Jay Marsh
January 2007 Interview in Dream Weaver
Magazine
Jay's "Lotus" is on the January cover of DreamWeaver
Magazine
DW: What is your professional or artistic background
or training?
JM: In 1991 I graduated with an Associate Degree in Illustration
and Photography from Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota,
Florida. Out of school I went exploring with my new creative abilities,
I worked with any material and in any subject matter that my muse
led me to. In 2001 I took a "Visionary Art" Workshop
by Alex and Allison Grey at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck New
York. Watching them as a couple was a true inspiration. He has
and continues to have an incredible life- connecting people with
spirit.
DW: When did you know that you would be an artist?
JM: I discovered my calling in kindergarten and made it a career.
Visual expression of one form or another has been my singular
profession for 15 years.
DW: Can you remember being a child and using art as a form or
expression?
JM: I remember the ease and flow of transmission from thought
to form. I developed an under-active thyroid when I was young
and with less physical and social activity, I made strong connections
to silence and the creative spirit.”
DW: What artistic medium do you work with and is this the only
one that you work in?
JM: I mostly work in Acrylics. The image begins with a rough
value sketch to capture the moment. A line drawing is then printed
on transparency film and projected on to the primed canvas, then
I sculpt the lines with gel medium. The red underpainting goes
on to give a map for values. I have to work quick but I use that
by layering glaze upon glaze keeping my shadows transparent and
my high lights opaque. I love creating an inner-light where parts
of the form are burned away from the brightness.
I have to make sure that people know my work is acrylic- some
have thought it iss computer generated. I also work in oil based
clay for casting resin in silicone, body painting, and invisible
UV paint.
DW: From a spiritual stand, how does your art enhance your life
and sense of spiritual purpose?
JM: When I’m working I’m in the flow, the intention
with my work is to express passion through the flowing forces
of nature, to give energy and keep it moving- it’s Feng
Shui - which the opposite, I’ve heard is called Dung Schway
or Funky Schwag.
DW: What artistic influences do you find inspirational from the
spiritual sense?
JM: A few of the artists/lives that have inspired me are Alex
Grey, Roger Dean, Alphonse Mucha, Brom, and Georgia O’keefe.
Main spiritual influences have been my brother Alan, Eckhart Tolle,
Wayne Dyer and the band Tool. Fueling the imagery in my work is
the chaos of nature, powerful, beautiful and a never ending source
of inspiration.
DW: Do you look at the colors and shapes in your work after a
piece is completed and realize that there is hidden or subconscious
symbols in it?
JM: My images may originate in the natural world, but I enfold
the real with the fanciful. I’m inviting the viewer into
a scene with familiar elements, but altered reality. I carefully
plan my pieces so most of the discovery is within the first few
minutes after the “cosmic download”. Once the work
evolves I follow my carefully laid out drawing like a road map
and let details and color come out along the journey. I am invited
to explore a landscape of absolute freedom and endless possibilities.
DW: Would you say your best works (which have made you the most
happy as a person) were inspired or planned?
JM: My best works were planned from an inspiration. Some of these
images come into view of my inner eye and politely haunt me until
they are created in form. I believe it was my living in the mountains
of North Georgia that helped make these works successful.
However the body painting I do is very spontaneous and can have
wonderful expression. It reminds me of Carlos Santana describing
the angels inspiring him during a guitar solo.
DW: So many people of “starving artists” and might
be fearful of following their passion to be an artist (in any
form – writer, poet, singer, songwriter, etc.). Any advice
you can share on following your heart and inner desire?
JM: That’s a good question. After all I wish to return
my gift to complete the circle. I would say pick a creative medium
that feels good and wait for the moment of inspiration. For me
this is any moment with high levels of emotion- positive or negative.
Get a tasty beverage, some incense, comfy clothes, music (please
or energize as many senses as you can) .Then do your thing- that
thing you do, and do it in private- free of judgment and filters.
