Jay Shepard
Jay has always been an artist. From his earliest memories he has played with clay or drew or painted. Upon entering higher education he had planned to continue his study of pottery but became enchanted with painting. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he pursued and completed a Master of Fine Arts degree focusing on painting and drawing.
While raising a family he worked in the environmental protection field and contributed to many successful and award-winning waste reduction and recycling programs.
During that time, he continued to produce artwork, designed and built houses and became proficient in woodworking and furniture making. Jay has successfully blended his woodworking and painting skills to create unique polychrome lathe turned and sculpted pieces. These works are inspired by the daily shifting from day to night, the mysteries and imagery of nature, the textures, layers and undulations of the landscape and images of deep space.
A healthy shop and a healthy environment are important to Jay. In support of that, he seeks out and uses locally grown wood that is considered urban salvage as well as manufacturing rejects that would otherwise be disposed while only occasionally and sparingly using imported woods for accents. He uses water based acrylic paint for color on his pieces. He finishes his work with water-based lacquer or oil and wax finishes.
Jay had been somewhat recluse when it has come to his artwork, generally avoiding competitions and exhibitions. But with the encouragement of friends and family, has reentered that world and has exhibited widely, with his work being published in woodworking and woodturning magazines nationally and internationally.
While raising a family he worked in the environmental protection field and contributed to many successful and award-winning waste reduction and recycling programs.
During that time, he continued to produce artwork, designed and built houses and became proficient in woodworking and furniture making. Jay has successfully blended his woodworking and painting skills to create unique polychrome lathe turned and sculpted pieces. These works are inspired by the daily shifting from day to night, the mysteries and imagery of nature, the textures, layers and undulations of the landscape and images of deep space.
A healthy shop and a healthy environment are important to Jay. In support of that, he seeks out and uses locally grown wood that is considered urban salvage as well as manufacturing rejects that would otherwise be disposed while only occasionally and sparingly using imported woods for accents. He uses water based acrylic paint for color on his pieces. He finishes his work with water-based lacquer or oil and wax finishes.
Jay had been somewhat recluse when it has come to his artwork, generally avoiding competitions and exhibitions. But with the encouragement of friends and family, has reentered that world and has exhibited widely, with his work being published in woodworking and woodturning magazines nationally and internationally.
