Artist Interview Series - Jay Alders, Surf Artist
Hello ladies and gentlemen! I present to you Jay Alders and his surf art. Jay is a New Jersey native and currently resides between New York City and Philadelphia in the Beach Town of Belmar, NJ.
Here are my 10 questions with Jay:
NG: Tell me a little about your background in art, do you work in the business, and how you got started.
JA: I have been drawing and into expressing myself through Art since I was a toddler and have been making a living through my art in one way or another since I was a teenager. I have done everything from Cartooning, to photography to portraits, murals, paintings, logos, graphic design, skateboard designs and package designs.
NG: What or who are some of your influences?
JA: I am influenced by everything and everyone around me. As for Art influences, at a young age I was intrigued by Cartoons and watching Bob Ross on TV and painting along side of him. Growing up, I got more into skateboard art and professional illustrators, then in College my influences broadened to Fine Artists from the past few hundred years like Dali, Ingres, de La Tour, Carravagio and Escher.
NG: What helps you decide on your subject matter?
JA: It sort of decides itself. When an idea comes to me, if it's passionate enough, it just has to come out. I try and keep my fine art work consistent with my passions, interests, dreams and memories.
NG: You seem to use a lot of color, tell me about that thought process.
JA: My process is different on some level, with every painting. But as a general rule of thumb, I go from concept to sketch, to the refinement of the sketch. Then I will often mess around with color schemes on paper or computer to see what feels right. I sometimes start with a color scenario but often the painting process alters it in some way. I like using complimentary colors, I also love doing paintings that are toned in some way overall.
NG: Who is your favorite artist and what seems to appeal most to you about them?
JA: I don't know if I have one favorite, but if I had to pick it would be Dali. I love how he didn't just paint what he saw, he didn't just paint a photograph or "reality", he tweaked he perception and colors and shapes to make something unique and his own while still using traditional and respectably highly refined techniques. He didn't use a technique to just show off that he could and his compositions had multiple layers of reality. I love it all.
NG: One color for your last painting you will ever make. What color would it be?
JA: Have no idea.
NG: Sell a lot of art for low price or just a few pieces for a high price?
JA: Yes. I think it's important to put art in people's hands.
NG: Have you worked with any charities or non profits?
JA: Yes, I do a lot of work and donate a lot to Surfrider Foundation, Surf Aid International, Peta, ASPCA and NORML. I give to other charities as well, but those are the ones I have been the most involved in.
NG: What are the next steps in your art career?
JA: To consistently try and impress myself with my work, yet to never be too impressed.
To have amazing opportunities keep coming in, which I am intensely appreciative of.
To make and nurture great friendships with fellow creative people.
To have enough success to take care of myself and my loved ones and stay humble always.
To strive to make an impact on the Art World.
NG: Ten words or less describe you as an artist.
JA: An observer, unique, student to the universe, inspiring,inspired, connected, evolving.
See more of Jay's work at JayAlders.com
Here are my 10 questions with Jay:
NG: Tell me a little about your background in art, do you work in the business, and how you got started.
JA: I have been drawing and into expressing myself through Art since I was a toddler and have been making a living through my art in one way or another since I was a teenager. I have done everything from Cartooning, to photography to portraits, murals, paintings, logos, graphic design, skateboard designs and package designs.
NG: What or who are some of your influences?
JA: I am influenced by everything and everyone around me. As for Art influences, at a young age I was intrigued by Cartoons and watching Bob Ross on TV and painting along side of him. Growing up, I got more into skateboard art and professional illustrators, then in College my influences broadened to Fine Artists from the past few hundred years like Dali, Ingres, de La Tour, Carravagio and Escher.
NG: What helps you decide on your subject matter?
JA: It sort of decides itself. When an idea comes to me, if it's passionate enough, it just has to come out. I try and keep my fine art work consistent with my passions, interests, dreams and memories.
NG: You seem to use a lot of color, tell me about that thought process.
JA: My process is different on some level, with every painting. But as a general rule of thumb, I go from concept to sketch, to the refinement of the sketch. Then I will often mess around with color schemes on paper or computer to see what feels right. I sometimes start with a color scenario but often the painting process alters it in some way. I like using complimentary colors, I also love doing paintings that are toned in some way overall.
NG: Who is your favorite artist and what seems to appeal most to you about them?
JA: I don't know if I have one favorite, but if I had to pick it would be Dali. I love how he didn't just paint what he saw, he didn't just paint a photograph or "reality", he tweaked he perception and colors and shapes to make something unique and his own while still using traditional and respectably highly refined techniques. He didn't use a technique to just show off that he could and his compositions had multiple layers of reality. I love it all.
NG: One color for your last painting you will ever make. What color would it be?
JA: Have no idea.
NG: Sell a lot of art for low price or just a few pieces for a high price?
JA: Yes. I think it's important to put art in people's hands.
NG: Have you worked with any charities or non profits?
JA: Yes, I do a lot of work and donate a lot to Surfrider Foundation, Surf Aid International, Peta, ASPCA and NORML. I give to other charities as well, but those are the ones I have been the most involved in.
NG: What are the next steps in your art career?
JA: To consistently try and impress myself with my work, yet to never be too impressed.
To have amazing opportunities keep coming in, which I am intensely appreciative of.
To make and nurture great friendships with fellow creative people.
To have enough success to take care of myself and my loved ones and stay humble always.
To strive to make an impact on the Art World.
NG: Ten words or less describe you as an artist.
JA: An observer, unique, student to the universe, inspiring,inspired, connected, evolving.
See more of Jay's work at JayAlders.com
Wonderful! I'm a huge fan of you both!
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