Illustration Friday - Horizon

This is my Illustration Friday entry for the word "horizon". This was a oil painting I did for an inside spread for In Touch magazine, In Touch Ministries a while back. Original is 24" x 10" and is for sale.





Prints of this are available here.

It's a Wonderful Life! starring my family!

It's a Wonderful Life
Starring

Jay Montgomery ................... George Bailey
Larry Gardinier II ................. Uncle Billy Bailey
Cindi Montgomery ................ Mary Hatch Bailey
Larry Gardinier I ................... Ernie the cab driver
Larry Montgomery Sr ........... Clarence the Angel
Zuzu Montgomery ................. Zuzu

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Christmas Departure

Brand new acrylic painting completed 12/08/07. It was created for my Christmas card.


Inside the card it says:

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~ Agnes M. Pharo

I'm making this available for prints. If you are apart of military family or giving this to a military family, prints are 50% off. All I need is some sort or proof.

Merry Christmas to you!

Jay

Fax machine give-away!

I'm giving away my used fax machine to an art student or recent graduate. You can come and pick it up or I can mail it for a small shipping and handling fee. It comes with the original box, a quick start guide, 1-1/2 rolls of thermal paper and is in excellent working condition. I have upgraded to a All-In-One Printer and no longer need this fax machine.




FEATURES:

Automatic Paper Cutter
10 Page automatic paper feeder
FAX/TEL and TAD interface
15 station memory dialing
16 shade gray scale for photograph transmission
98' paper roll capacity (also uses standard fax paper)
Polling
Delayed transmission
Activity Report
Distinctive ringing compatability
Help key

Contact me at jay@jaymontgomery.com or call my cell at 770-309-6004 if you are interested.

Thanks,
Jay

Rosie the Riveter as CaLPERS

This was a cover illustration I did this past Summer for Directorship Magazine. The concept was to show the strength in numbers with proxy statements of a very large California retirement System known as CalPERS. So they had the initial idea of using the well known image of Rosie the Riveter by illustrator J. Howard Miller's "We Can Do It!" - Many women first found economic strength in World War II-era manufacturing jobs.

So my idea was to show a similar image but with the proxies in her fisted hand. Which appropriately covered her face so that showed very little identity with a particular person or race. She needed to represent every person.



My intern at the time was gracious enough to pose for the reference shots and she did surprisingly well. The painting was done 90% as an acrylic painting. The type and logo was added in Photoshop.

They loved it show much for the cover they asked for 2 giclée prints of it to give as gifts to the leaders of CalPERS.

Two new jobs for Source Media

In the last month I did these two illustrations for the same client. The first one is typical of my style and what people usually contract me to do. They were very happy with the end result and so they wanted me to do another with the same on time and on budget customer service, but in a different style. The comic book hero one was something very different for me. I have had a true appreciation for comic book artists', but even more so now.

Credit Score Confusion for Mortgage Technology Magazine.

Mortgage Protector for Broker Magazine.

Smoker's Choice

Another demo I did for my class. Conceptual landscape watercolor illustrating 1 of four words. I chose the word choice in dealing with the choice of quitting to smoke is a personal decision that know one can make for you. So my idea is to show a super close up of a ugly ashtray. On a cigarette stands a teen on the tip of a cig like he “walking the plank” to his doom. He has made the choice to walk away. Outside on the ground is himself there to help him get through it because in the end it’s your choice and yourself that gets you through it. I am imagining what this might be like not from personal standpoint with smoking, but from other life challenges being strictly a personal decision and no one else’s.

Ben Folds portriat

Acrylic painting demo I did for my class. I love his piano style and lyrics.



Here is brief step by step demo of how I painted it.

You can buy a print of it here if you like.

Art Fairy - Hidden Pictures

This was a ink drawing I did mid in September 2007 as a demo for my Materials & Techniques I class. I was also influenced by my 6 year old daughter who loves art and fairies. So I decided to do double duty and created a picture for her to color and hang in her bedroom as well as find the art objects in the scene. I might even submit it to Highlights for publication. See if you can find all the art supplies.



Here is a terribly low res video of my process.


