Jay Long

Jay Long creates original Mixed-Media paintings using wood, linen, gesso, found books, oil paint, shellac, and wax. This creative process begins with a sketch of an idea. The drawing is then transferred to a wood panel which is cut to the shape, covered with linen, sometimes collaged with text from the found books, then painted. The result is mounted into a handmade frame to add dimension, and finished with shellac and wax.

Ideas are sometimes inspired by literature, music or theater as a way of personally interpreting historic or contemporary culture. Other sketches are created automatically, without premeditation, in order to discover the features of a character or scene more as a participant in the emerging idea than its creator.