Jay captures each bloom In this magnificent display in full flower. The painting bears the signature “Paris—1983,” a period when Jay was living in the French capital and studying French and Dutch flower painting traditions at the Louvre. Writing about his work, critic Robert Vrinat observed, “While the flowers, in order to yield such truth of presence, already call for special concentration, mastery of draftsmanship and color sensitivity, together with long experience—the insects, in the meticulous portrayal of their monstrosities of structure and detail, demand almost diabolical precision—exceptional precision!”
Jay’s meticulous flower paintings engage a centuries-old genre while revealing the individuality of his training and approach. Although he studied briefly at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and maintained a long mentorship with professor and artist Arthur De Costa, Jay is largely self-taught. He immersed himself in the study of the old masters, teaching himself technique by emulating works he admired. In the early 1980s he spent time in Paris, further refining his style. Jay has exhibited at the West Chester Art Association, Fleisher/Ollman Gallery in Philadelphia, and Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Working without preliminary sketches, he continues to paint floral still lifes imagined directly in his studio in Morton, Pennsylvania.