If you would like a printable version for your child to do just drop my an email and I'll email you a PDF to print.

Wall of Outstanding Alumni Award

I got this email earlier this summer about receiving an award from my undergraduate college, LaGrange College. I was to be included on the wall of outstanding alumni. I had never heard of the wall and I did not think it was that big of a deal. When the college then sent me a packet of stuff to fill out and addresses to send out invitations to friends and family, they needed a specific kind of black and white photo, and shared the details of the ceremony I realized it was a big deal. This past Saturday my family and got it together and drove down to LaGrange to receive the award during the homecoming celebration. My Mom and Dad drove 8 hours round-trip just for a 4 hour visit in Lagrange, I'm truly loved! Here are some highlights in pictures.


President Stuart Gulley presenting to me the award of outstanding Alumni. Five others got the same award. President Gulley said I was one the the youngest recipients ever.


This is the framed print I received.



On the back they put the oratory that they read during the ceremony. I'm truly honored!!



I took the photo myself and got Cindi to help pick the right one out of about 40. I then printed it in my studio I mailed it off.



I owe a huge debt of gratitude and moolah to my Mom and Dad. My Mom went back to work to help pay for most if not all of my college experience and my Dad managed the money. This award would not be possible without them and a whole bunch of prayers. Thank you soo much Mom and Dad!!



My grandmother drove for about 3 hours by herself down to LaGrange just for the ceremony. This wall plaque is in Smith Hall, the oldest building on campus.

Mind's Eye Class Field Trip

On October 19th I had scheduled a field trip for 3 of my classes at Mind's Eye. An illustration, photography studio in Atlanta. Mind's Eye was extremely hospitable and giving of their time and insight. Donuts, milk, juice and water were served while we tried to keep our hands clean thumbing through their 3 very impressive portfolios. Leo Mustaki and Mike Bailey showed us around and met their extremely talented employees. Everyone agreed that it was a great time, very informative and helpful to see a place where full-time illustrators work and what is required of them. Much better than a Hub lecture, if you know what I mean!

I talked with them afterwards and told them that I would be sure to get them involved with career day or a portfolio review in the near future and on a regular basis. They say that based on the growth they hire a new illustrator about once a year.

These are two photos of most of the students that came.

I spent a little too much time dressing this one up. Thought it was appropriate for the wacked out shot.


The more professional serious shot got blurred when taken. Oh Well.



Cheers!
Jay

Illustration Friday - Grow

This is my entry for the theme of Grow for Illustration Friday. It's a commentary on the growing trash in the world. Recycle People! It's an old oil painting I did back at Portfolio Center in 1994 (I think). I put about everything I could think that was junk, trash, and non-biodegradable into this tree including the kitchen sink. See if you can find it.

22 Q&A interview

I get asked almost 2-3 times a month these days for an interview from an illustration or design student. I recently filled out a 22 question email interview and thought I would share it here.

