|
|
| This is what it looks like inside my head... |
Hi, I'm Jay French...
Well, not really. That's just my company name. I'm actually Jay Judice, born in Kansas long, long ago, a half-cajun
mid-westerner. I spent most of my childhood in San Antonio, Texas, but went through high school in Colorado, mostly
in Estes Park (very pretty but very cold). after graduating in '86 I moved to Austin and lived in the area until 2008,
until it was time to be closer to my parents as they got older, and I moved to Kerrville, Texas.
|
| Me & my bride, Laura. |
There, that's the origin. My adult life I've spent rushing
into marriages before I knew what I was doing (I'm a die-hard romantic). Now I've gotten it right with Laura, the woman I've
been with for over 10 years. My past blessed me with three wonderful daughters, however, Amanda, Taryn and Ember (21, 20
and 15).
|
| My beautiful girls: Amanda, Taryn, & Ember |
As for my art... it's as much a part of me as my face or my hands! There's no denying the genetic origins, my mother
was an artist, her father was an artist, and my daughters are artists. The weirdest part is that we all concentrate
on the human figure, even though our styles are very different. Taryn is already better than I was at her age and Ember
has an ability with color that I didn't develop for another 10 years from the age she is.
|
| My critters: Ricochet, Heather, Hidey & Ianto |
But, jealousy aside, I began signing my artwork Jay French when I
was about 12. Mostly because no one could spell or pronounce my real name. Years later, when it came time to get a DBA,
that seemed the most logical answer. My first "professional" work was at age 12 when I designed a logo for "The Eye Guy",
an optometrist friend of the family. At 16 I began designing tourist buttons for a local souvenir shop and a logo and banner
for a bowling tournament. It all went from there.
|
| Me at Renaissance Festival |
One of the most frustrating things to others is that I always knew what I wanted to do with my life.
I never had to ponder what occupation was interesting or made me happy. Art was too much a part of me. That works in the
broad term as well, for I've dabbled in about every form of the arts: writing fiction, writing music, playing music, singing,
dancing, acting, fashion design, costuming, interior decorating, party decoration, make-up, sculpture in many forms, etc.
and so forth.
So here I am, with over 20 years under my belt in freelance art,
over 12 years as a staff designer, over 250 companies I've produced professional art for, reaching all the way to Australia
and back, and probably twice as many private clients. I created, wrote, illustrated and self-published a graphic novel
(then dropped the ball and never did anything more with it). But now I've arrived at the place it all directed, as a
full-time freelance artist. I have a number of people to thank for this.
|
| Me hard at work... in the rain. |
Whether this is the summit of my accomplishments, or just the beginning, I am now where I was meant to
be. There is no better way to sum up who I am in one word. I'm an artist.Thanks for reading!
-JayF
|
