Jay Montgomery News

My blog has moved!!

2011-03-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

Thanks for checking my blog! Unfortunately, I no longer update this blog. I have moved to a Wordpress blog integrated into my new Portfolio website. Please update your bookmarks and follow my only blog here:

Jay's Illustration of Life
http://jaymontgomery.com/blog/

RSS feed
http://jaymontgomery.com/?feed=rss

Also check out my BRAND NEW portfolio website at the same URL.

http://jaymontgomery.com

Thanks,
Jay Montgomery

Busy Bumblebee - Process

2010-11-21T20:22:00.001-08:00

Gotta new documented process of my traditional paintings. It was a quick demo I did this Fall quarter at SCAD. The students have to do some sort of "manimal" (part human part animal) This is what you get when Yaritza Burgos (AKA "Bumblebee Man" from the Simpsons) gets a "Bee Movie" body and finds a job.

Prismacolor Pencil transfer to Strathmore Illustration Board. 10" x 7.5" image area. Taped off with Blue Safe Release tape.

Acrylic and Ink base colors. Watercolor was used for the clouds that I don't have a picture for.

Oil wash made with Dioxane Purple and Permanent Green Light thinned with Gamsol.

Dried oil wash removed with kneaded eraser revealing highlights and unifying shadows.

Prismacolor pencil details. and color shifts in certain areas.

Final flatbed scan color corrected with touched off with digital signature.

Details reveal lots of great texture and variations in colors.

Whole process took about 8 hours, but not all at once.

Before Yours and Her Very Eyes

2010-11-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

Before yours and her very eyes
Originally uploaded by jaymontgomery

Made this little video of one of my many painting methods. Painting was created with acrylic, watercolors, an oil wash, Prismacolor pencils, and gesso in about that order.

Video was created with iPhoto 11' slideshow. Limiting options but works OK. Real easy once you do it once right. This was my first time doing the slideshow.

"Drawing Inspiration" book is out and I'm in it!

2010-03-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

I'm proud, humbled and honored to be apart of this wonderful collection of superstar artists from around the world. I met the author Michael Fleishman back in 2000 at a Graphic Artists Guild convention and what bundle of energy and knowledge he was even then. This is my 2nd Fleishman book that I have been in.

Look what's on my drawing board?

Page 145: On this page I discuss working out value at the pencil stage before color, among other things.

Chapter 13 - Drawing Is Provocative, page 212 is all mine! One of the things I discuss here is what I teach in some of my classes. Andrew Loomis discusses the importance of the five P's and the five C's. Look it up if you want to know or ask me or better yet buy this 368 page 500+ illustrations book and read all about it.

New Process video!

2010-02-25T04:55:00.001-08:00

Just created this process video for my Materials and Techniques II class at SCAD. Enjoy!

Aqua Teen Hunger Force background!

2010-02-09T14:57:00.001-08:00

After working on 6 movie backgrounds for Cartoon Network's "Aqua Teen Hunger Force colon Movie Film for Theaters" (yes, this is the full title exactly). They called on my pixel pushing skills again for the TV show. Just this past Sunday the new episode of the Adult Swim TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force "Rabbot Redux" aired and it had about 2 min of air time using a background I did! Took about 2-3 weeks to do back in December
2009. A bit about the creation process.

1. This is what the Art Director, Bob Pettitt, sent me as a starting point. This was used as a "holder" for the animation build of the scene. After talking with me about the scenes needs and he sending me a few texture files, food items for the salad bar I got started.

2. I established eye an level horizon line using one point perspective. Then I created most of the base mechanical/architectural shapes in Illustrator CS4 then by copying and pasting into Photoshop CS4 I created several smart object layers.

3. I sent progress to the AD a couple of times. I did not do the Ferrari. They already that done, I just had to make sure the perspective matched the rest and fit in between the bed and fountain. I had to make sure that the layers of objects were set up in such a way that the characters could go behind all the elements. So each object was on it's own layer with transparent backgrounds.

4. After creating in smart objects in Photoshop, I used them as clipping masks to add textures mainly. On some smart object layers I added shadows and highlights as clipping masks. This is the final background low res version. The original is 12000 x 3240 pixels (40in x 10.8in at 300 dpi) with 411 layers! High Def Baby!

Some details - indoor horse stable!

fancy luxury bed! I used the Vanishing Point filter and the Liquify filter to apply the bed spread pattern.

Some screen shots of how they used them in the end. It was about 2 min of airtime. Pretty funny little scene.

If you want to see the whole episode you can go to this direct link on the Adult Swim website, but I must warn you that it's NSFW, but not R rated. It's not the type of crude humor that everyone can appreciate. (If there is such a humor.) It's only a 15 min show, but to skip right to the scene go to the end of the first video clip and the next clip will load and it's toward the beginning of that video file.

My Facebook Fan Page

2010-01-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

My brother-in-law is also an illustrator and were are currently having a little friendly competition with our FB fan pages. The first one to 300 fans gets to take over the world! If I reach world domination I will only use my powers for the good of all human kind. In other words, I will NOT bombard you with lots of status updates to read. I promise to post only the best and most current work. I spend the majority of my time on this planet creating art for others to see and enjoy. I have got some really good stuff I'm working on and my Fan Page will be the first place to show it.

All I need you to do is to become a fan if you are not already AND to suggest fans by clicking the "Suggest to Friends" link below my profile image.

Jay Montgomery Illustration Fan Page

Thank you!
Jay

Jay Montgomery Illustration Fan Page

2009-12-17T17:35:00.000-08:00

About 2-3 weeks ago I created a new Facebook Fan Page for myself. I'm very thankful that I already have over 186 fans! Something special is happening on the Fan Page. Everyday until Christmas I will post one of my past Christmas Cards. On Tuesday I started with a card I sent out in 1999 shown here.

I'll continue to showcase a new illustration/card every day on the fan page until Christmas Day when I will reveal my 2009 card.

Also, I'm adding new images and products for purchase on my Zazzle Store.
Just added to the right panel here.

New Illustrated Book!

2009-11-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

You might recall an earlier post about a new book I illustrated. Well it's out! Just in time for the holiday's a yet another new book about Christmas...but this time it's special because it's illustrated by me! It's a different take on the ever popular poem "The Night Before Christmas" with 11 new highly detailed illustrations. "The Night After Christmas" by Jim Chapman was a challenge to illustrate and fun at the same time. I wanted to capture a more contemporary approach to the old tale to fit the modern subject matter of the this timely poem. It's about the cultural materialism that retailers have trapped us into forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. Here is a great description from the publisher Winepress Group.

Does Christmas seem like a stressful, unsatisfying ritual? Why do we go through this annual exercise of decorating, shopping, wrapping, and over-spending--only to vow we're going to do it differently next year? Was Christmas always this way? Or did our culture make it into something it wasn't meant to be?

If you've ever asked yourself these questions, you may well need this book. Christmas does, indeed, offer something more. Obscured beneath the tree, hidden inside the gift wrap, buried under plastic debt lies an enduring enigma that beckons us to reconsider. Somewhere in all the clutter can be found the key to a merry Christmas. For those who take a second look, there awaits a gift that can make every day a holiday.

"Delightfully riveting and insightful...I'm sure every person can relate. What a great reminder of what we so often forget!"

--Gary Smalley

It's a very nicely printed 24 page 8" x 8" hardcover cover book with book sleeve and spot varnishes. I designed the cover as well as illustrated it. I wanted to show hints of money in the design so I used a The colors turned out exactly how I wanted them. At first glance it's a typical Christmas book but at a closer look of each illustration you see something more. I had fun coming up with all the viewpoints compositions and details. The look of the credit cards were challenging for both the author and I. Since we could not show any credit card logos or anything close I had to come up with generic cards with all sorts of details. We went through several revisions until the author and his lawyer were satisfied that we were not going to be sued by the very companies that push all this materialism down our throats every holiday season. If you know what my family and I look like you will get a laugh at my photo references as well.

Now I have a book to give to my family this year for Christmas. Maybe your Christian friends or family would like a copy. It does make a great gift! I would love to hear what you think of the book and illustrations.

I would happily hand sign any books for free. Just let me know. jay at jaymontgomery dot com

I'm featured in a new Freelance Portfolio E-zine!

2009-11-18T17:15:00.001-08:00

Greg Welch is a designer that specializes in magazine publishing. He has done a great deal of print magazines and has been doing some impressive online magazines and PDF portfolios for all types of artists. He created this new Freelance Portfolio online magazine. One of my illustrations is featured in the premier issue on the cover and here it is. He promotes it heavily online and is gaining some traction and a bit of controversy even. Want to be apart of it contact Greg.

Ya Ya Kids T-Shirt Illustration

2009-11-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Recently finished a new Ya Ya Kids shirt for Manic Mommies Podcast. I had done 4 other traditionally with watercolor then touch up in Photoshop. This one was done in Photoshop after an creating a tight pencil with graphite.

Here is video I created about my process.

Illustration Friday - Germs

2009-10-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

This was for an editorial illustration for Texas Journey Magazine that I did a while back about children going overseas on vacations and trips. The article discussed ways to prevent and keep your children safe from all travel health issues. It was fun designing fake the stickers. I first created all the stickers flat in Illustrator and then applied them to the luggage painting using Photoshop's distort and liquify tools, then I brought that into Painter to add a uniform painted texture overall.

Just now did this different collection of all the stickers on skin just for the Germs entry to Illustration Friday. Speaking of which the creator of IF, Penelope Dullaghan, was just recently interviewed on Escape From Illustration Island. Check it out on iTunes!

Comments are appreciated!

The Night After Christmas - sketches

2009-08-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a new picture book of sorts for marketed towards adults for Winepress Publishing since early March 2009. It's called Night After Christmas - A Holiday Paradigm Revisited. by Jim Chapman. It's a take on the poem The Night Before Christmas by an anonymous author first published in 1823. It deals with a modern families struggle of materialism and lost sight of what Christmas was really all about. I did 10 full page illustrations plus a cover in a stylized realism manner. I had lots of fun coming up with the scenery which is loosely based off my own home and family. I had about 3 months to do 11 full blown, full page illustrations with repeating characters and scenes all while teaching 2 classes, taking 1 MFA class and many other freelance jobs. I thought I was done in June and then the author had lots of little revisions to some of the illustrations starting a few weeks ago. I got final approval on all the illustrations just last week! It's due to be printed and in the stores hopefully in a couple of months just in time for Christmas.

I wanted to give you first a taste of the process of some of the illustrations. I always start with pencil and here are some sketches I sent the publisher. The author had some very specific art direction from a Word doc and the story obviously gave some clues to set the scene. I had already done a fair amount of research and photo reference.

So from these I digitally painted the scenes in Photoshop and Painter. The finals are coming in a later post.

mixed Media Art Contest: 2nd place winner

2009-07-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

I was the first loser on artwanted.com! 10 bucks to pay the bills with.

Mixed Media Art Contest: Jun 22 - Jul 5, 2009 | ArtWanted.com

Spiritual Connections

2009-06-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I was an official student of the arts. Since 2000 I have been a teacher of the arts. Well I started the journey of getting my MFA so that I could have the opportunity to teach full-time at a college level. The logical and most practical choice was to get my MFA from the place I teach, SCAD-Atlanta. I could teach and take classes at the same time all in the same place. Well this past quarter I did just that. I taught 2 classes (Getting Published, and Self Promotion for Illustrators) and took my first class with Illustration professor Julie Mueller-Brown. It was grueling financially, physically, and mentally! During the middle of the quarter I found a more flexible and faster way to get my MFA at Hartford Art School, Limited Residency MFA in Illustration. So I won't be continuing with SCAD for my MFA in Illustration. More on that later.

ILLU 714 Drawing for Illustrators was a great course to start off with and therapeutic in many ways. For the first time in a long time I had allotted time to draw for me. Well, I was drawing for my professor but it was much more wide open than any other paying freelance gig I have done in over 16 years. The 7 other students and I did TONS of drawing inside and outside of class. Part of it was to create 5 personal graphite drawings outside of class. Julie wanted us to just start scribbling on nice drawing paper and see what happened. Below is my journey of those drawings. She is going to use my series of drawings as an example of the process for when she gives this assignment again. I went from literal symbols and words to almost abstract expressionism. Very different from what I am used to and a breath of fresh air.

I would love to get any feedback on these good or bad.

I'm on the cover of Oz

2009-05-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

My work is featured on the cover of Oz Magazine! Oz is a Southeast regional magazine leader in the Creative Communications Industry publications, for the May/June 2009 issue. Also, in the magazine I'm featured in an article titled “Undercutting”. I represent an Illustrator’s point of view on pricing illustration, educating the client and negotiating effectively with all types of clients. The magazine is not online yet, but distributes them at various retail outlets around Atlanta that tend to cater to the communication, marketing and media professional, like Sam Flax, King Plow Art Center, Utrecht, Binders and more.

Bridging These Truths Publicity Galore!

2009-04-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday the 21st of April my family and I were asked to come to an Image Awards ceremony at the Emory University Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). They were honoring student leaders with awards. Great group of people indeed. At the end of the ceremony they unveiled my poster of Bridging These Truths. The my client and visionary Brenda Stanley and I donated a 30" x 18" canvas gallery wrap of the poster to the NAACP chapter. It will be displayed in the TV lounge of the Dobbs University Center in a week with a plaque of recognition. Here is the article about it in the Emory Wheel.

The poster also posted on a very popular blog www.yourobamaupdate.com with a link to my prints for sale web page. You might have to scroll waaaay down to see the post but it's there!

A large framed print of this also was recently auctioned off at the 2009 SCAD-Atlanta Scholarship Gala donated by your truly.

It has been talked about at length on the radio, speeches, presentations and the Georgia School Board is very interested in displaying it in a large amount of their schools.

It's getting LOTS of other publicity, sales and traction even 100 days into Obama being in the White House.

It's also not to far fetched that the poster will be seen and given to Michele Obama. Because it's not what you know it's who you know and Brenda knows!

Stay tuned!

Jay

Ya Ya Kids are worldwide!

2009-04-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

As in all over the world wide web. This week the marketing efforts of the Ya Ya moms and owners of Ya Ya Kids had a great little shout out on a very popular and current podcast I clued them in on. Manic Mommies is an audio podcast for any manic mommy. What mommy is not a MANIC MOMMY? Anyway, why this is important? I did all the illustrations for the shirts and I did their logo! It's cool to hear about other talking about your work unprovoked! Check it out below.

Here is the link to the Manic Mommies show notes where you can download the show as an MP3, or listen on iTunes. Listen to the whole thing or fast forward to about 16 min. and then again at 50 min.

For all you mom's it would mean a lot to me to check out the Ya Ya Kids website and buy a shirt. They are very cool! Super soft high quality environmental friendly shirts that are made in the USA.

http://www.yayakids.com

Resort Map

2009-03-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

A while back in the beginning of November I was contacted by the owner of Chestnut Bay Resort in Northeast Alabama. He needed an illustrative map of his resort on Lake Weiss. He tried to get done through a relative and disaster stuck with this rejected map.

So he sought out a professional. He invited me to come up and take some photos and walk around the place. I can't remember the last time I was in Alabama, but before this trip I had never been to Centre, Alabama. The resort was unexpectedly nice and new and still expanding. Great for family retreats and lots of outdoor activities. So got the photos in Winter time and had to make the birds eye map for Spring or Summer time. I was quite swamped with SCAD and other freelance so I brought on board my good buddy John Nelson to help me out.

I met with John and talked about the basic layout and details and without him actually going to the Resort he sketched out in Photoshop a fairly accurate rendition of the place.

After a couple of rounds of over the phone revisions we had a final drawing.

Then I colored it in Photoshop.

They are going to use it on brochures, a large poster and a homepage clickable map showing photos of the different areas. See it on the ChestnutBayResort.com.

Art Digital Magazine Interview

2009-03-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by Max Eternity of Art Digital Magazine.

Read all about it.

Life drawing and the Masters program at SCAD

2009-03-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I did a still life drawing for my portfolio submitted to the SCAD MFA in Illustration application. I had fun coming up with what I was going to draw. I thought it turned out really well for a 2 hour rendering.

Check out my whole MFA in Illustration Portfolio let me what you think.

World of Wine Map!

2009-02-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

This map is a long time coming. I started working on this in July of 2005 with restaurant owner Tim Moore. It was to be a 11 foot by 5 foot mural for his restaurant Terra Grille which is now Terra Terroir. We went through what seemed like countless revisions and tweaking with all the info on the map.

It's a vinographically correct map of the world. A term we coined when producing the map. The state and countries are enlarged to the size of importance and quality of vineyards in the region. On the left hemisphere is the "old world" way of wine making and on the right hemisphere is regions that produce wine in a relatively modern way. It has tons of facts, popular vineyard locations, and interesting tidbits for all wine lovers. When seen at a large scale it's great conversation starter for wine enthusiast.

Then sometime in late 2006 the job stopped for due to a change in direction of the restaurant decor and Tim starting a family. The job was put on hold indefinitely. Then in late 2008 I decided to finish this map and make it my own since no reproduction rights were ever sold. I changed the name of the map and some descriptions and made it more my own. Now it's done and available for sale as prints, posters, and reproduction rights. Click on the map to see an interface where you can zoom in to all the different areas of the map.

Bridging These Truths

2009-01-17T07:01:00.001-08:00

Over the last 2 months or so I have been involved in a large project creating a poster about change and hope in America. Brenda Stanley of The ABC's of ICU came to me with her creative vision and very rough sketches. From talking with her we had an immediate connection to the subject matter and drive to complete this highly detailed and symbolic poster. It was originally intended to be part of a presentation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Downtown Atlanta (Dr. King's Church). Through the creation of the photo illustration all the other people who were able to see it saw a much bigger purpose for it. This poster had to go public and be made available to all. There are a lot of Obama and MLK Jr. posters, paintings and novelties out there. But we have not seen anything close to the detail and idea of the Statue of Liberty, King and Obama with all the civil rights moments throughout US history that has lead to this point in history of our 44th president, Barack Obama. So go to this brand new page to see in much more detail and read more about it. Show your support and recognition to this historical event in American history by purchasing a print for you and gifts to others. Print sizes from 20"x 12" to 60" x 36". Comments welcome.

Sting Portrait

2009-01-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a personal piece that I also did as a demo in one of my illustration classes.

Story behind the face:
In 2007 Sting and the rest of the Police became a knight of the L'Ordre Des Arts (Order of Arts and Literature) an honor bestowed by the French minister of culture in recognition of significant contributions to the arts. The green and gold medallion behind him is the what is awarded to all knights of the 'Ordre.

Acrylic painting on lauan hardwood plywood. Image size: 9.5" x 11.75"

Buy a print

Orangutans in watercolor and colored pencil

2009-01-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I have not posted this yet. This was an illustration I did in Fall of 2007 as demo for my Materials and Techniques I class. The assignment was to pick and endangered species to be used for an existing Chocolate bar that features endangered animals and raises money to help support the species habitat and humanity. See more at www.chocolatebar.com. I, of course,
choose the Sumatran Orangutan, located in Southeast Asia. This layering process of watercolor and colored pencils lends it self well to renderings of animal textures and landscapes. 15" x 9"

Detail:

Comments welcome.

In With the Old... Out With the New!

2009-01-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Here is a blast from the past. I did this illustration as a collaboration with and old buddy and illustrator friend of mine John Nelson. He did the concept and tight pencil and I did the final art. I think we did this back in 1994-5 for a New Years Eve Party we had when we were roommates in Buckhead. I thought it turned out great! Recently we have been toiling around with the idea of starting a new illustration company with the prospects of doing this sort of collaboration again.