1. Where are you from? The surrounding suburbs of Atlanta, GA.
2. How long have you done illustration for? All my life, but professionally for 12+ years.
3. How did you find out that illustration was something you wanted to pursue? After I graduated from LaGrange College with a BA in Drawing a Painting and Graphic Design I did not really know how to go about making a living as a freelance illustrator until I went to Portfolio Center (PC) in 1992 and saw all the illustration sourcebooks and trade magazine and talked with my professors. I wanted to do art but I thought gallery work was too unstable and I did not mind illustrating other peoples ideas so Illustration was more stable and appealing to me. Some would say I “sold out” by going into commercial art, but everyone got to make a living and I make a living doing what I love.
4. What was your first job as an illustrator? I had small rinky dink jobs in high school and college, but my first big break as an educated illustrator came while I was in my 5th of 8 quarters at PC. A teacher at PC who taught advertising by the name of Mike Weed of Henderson Advertising saw an illustration I did on the walls of PC that won best of show and thought I could take on an two illustrations he needed for Flowers Bread Company. They were two billboard illustrations. http://www.jaymontgomery.com/portnaturesown.html I did them for a total of $2500 (I think), so I was thrilled and that job and illustrations lead to so many other freelance opportunities.
5. What college did you attend? LaGrange College and Portfolio Center
6. What illustration did you enjoy doing the most? The ones with the most freedom and money of course. Editorial jobs have a little of both.
7. Which project are you most proud of? I guess the one that I got the most money for which was $13,600 for a Roadway illustration. This is not a normal pricing that most illustrators expect, but it sure is nice.
8. Did you ever have any doubts about being an illustrator? Of course, but I really did not know what else made me happy and challenged so I stuck it out through the tough times. The head of the illustration department at PC told me that I would not make it as an illustrator, which definitely gave me doubts, but I wanted to turn that negative comment into a positive and prove him wrong. I think I did. Also, I had doubts right after 9/11 when I had a 2 year old and a baby and I was the sole income provider. Man that was tough!
9. Is this a job you would consider to be very time consuming? Is it hard balancing a family and a job as an illustrator? Absolutely! If you want to be your own boss in any market it will take more time than a full-time cubicle job, mainly because your are every part of the business; customer service, marketer, creator, president, maid, accounts payable, purchaser, manager, etc.
10. How did you go about selling your ideas to a client? Most of the time a basic idea is already formed by a doodle, text or verbal description before the client even contacts me. If they want me to come up with an idea, I’m more than happy to do that by talking with them and getting all the pertinent info, then I do 3-4 inch numbered thumbnails sometimes with a text description beside them. I do anywhere from 2-6 different ideas I send this to them usually via email attachment. Then I get feedback and go tighter.
11. Do you do anything else besides illustration? What are some hobbies that you enjoy doing? With freelance illustration, teaching 3 illustration classes, my family time with my 5-6 year olds, cleaning, eating, taking care of my house and getting an average of 6 hours of sleep 7 days a week there is little time for hobbies. Art IS my hobby I would create art even if I won the lottery.
12. Owning your own business, do you suggest people going into the graphic design field to also pursue a business degree? Or does it just come to you? Is does not just come to you. There is a right and wrong way of doing things and you could go years of doing business tasks a certain way that could be done way more efficient and right if you had at least taken some sort of business class. I business degree might be too much for an illustrator, I would at least take a very concentrated business class or to while still in college. If you want to start your own design firm a business degree would definitely be worth while.
13. Who is your inspiration? Did your parents always approve of your career choice? Actually, early on my older brother was the start of my inspiration by wanting to finally be better than him at just one thing. My parents from the get go always supported me and encouraged me to follow my dreams even though they did not understand completely what my passion was all about. They are not visual artist’s but they can appreciate what I do.
14. What is something you would suggest to a graphic designer graduating straight from college? Build up a network of other graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, writers, etc. of who you can call upon for advice, work, and general support. These maybe other students in you classes or contacts outside of class. You can also do this by joining a trade org like GAG or AIGA.
15. How many illustrations do you do a year? It varies between 50-80 a year. I also do a fair amount of graphic design, production work, and stock art sales.
16. How long does it take to illustrate something for a top client? As quick as 3 days and as longs as 1 month. Most of the time it’s about 2 weeks.
17. What is a subject you enjoy illustrating the most just for fun? Posters for bands, musicians, and lately I have been wanting to do a painting of an octopus lady.
18. Have you accomplished everything you have ever wanted to do? If not, what are some goals you want to accomplish? Absolutely not, I’m always striving for more. I Strive to get 3 $10K jobs a year. Has not happened yet, but I’m thinking long term. I would like to teach full-time a get descent health insurance for me and my family.
19. Do you have any regrets? I wish I would have gotten my Masters in Fine Art or Illustration.
20. What medium do you use the most? Photoshop, Illustrator and Painter. I’m getting back to the traditional stuff from the classes I teach at SCAD.
21. What theme occurs the most in your work? Usually some sort of business concept that’s politically correct. Mainly due to the client’s needs.
22. How would you describe your style of work? Stylized realism or Tradigital.


Thanks for reading,
Jay

NIN Poster demo

This is a quick demo I did for my advertising class for a Nine Inch Nails concert poster. I used a photo of me, some nails, and the color halftone filter in Photoshop. I was going for a 3 color silkscreen look. Whole process took about 2 hours tops.

Detail of the dots which were roughened with a few filters. It's not my usual, but it was fun and thought I would share. Is this hokey, cool, scary, or what?

Illustration Renaissance

There is a great and truthful article that gives hope for the young illustrators out there at Computer Arts website.

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/in_depth/features/illustration_renaissance

Cult of Celebrity vs The REAL Heros

I got this email today I thought I would share it. It's exactly how I feel and act.

Mary Lightfine, international ER nurse and a "Friend of The Catman Project,"
is featured in the new edition of NeuFutur Magazine. Her passionate and
incisive comments concerning Nursing are a "must-read" for those who care
about what is really transpiring within one of the most important
professions in the world.

In keeping with his stated social/artistic mission, mysterious Catman Cohen
turned down yet another interview request, instead passing the baton to Mary
Lightfine, In doing so, Catman Cohen stated that the national media
is drowning in Cult of Celebrity mind junk, that places excessive importance
upon entertainment figures as opposed to the relatively anonymous and
essential occupations now in dire deficit.

Catman Cohen recently went on record to issue the following statement:

"Just how low has America sunk such that, during a week commemorating 9/11,
the most important tragedy to befall the nation, the Media is consumed with
airhead nonsense concerning a dance performance by Britney Spears. Is it
any wonder why our children are so lost and why their priorities are so
shallow? Blame the Media, blame the advertising industry, blame the
political puppets posing as leaders, and blame yourself if you choose
passive acceptance of this dismal status quo...but do NOT blame Britney
Spears for merely being a pawn in this entire insane game."

"In a society that faces all variety of impending infrastructural crises, we
have an Establishment dedicated to narcotizing the nation with a
mind-numbing drug called the Hollywood Cult of Celebrity. Strangely enough,
while society maintains restrictions upon the distribution of narcotics,
somehow the Cult of Celebrity drug is disseminated widely and immoderately,
despite its obvious negative side effects. If we must have idols, then we
need to find new more substantive examples quickly, the kind who will
inspire our youth to pursue goals that transcend a walk down the red
carpet."

"We don't need more glitzy Hollywood award events, we need more sewage
treatment plants."

"We don't need more gargantuan shopping malls, we need more water pumping
facilities."

"We don't need more super-dome sports stadiums, we need more hospitals."

"We don't need more mean-spirited celebrity gossip-mongers, we need more
humane rescue workers, environmentalists, and human rights activists."

"We live in hedonistic, materialistic, and decadent times where this
particular perspective upsets and offends those who profit from the current
cultural swamp. However, despite those who choose to ignore, silence, or
ridicule "music with a message," I will continue to use my art as a vehicle
for sounding the alarm in a society that has been drugged into a mindless
stupor.....and the most important message I wish to convey now is this..."

"READ THE MARY LIGHTFINE INTERVIEW!!!"

NeuFutur Magazine agreed to interview Mary Lightfine in place of Catman
Cohen and you can read the inspiring interview at the following link:
http://neufutur.com/?p=682#more-682
(Vicky Asher Entertainment)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information concerning international nurse Mary Lightfine, please
go to:
http://www.MaryLightfine.com (for lecture information)

http://www.NursesNomadsAndWarlords.com (for book information)

http://www.VolunteersWithoutBoundaries.com (for more volunteer
information...and we can really use a one dollar donation from everyone to
get our safe birth program off the ground in Uganda).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catman Cohen's Controversial New Music Video, PRAYER FOR AMERICA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Nursing Shortage.....and Catman Cohen
(by Mary Ruff-King)

Mary Ruff-King, an author who has worked in the medical field for many
years, is keeping Americans informed about the nursing shortage crisis and
the challenges that may befall our health care system if these issues are
not addressed in the immediate future.

http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-nursing-shortage-and-catma
n-cohen-an-artist-calls-attention-to-our-growing-healthcare-dilemma-215180.h
tml
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For further Info about The Catman Project.....

