Impressions of the World

The Art of Lynn Jaye

by Edward Gonzalez

for the Santa Cruz Art League, July 24, 2024

 

Lynn Jaye's artistic path began at the age of five when her cousin taught her to paint by numbers. "I was entranced by the attention he gave me and the little round pots of oil paint that smelled so good!" she recalls. Growing up in London, her French teacher who also taught art further sparked her passion, linking her love for art with the allure of French culture. This dual fascination led her to study art in college and to live in France, where she discovered her love for landscape painting, a subject that continues to inspire her work. Her creative process is structured and deliberate. I like to get my office work done, exercise, and eat before starting to paint" she explains. This routine allows her to clear her mind and focus on her art, often working from afternoon till late into the night. Her workday typically begins after lunch, ensuring she has a long, uninterrupted stretch of time to devote to her studio.

Lynn's style is an evolving blend of influences. Inspired by Impressionists and Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh, Monet and Seurat, she also explored Abstract Expressionism. "People sometimes compare me to Van Gogh" she notes, reflecting the dynamic energy in her work. Her paintings aim to capture the flow, movement, rhythm and energy of nature, creating an expressive and evocative body of work. She has experimented with various mediums throughout her career. Initially drawn to oil paints, she switched to watercolors and acrylics due to toxicity concerns, but returned to oils with the advent of non-toxic mediums and thinners. Her techniques are diverse, incorporating oil paint sticks, chalk pastels, and unique textures, scratching into the paint to create distinctive effects. Known for her desert scenes, she has won recognition and awards, with her work featured on posters for prominent California art festivals such as the Downtown Santa Cruz Art Festival, Capitola Begonia Festival, Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Southwest Art Festival and La Quinta Art Celebration.

Lynn's resilience and adaptability have turned her art into a thriving career over the past 35 years. Her journey, marked by global travels and a deep connection to nature, has instilled in her the resilience necessary for a successful art career. Her art reflects her life experiences and profound appreciation for nature. "I try to convey my feelings of joy and happiness in the presence of nature" she says. Looking to the future, her goals remain centered on growth and exploration. "I am happy to keep going with my career as long as I can still paint" she affirms, aiming to create even larger canvasses that capture the expansive beauty of the world around her. In the dynamic landscape of contemporary art, Lynn Jaye remains a vibrant force, her work is a testament to the enduring power of nature and color.