for my work.
What is a technique that you haven't tried yet that you would love to try & why?
In the future, I’d love to explore oil paints more, because of their strong pigment, and also experiment with sculpture, driven by my love for bold textures and physical depth.
What is a typical day in the life of an artist?
My day is a mix of business and creating art. What I love most is that every day looks different, and I have a lot of freedom with my schedule. A lot of my work is behind the scenes on the computer, replying to clients, editing content, etc. As well as spending time in nature for inspiration. But mainly my day constitutes my creative time in the studio, the time I enjoy the most, and spend the most hours doing.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
What inspires me to pick up a brush every time is the need to express an emotion or a thought that’s hard to put into words. Sometimes it’s a colour combination I saw or a look that caught my eye, and I just have to see how it looks through my eyes. Painting is my way of processing the world – it’s where I feel most free and present.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
My love for art started at a very young age. I grew up in a creative environment with a deep appreciation for art. Drawing was always my way to escape and express my feelings. I filled sketchbooks and covered my bedroom walls with drawings.
As a child, I actually dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I didn’t imagine that painting art works would become my profession, but I always knew I would work in a creative field – something in art or design. Looking back now, I can see that the love for art was always there; it just took time for it to be the center of my life.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
My advice is to play and try everything. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes – they’re a natural part of learning. Be patient with yourself, and remember to enjoy the process, not just the final result.
Products Used
System3 Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
System3 Original Acrylic Paint
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Acrylics
System3 Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
System3 Heavy Body Acrylic paints have been reformulated to offer more pigment and more power than ever before, with great heavy body consistency. They offer a unique peak retention, holding brush marks allowing the creation of motion and adding volume to artworks. It is ideal for achieving textured effects and using impasto techniques. It has […]LEARN MORE -
Acrylics
System3 Original Acrylic Paint
System3 Original Acrylic paints are versatile, water-based acrylics formulated with high-quality pigments for superior colour intensity and excellent lightfastness. Their soft body consistency makes them ideal for covering large areas while maintaining quick drying times and strong adhesion. With impressive permanence (most colours rated 3 to 4 stars) and flexibility, these paints are suitable for […]LEARN MORE
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