Jay Raymond Art

Jay Raymond, Leap and Rise, oil on panel, 30 x 40 inches In a previous post this image appeared as a digital painting. This is the final piece in oil. All of my current works, including this one, begin as abstract compositions drawn in a 3.5 x 5 inch sketchbook. There is no preconceived idea about what the image will be. Instead, I begin with a few lines and begin playing with forms to develop interesting positive and negative shapes. My natural inclinations sometimes emerge in hints of figurative or landscape elements, but many times there's really no obvious references to those, and the image becomes an exploration of interesting ways to divide space and experiment with color effects. I like to use color harmony and dissonance and effects such as simultaneous contrast to infuse energy and vibrance. Josef Albers' Interaction of Color is a recent re-read for me, and while it was once simply required reading during my college art days, it is now very interesting and relevan...

Jay Raymond, Spring Glory, oil on canvas, 36 x 72 inches This large piece began as a small 2.5 x 5 inch drawing. Through an analog to digital to analog (let's call it the ada technique) approach, I employed the latest digital tools for development of the color composition on an iPad and output the final digital painting to an inkjet printer for reference. Using a digital projector, I enlarged the digital painting directly to the canvas for transfer using pencil. As I was working through this process, I was recalling the old master techniques David Hockney discussed in the book Secret Knowledge . In that book, Hockney's extensive research led him to conclude that artists such as Caravaggio, Velazquez, da Vinci, and others used lenses to create their masterpieces. It is fascinating to think that the old masters were using optical technology in the 16th and 17th centuries, and that they would likely be using all of the modern tools available today to aid in producing their...

To Fly, 2018, Digital Painting In my previous posting , I mentioned the many sketches I've created over the past several years that I've intended to develop into large paintings and sculpture. As I continue to experiment with ArtStudio and iPad as a digital painting tool, I'm finding that I'm able to quickly work out many possible variations on composition and explore color combinations. This is one of 16 versions of this theme. There are several I'd like to execute on canvas including monochromatic versions that I've not developed as digital paintings, but live in my head. I admire Frank Stella's work in the 80's where he was working out interpreting Moby Dick. His use of line and application of color was on my mind as I developed this version of the theme.

Recently, I've been experimenting with using digital tools to develop quick abstract compositions. These compositions are really meant to provide a space within which I can test color schemes for large paintings. I've been creating small drawings over the last few years with the idea that they will ultimately be translated onto big canvases and even sculpture. Sketchbook drawing I might have over a hundred of these sketches that are explorations of line, shape and form. Many of these are related to the figure in some way, even though I begin each one without an idea of what the resulting image will be. Rather, I begin with a line or shape that interests me and build upon that to develop a balance of positive and negative space and movement. Suggestions of a figure, or figures, often emerge unintentionally. As a composition grows, the figure, or simply parts of a figure might suggest themselves. Mostly, I'm interested in creating interes...

Cloud Study, 2013

Carlos Creek Winery Painting Completed I finally completed the large vineyard painting I'd been working on for the owners of the Carlos Creek Winery in Minnesota. This is 24 x 36 inches, acrylic on board. As can be seen through the vivid green of the field and foliage, this is the peak of summer with the sun fully lighting the landscape. It was a glorious day to be wandering the grounds enjoying the many interesting views of vines, trees, amazing skies, and the occasional company of the winery dogs. They are definitely favorite characters at Carlos Creek. Within this painting are many interesting sub-compositions I might end up using as references for other paintings or for some printed products. Here are a few: