16 Questions Answered by Painter / Muralist, N. Carlos Jay
A Welcoming Interview with N. Carlos Jay
We'd love to share an interview with you about our new amazing partnered talent, N. Carlos Jay, a painter and street muralist from New York.
CCS: Where & how did you grow up?
NCJ: I was born and raised in New York City when New York was still authentic. My parents were big on traveling to different cities so besides being surrounded by different ethnicities and rich culture in New York, I also experienced different worlds when we would travel.
CCS: How do you think this affected you on your journey towards being an artist?
NCJ: It open my eyes creatively and it made me want to tell stories through my art.
CCS: When/How did you know you wanted to be an artist?
NCJ: I had a huge childhood interest in art at a very young age which sparked my desire to illustrate and paint. I loved comic books and after reading a comic book I would recreate it by drawing it on paper. My mother saw how good I was and put me in art classes where I was surrounded by adults. I realized I was just as good as them (creatively) and from there my confidence grew and I knew I wanted to be an artist.
CCS: How long have you been a professional artist?
NCJ: I have been a professional artist on and off for the past twenty years. I stopped for a few years to start a family and worked in the corporate world. I realized after awhile that I was doing myself a disservice if I wasn't following my passion. So for the last 7 years I have been strictly a full time artist.
CCS: What/Who are some of the inspirations for you and your art? Did this help guide you to where you are today?
NCJ: I have been inspired by some amazing artist including Francis Bacon, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Basquiat, Lucien Freud and Jenny Saville. I love action painting and expressive work that builds texture as well as figurative and narrative work. I incorporate these forms into my style as I disconnect the painted image from the common experience and perception of the viewer to enable the creation of new figurations and experiences.
CCS: What are your specialty skills in the field(s) of work you are in? Why do you enjoy them the most?:
NCJ: As a painter I can paint in every medium and like to mix mediums when creating my work. I especially love to paint large scale works including murals in public spaces. I am also skilled in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and like to create digital collages that explore institutionalized lies, the emotional response, new forms of slavery, the tormented soul and the language of corrupted thought.
CCS: What are your personal goals now and in the future as an artist?:
NCJ: I want to continue to create work blurs the lines between the imposed disciplines of the art world such as painting, illustration, graffiti, and drawing to disrupt the concepts of what is considered high and low-brow art. My goal in the future is to be as prolific as possible creating sensational work that sparks interest and provokes thought in the viewers mind.
CCS: What are some of your most prestigious honors, awards, achievements and renown clients?:
NCJ: I co-curated and painted in the 21st Precinct art show in New York City during the summer of 2014 which was named the #1 New York art event in 2014 by Complex magazine. 60 artist took over a former police precinct and painted the entire building (4 floors) with murals and installations.
I created, designed and installed the art and installations for Hotel Hugo's new rooftop lounge "Azul" in Soho, New York April 2015 and I was The Spring Creative Coalitions Project Award winner for the Brooklyn Arts Council in May 2015. I was named the Gold winner in the painting category of Art Forward contest #3; Past and Present in October 2015. I spearheaded and curated an art district in Brownsville, Brooklyn called "Writing on the Walls" in the summer of 2015. I brought 15 international artist to paint murals and beautify the community.
CCS: What's the biggest misconception other people have of artists in your field(s) of expertise?
NCJ: That we will work for peanuts or worse for free.
CCS: Lol, we agree! Tell us a little about how you like to work. (Alone, with others, in phases, details, etc...)
NCJ: When I paint I create my work using many layers to get the final product. I usually work alone or with one or two assistants when I paint large scale.
CCS: Why is it important for you to be a freelance artist other than a commercial artist?
NCJ: I like to work freelance because it allows me the ability to work on multiple projects at once and create my own schedule.
CCS: What software / equipment do you work with and for how long have you used it?
NCJ: I use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and have used these programs to create graphic illustrations and designs. I have use the programs for the last 10 years.
CCS: What do you hope to achieve with your art form other than just making income?
NCJ: I want to leave a legacy through my work as someone who provoked conversation and thought.
CCS: You've definitely provoked thoughts in our heads! How did you learn to do what you do?
NCJ: I went to the High school of Art and Design and then got my BFA at Fashion Institute of Technology.
CCS: Why are you better suited to work with (a particular client) rather than someone else of the same field of expertise?:
NCJ: I am a good listener and want to deliver the results that the client is looking for and not what I am looking for all while staying true to myself as an artist.
CCS: Thank you very much for your time and we look forward to making amazing work together!
Visit N. Carlos Jay's Portfolio here
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