David Najar

Born in 1962, David Najar grew up in Israel. His teachers recognized his artistic skills, but his family was less supportive of his talent. With his artistic pursuits stymied, sports took over Najar’s life. He took an interest in the martial arts, and soon after met Imi Lichtenfeld, the creator of Krav Maga. The two became friends and Najar endured intense training to become a coach and leading figure in Krav Maga.

During his many conversations with Lichtenfeld, his master often told him that he “would be surprised by what you’ll find inside you.” This prophetic musing came to be when Najar visited a museum where, upon viewing a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, felt his passion for art reawaken and decided he had to learn how to paint.

Najar was in his 30s when he realized that he wanted to create art for a living, instructing Krav Maga by day and painting at night. After a year of classes, his art teacher praised Najar’s abilities but asked him to leave the class because of his “independent style.” The critique did not deter him. In 2003, renowned Israeli artist Itzchak Tarkay began to mentor Najar. The two artists painted together until Tarkay’s passing in 2012.

David coins his vivid portrayals of nature as “Contemporary Expressionism.” He does not base his scenes on actual places, instead, he borrows aspects from reality and combines them in his imagination. “It’s not just shapes and colors, you see the harmony, the symbiosis, the unconditional love of nature,” he says. “I try to share with someone he feeling that I have when I look at the colors, the movement there, the quietness.” Najar paints spontaneously, instinctively choosing colors to express his emotions.

Often focusing on landscapes, his compositions feature themes of reflection by utilizing water sources, the setting sun, and shadows. “I try to give you something where your soul can feel at home,” Najar says.