http://www.catmancohen.com

http://www.myspace.com/catmancohen

http://www.wholewheatradio.org/wiki/index.php/Artists:Catman_Cohen

==========================================================================

Jump Rope For Heart

A message from daughter, Suzanne and son Jackson,

Hi! I'm joining in the American Heart Association's Jump Rope For Heart event at my school. I've been working very hard to learn how to jump rope and I'm practicing everyday to perfect my style. I will be jumping rope to help the American Heart Association raise money to fight heart disease and stroke. Can you help me by making a donation? I get a really cool prize if I meet my goal. I will not be going door to door so this post on the family blog is the best and one of the very few ways I'm asking for donations. Thanks!


The American Heart Association's online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. If you want to donate less, that's ok. You can just send/mail the check right to me and I'll make sure the American Heart Association gets it.

To make a donation for Jackson go to his custom website here.

To make a donation for Suzanne go to her custom website here.

From Jay,
There are a couple of other donation opportunities throughout the year but this one is probably the most rewarding and personal since heart disease and strokes run in my family. Is so easy to do online with a credit card, but if you feel safer sending a check that perfectly OK too.

Thank you so much for your participation!

Jays' end of Summer Press Release

In June Jay was interviewed on the AM 1620 Radio Sandy Springs in GA on a show called Following Your Passions. In August Jay was featured in the international e-zine NewWebPick which has over 3,000,000 readers. Also, in August Jay has signed up with a German Art Representative dieKleinert which is forming a new USA representation. While teaching classes at SCAD-Atlanta over the summer Jay has done numerous freelance projects ranging from program cover art for the Breeders' Cup horse race (seen here), and marketing illustrations for Atlanta Gas Light, Shaw Carpet, Porsche and directly working with Kenrico, a Japanese health product company, creating a map the the Japan town of Shizuoka. In October Jay will be receive a special award from his alma-mater, LaGrange College. In a ceremony at homecoming he will be included on the Wall of Outstanding Alumni.

Illustration Friday - Momentum

Here is my Illustration Friday entry for Momentum. These were previously done but these particular versions were done as a personal exploration of a new technique and style. Basically it's Illustrator shapes imported into Photoshop with a custom painted texture of mine applied to the image using my own special technique. With the motion of these it said momentum to me. Here is a link to some more in this style.

Porsche Is Recycling Now...

...due to the ever important Professor Greenleaf posters created by yours truly. Here is a quick process of what the Porsche saw.

They first gave a very specific description of the Green Squad. You don't have to read all this, but it explains the image below.
Here's what I'm thinking - perhaps we could come up with some sort of an illustrated green mascot who bears the Porsche crest (attached). Maybe the mascot is a friendly-looking green tree with a face and limbs with hands/ fingers -- one of them pointing toward the reader. Perhaps the crest can be on its trunk. One the tree idea -- actually make them a group of three trees -- the tallest in the middle. Make it recognizable that the middle and left one are guys and the one on the right is a woman -- maybe its the way her treetop/branches is styled. In addition to the Porsche crest on their trunks (like a badge on a shirt), put: Porsche Green Squad. Perhaps you even put a green shirt on them with those words -- I don't know. You could also make the one on the left wear glasses, if you like. Have them all pointing to the reader. For the green squad, let's put them on shirts that say Porsche Green Squad with the crest underneath it like a badge. And again, a woman on the right, tallest guy in the middle and another guy maybe with spiked hair/branches or hair/branches in twists, wearing black glasses on the left. This would give them each a personality. Be sure not to put like red lips or anything like that on the woman...not that you would. In both scenarios, mascots are pointing to the reader.


This was way to complicated and too much like Treebeard in my opinion. They scratched this idea and went with this other idea they had.

Professor Greenleaf
Another idea is to make the mascot a green leaf -- a bigger version of the one you have at the top of the poster. Give him a face, as well as legs/feet/arms/hands -- and of course one hand pointing toward the reader. His one concern is making sure the names mascot is stated within the logo so that additional text is not needed. So for the leaf -- perhaps you can give him a suit coat that has the Porsche crest eblem on his top right pocket and put a hat on him that says Professor Greenleaf...and maybe have him pointing with a stick that usually denotes a professor. For the green leaf, in addition to the crest, please have him wear glasses and put his name -- Professor Greenleaf somewhere.

