| |
- Artist Name:
- Jay Thomson
- Location:
- Oklahoma
- Statement:
- I approach my paintings as objects, not as a space to depict the illusion of a scene or depth. I am fascinated by the acts of painting... the materials, the methods and techniques, etc.
- Biography:
- Originally from Texas, Jay's early years were spent being involved with theatre in Dallas. From sound design and stage managing, to appearing onstage in lead roles, Jay worked tirelessly as a thespian for over ten years, working with many different theatres in the Dallas area. Some of his favorites were Greenville Avenue Pocket Sandwich Theatre (now known simply as the Pocket Sandwich Theatre) and the Classic Theatre Company.
In 1992, Jay moved to Southern Illinois to pursue another lifelong dream: art school. Fascinated from an early age by glassblowing, Jay attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he majored in painting and drawing since there was no glass major at the time. Jay learned the art and craft of glassblowing and glasscasting, and managed to combine his painting and drawing skills with glass by incorporating his images into the surface design. While at college, Jay also learned printmaking and lampworking (using a torch to work smaller bits of glass). In addition, Jay pursued a minor in speech-communications, and acted within that department as well as doing several performance art pieces.
During his undergraduate years at SIUC, Jay travelled to Scotland twice on short visits to the Patrick Allen Fraser of Hospitalfield Trust in Arbroath. He was then asked to be one of two 'guinea pigs' for a pilot exchange program with the school of art & design in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He spent six months there painting and learning the language. Fresh from that experience Jay was asked to become the 'artist-in-residence' of Hospitalfield, where he spent a year there after graduating from SIUC.
Immediately upon his return to the States, Jay moved to Philadelphia to earn his Master's of Fine Arts degree from Tyler School of Art of Temple University in the glass program, where he honed his craft of glass casting.
Having graduated in 2000, Jay developed his business sense by serving as the office manager of a local non-profit organization for five years.
In the summer of 2004, Jay opened Amoeba Art Shop in Mt. Airy along with his then-partner Richard. Although the business proved to be too much for his partner, Jay continued running the business on his own. Jay expanded the business in 2007 by adding a new business partner, and a second location, Sherman Mills Art Supply in East Falls. The original store in Mt. Airy was closed in 2008, and combined with the larger location in East Falls.
In 2006, Jay became a member of the Greene Street Artists Cooperative, a live-work studio building in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. He has served on the board, and on various committees at GSAC. He also participates in the Philadelphia Open Studios Tour each October.
Jay is now a member of the New York Art Exchange, an online marketplace for artists, galleries, and collectors.
Jay continues to paint and exhibit his work in Philadelphia, and run the art supply business in East Falls.
|
|
