INTERVIEW WITH: Jay J writing Streetplay
From: Scotland
Current location: London
Current happiness levels out of 10: 10
Favourite film: The Matrix
Favourite musician: When I spray…. Beethoven
Favourite artist: Dali vs Banksy
Favourite book: ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle
Favourite colour: Green
“Skull Duggery” Medium: Mixed Media, Spray Paint on Canvas with gloss varnish
Brief synopsis of your art: My art reflects where I am at today, my mindset, my challenges and my perceptions of the society that we live in.
London opened the world of spray art to me. After 15 years in Scotland I craved adventure, I knew there had to be more. The days of running around my village spraying my OWN name, however exhilarating were over.
I travelled and hustled and grew, finally coming to the conclusion that the career I had forged in a senior management level position within London’s corporate world had left a void. I should have realised when I had more fun at the whiteboard than any other place, occasionally leaving some random works of art for my colleagues. I fell in love with the reactions.
Through a chance encounter, I found my education at Graffik Gallery a street art gallery on Portobello Road. I was in the thick of it, bathed in inspiration from teaching graffiti workshops, curating shows to stretching canvas and being constantly surrounded by amazing works, exhibitions and artists.
I consider myself an emerging artist, commissioning and selling works internationally to private, public and celebrities. I use a mixture of media, work freehand and use stencils. Spray paint, fat caps and London’s streets have given my life….. life.
INTERVIEW:
You sell and commission work for Graffik Gallery – what advice would you give to artists putting forward their pieces? The best advice I could give is find your own style and believe in it.
What do you look for in a piece of art? The artists voice, what are they trying to say?
Huge fan of? Schoony, he is one of the good guys!
What sort of pieces do you like to create? Is there a correlation throughout your work? Whatever inspires me, that’s the beauty there are no rules. I will definitely run a series of works from a subject that has caught my imagination.
Favourite inspirational quote? Marilyn said it best, what a girl 🙂
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are struggling to start out? Reach out, if you don’t know ask. So many amazing people in this world… you will find them when the time is right.
“The Last Super” Medium: Acrylic Spray Paint on Canvas with matt varnish
Where do you envisage yourself in ten years time? I see myself with my own gallery in Australia, making art, teaching workshops on the beach and surfing ahhh!
Knowing what you know now…. would you go back to the corporate world and trade in your career in art for a huge salary if it was offered? I would rather have my soul.
Will you be voting in the next election? Don’t get me started Becki.
Jay J does private workshops, for individuals and companies… his workshop CV to date includes the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Fred Perry to name a few. Please find his contact details below..
art@street-play.com
Instagram: jayj_streetplay
Twitter: @jayjstreetplay
https://www.facebook.com/streetplayartist
Have a great week 😉
Becki Bx
Nice !
I’ll carry ure board ???????? ???????? …..please !