First Sketch

Second sketch with revisions. Mechanical engineer outfit.

Final art created in Photoshop with revisions.
Slimmer leaf, lab coat, no logo on coat, and his right hand pointing.

Prof. Greenleaf telling it to the people of Porsche.

Makes you want to choose green doesn't it!

Thanks Professor Greenleaf!

Whole process from first call to final delivery was 7 days.

Atlanta Gas Light Weather Forecast

Right after I finished the first job for AGL they wanted me to do another. This time for postcard for the Metro Atlanta area. They wanted a generic TV screen showing a 5 day forecast of 100% thunderstorms. Quite simple when you think about it, but when you actually do it there is a lot of design decisions to be made. I loosely based it on the Weather Channel screen with some significant changes. This was 80% done in Adobe Illustrator, the 20% was the clouds and distorting the flat screen elements in Photoshop to fit the screen in perspective. They wanted it cropped on the top to make the screen as large as possible on the postcard. I completed the whole screen if needed in the future. The whole process took about 1.5 days of work and 8 days of waiting for the clients response.

3-D Gas Condo

I wanted to show you an illustration I did for Atlanta Gas Light back at the end of July. It was for brochure mailer to architects and residential builders showcasing that Atlanta Gas Light now has the technology to install gas lines in high rise condos and apartments. They wanted tri-fold brochure that would fold to a 3-D building shape that would be mailed out in clear acrylic box instead of flat boring brochure. Once I get a sample I'll post a picture. This is the art I gave them flat with measurements and a 1/8 inch bleed all around. It was completely done in Illustrator. The clouds/window reflections were done with the gradient mesh tool.

detail

Breeders' Cup 2007 program cover

I just finished this program cover for the Breeders' Cup Horse Race in Ocean City, New Jersey. They came to me wanting a montage of scenes representing the event while it looking like a vintage travel poster. They sent me several photos for reference and I came up with 3-4 designs, they picked one with some edits, and I completed it all in Photoshop and Painter. I was quite happy with the way it turned out.

Shaw Carpet Fashion Ladies

Back in mid June I did some "fashion illustrations for Shaw Carpet. These were for 3 different carpet sample boards showcasing a modern alligator skin texture, a retro shag texture and a classic houndstooth pattern. I had to incorporate these styles into sketchy fashion illustrations. A bit different than what I'm used to but it went pretty quick and it was fun. These are watercolors with india ink on illustration board.

Portfolio of SCAD-Atlanta Illustrations!

I just created a web page of a select group of 52 illustration assignments from my past classes that I taught at SCAD Atlanta since Winter quarter of this year. This showcase is some of the incredible talent and hard work from SCAD's illustration students.


Click on the small thumbnails or navigation on the bottom right. Mouse over each large image to see credits and medium of the image. This was created completely with Adobe Bridge and Photoshop CS2 "Web Photo Gallery" using the "File Info" data. Enjoy and post a comment here about what you think of the collection or if you have any questions regarding any of the work.

http://www.jaymontgomery.com/scad/

Bookmark it! I'll be updating this once or twice a quarter.

Illustration Friday - Captain

This was one of my first illustrations done in Adobe Illustrator when first came on the scene around 1994. I did this at Portfolio Center and the assignment was to simply do something with a nautical theme. This version of Illustrator did not have a brush tool and pressure sensitive tablets were not in the main stream yet. The wiggly shapes were created with the roughen filter I think. Since then, I lost the digital file and only had a IRIS print of it. So now it's an original with no digital file!

Illustration Friday - Emergency

Here is my entry into the Illustration Friday's Emergency theme. Originally done as 1 of 4 spot illustrations for Texas Journey AAA magazine article about Becoming an Outdoor Woman. This was of course touching on the subject of First-Aid Kits for Camping. Created in Photoshop and Painter.

Great White Heron - Illustration Friday Entry - Moon

Great White Heron, originally uploaded by jaymontgomery.