I’ve seen young kids without technical knowledge and skill
do great work because the emotion and wonder was high - this makes
successful work to me.
DW: If you could give the world a message – not in art
form, but with words – what would it be?
JM: I didn’t have to think of this one for it comes from
a place without thought: Be Here Now. Be in the present moment
a place of hyper reality. A great state for creating.
DW: Please list where your art has been featured – decks,
book covers, etc.
JM: Some of my most memorable projects: fantasy paintings for
a Clive Barker card game; body painting for Bacardi to launch
“Grand Melon,” their newest flavor; candy portraits
for Fernbank Museums’ recent “Chocolate: The Exhibition”;
a 16 x 4 ft. ultraviolet/daylight mural for Royal Caribbeans’
new "Serenade of the Seas" cruise ship; illustrations
and new character development for Mellow Mushroom packaging and
advertising; photo retouch – by hand – for Coca Cola’s
NFL Stars “Monsters of the Gridiron”; bodysuit design
and painting for WCW Wrestling (with AFX Studio). I’ve also
helped HomeBanc Mortgage document many activities, including their
Habitat for Humanity charity work; and has done advertising photography
for NAPA Auto Parts. He finds time to donate his talent and creativity
to organizations and events such as The American Diabetes Association
“Tour De Cure”; the “Through the Looking Glass
Gala” benefiting the Eating Disorders Information Network
(EDIN); an 8 ft. UV Mandala mural (with his brother Alan) for
Camp Stars and Hospice Atlanta.
DW: Up-coming projects we can look forward to?
JM: I’m working on more paintings based on yoga poses and
inspired by my girlfriend and muse, Shannon. I’ll continue
to give my imagination play and encourage others to flights of
fancy, often connecting my other interests with artistic expression.
I juggle and ride unicycles, and hope to combine painting and
riding – using the wheel as a brush.
For more information, please visit www.thedreammasters.com
Artist Statement:
The primary desire is to do more of what I love.
Flowing forces of nature animate this desire.
Passion comes full circle when you are inspired by what you see.
The creation begins when my mind is quiet with an all-consuming
vision.
The greatest joy is to be within that vision as it is manifested
in acrylic paint on a large canvas.
I am invited to explore a landscape of absolute freedom and endless
possibilities.
Emotion is expressed through vibrant color, powerful motion,
and organic form.
Elements of nature inspire these ideas, elements of magic blend
the real with the fanciful.
Bio:
Jay Marsh, Illustrator and Photographer, discovered his calling
in kindergarten and made it a career. A graduate of Ringling School
of Art, visual expression of one form or another has been his
singular profession for 15 years.
Some of his most memorable projects: fantasy paintings for a
Clive Barker card game; body painting for Bacardi to launch “Grand
Melon,” their newest flavor; candy portraits for Fernbank
Museums’ recent “Chocolate: The Exhibition”;
a 16 x 4 ft. ultraviolet/daylight mural for Royal Caribbeans’
new "Serenade of the Seas" cruise ship; illustrations
and new character development for Mellow Mushroom packaging and
advertising; photo retouch – by hand – for Coca Cola’s
NFL Stars “Monsters of the Gridiron”; bodysuit design
and painting for WCW Wrestling (with AFX Studio). Jay has helped
HomeBanc Mortgage document many activities, including their Habitat
for Humanity charity work; and has done advertising photography
for NAPA Auto Parts.
He finds time to donate his talent and creativity to organizations
and events such as The American Diabetes Association “Tour
De Cure”; the “Through the Looking Glass Gala”
benefiting the Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN); an
8 ft. UV Mandala mural (with his brother Alan) for Camp Stars
and Hospice Atlanta. He completed a "Visionary Art"
Workshop with Alex Grey at the Omega Institute.
Jay continues to give his imagination play and encourages others
to flights of fancy, often connecting his other interests with
artistic expression. He juggles and rides unicycles, among other
things, and once painted pictures for children riding a unicycle
– using the wheel as his brush.