This is a recent illustration I did as a demo for my SCAD Materials and Techniques I class. It about 8" x 10" on 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper that was stretched. It's mostly watercolor, India ink, and PH. Martins Pen White. I also used some liquid mask spatter for the moon texture.

How to make an Angry American

This pretty much sums it up what I've been saying ever since 9/11. Might not be safe for all hears, but the truth hurts sometimes.



One of my goals on my dream board is to be less anti-Bush and more pro to what I believe in, trying to keep it positive, but this had to be shown. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!

http://www.impeachbush.org

http://www.impeachbush.tv

http://www.impeachcheney.org

Spread the word!

I'm A Type A Personality

I Have A Type A Personality

I am hyper, energetic, and always on the mood I tend to succeed at everything I attempt And if I don't succeed at first, I quickly climb my way to the top! I could be called a workaholic, but I also make time for fun As long as it's high energy and competitive, I'm interested I have the perfect personality for business and athletic success

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

I would think that a Type A personality would be a great for a client of mine in most cases. Everyone has characteristics that do not match the diagnosed type of personality of A, B, C, or D. My wife, in general, is a Type B personality. We are constantly at each other (but in a nice way). I wish she was more productive and energetic and she wishes I would slow down and enjoy life before I have a heart attack! Type A personalities are at a higher risk of cardiac problems, but having a spouse that is a Type B helps moderate the extremes of a Type A.

How about you?

ZEITGEIST the movie

Throughout my life I had come to realize that I'm a skeptic and don't usually take things at face value. I like to look all the sides myself in order to determine what opinion or stance I have on something. I form my opinions based on facts, logic and reason. Not by solely based on what other people tell me, what I observe in the media, what a leader of a religious organization or political group tells me, or what I was brought up on. This movie sums up some of the things that I have been thinking about lately. I'm not saying it's true or false, just another view point that I look at to determine what opinion I have observing the world around me. Truth is not told, it's realized! Watch this with an open mind. It's easy to dismiss, but sometimes the truth hurts.
This is a link to a full 2 hour movie non-profit movie about the connection of world religions, 9/11, and the Federal Reserve as it mainly pertains to the USA. It called the ZEITGEIST. It's completely legal to view online but will require a high speed internet connection.

For those of you that are followers of Jesus, you would be happy to know that I'm in the middle of reading Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. I recommend reading that too.

I love to hear you comments on why you think this is movie is true or false. I'm always searching and completely open minded.

Worries at Home Ribbon Design

I just finished a new version of a collection of some old illustrations of mine for a print to be sold in military bases and print shops. It's to help keep up the moral of the troops family and loved ones. I've created several new versions using these four scenes of the soldier.



The basic story of the figures are when the soldier is being deployed he misses and worries about his family, then he starts to receive letters that things are going fine and then he can focus on his soldier responsibilities. Original is 30" x 40"

Updated Sketches and Experiments Gallery

I just updated my Sketches and Experiments Gallery with 8 new images. These are all traditionally illustrated using various techniques. Some are demos from my teaching at SCAD.

My radio interview

Well I had my interview on June 12th and probably very very few heard it. I was told when I got there that the AM radio signal reaches as far as 1 whole mile from the station. Most live broadcasts and archives are only available through there website. It's basically a internet radio station. So if you can stand listening for an hour to my um's and uhh's and some local commercials here it is in mp3 format. It's about 20 MB so it's not recommended for dial-up users. The first 5 min or so got cut so it starts real abrupt.

Jay's Radio Interview

If this link does not work try the Radio Sandy Springs Following Your Passions web page. Scroll down to the bottom to see the links.

Comments are welcome.

Wealth Management Concept Illustration Process

Just a few days ago I finished up 3 illustrations for Suntrust.

Cash Matters

Capital Ideas

Wealth Management

This is a process of one of them dealing with the abstract concept of Wealth Management. They wanted something beyond the obvious wealth symbols while showing generations in a generic way. I tried to make it as short as possible but it's still about 8 min long. Has music too! Go Home Productions Mash Ups Annie Rush and Ride (Rabbit Hole Mix), used with permission.