I just posted this as a new product offering on Zazzle.com.

Out With the New...In With the Old! Mug by JayMontgomery

Who Hub Interview

2008-12-27T10:12:00.001-08:00

I just completed an interview on whohub.com I thought I would share it here as well.

Jay Montgomery - Illustrator
Interview by whohub.com

What is your specialty in illustration?
If you can imagine it I can paint it...within reason, time and budget of course. Most of what I promote tends to be of a corporate nature for advertisements, magazine covers, and trade show graphics. I also do a bit of webs and print graphic design. What I spend most of my time doing is teaching illustration at SCAD-Atlanta.

What are your regular clients like? What do they expect from you?
My regular clients tend to be Art Directors, Graphic Designers and small business's. They expect to get a stages of development for approval and revisions, artwork provided digitally, on budget and on time.

Have you completed formal art studies, or are you self-taught?
In 1992 I got a BA in Drawing and Painting from LaGrange College, in LaGrange, GA. In 1994 I received a certificate of completion from Portfolio Center, in Atlanta, GA with concentrations in Illustration. I am planning this Spring 2009 to start my MFA in Illustration from SCAD (if they will have me).

How did you get your first full assignment? What did it involve?
In 1993 while still a student at Portfolio Center I got a advertising agency job illustrating 2 billboards with no text. It was for Flowers Bread Company for Natures Own Bread. It was my first big break and lead me to get many other freelance jobs. You can see it here: http://www.jaymontgomery.com/portnaturesown.html

What past or present day illustrators do you admire most?
Norman Rockwell, JC Leyendecker, Drew Struzan, James Jean, Rob Day, Tim O'Brien, Brad Holland, Mark Hess, Bill Mayer, Matt Mahurin, Kinuko Craft, Teresa Fasolino and many more. You can see my work as well and many of these illustrators work for sale as stock on this new website. http://www.profilestock.com

How similar are your current drawings to those you did as a child?
My work tends to be many realistic. As a child I I already showed an interest in drawing as close to reality as possible. i was never one for drawing comics or cartoons, although I really respect and enjoy those even today.

What was your favorite comic book as a child?
Surprisingly, I did not read many comic books as a child. None of them stand out as a favorite.

Do you have a particular style, or does it vary a lot?
I stay in the realist style going from exaggerated perspectives to stylized to photo real. I like doing a lot of styles and it depends on the need of the client as to what style is done.

What is hardest to draw?
People in general. But I tend to do quite I bit of people in my illustrations and I have certainly excelled in drawing all the different body parts. Faces being my favorite.

What type of music do you listen to while you work?
I try to be as eclectic as possible. Ranging from classical, rap, hip hop, new rock, alternative rock, classic rock, hard rock, techno, retro 80's and 90's, disco, new age, and what ever else suits my fancy. I also really enjoy listening to audio books and podcast's while working.

Do you have a favorite work of art?
The Sistine Chapel ceiling by DaVinci. It's one big illustration commissioned by the church.

What do you do when a client simply says "I don't like it"?
I ask what specifically do you not like about it? I can address that issue better than trying to read the mind of the client. Honestly I don't hear that too often.

What new techniques have you been experimenting with lately?
I am always experimenting with ways to combine digital and traditional painting. Whether I start traditionally and end up digital or the opposite. I love it all.

What part of your work do you do on paper and what part digitally?
Usually I start with pencil and paper then scan that in and work in Illustrator and or Photoshop. I also work in Painter when the job calls for it.

What research do you do for your illustrations?
I really enjoy the research. Since most of my illustrations are realistic there needs to be a sense of authenticity to them. I get as much as I can from the client, and always do internet research from a wide variety of sources, not just Google. I also take photo reference of what I illustrating when ever possible. I take photos of myself and friends family dressed up in silly outfits and poses keeping in mind the lighting and and angles of the pose or still life for the most effective composition.

Do you have colleagues with whom you share techniques, tricks, ideas, etc.?
Always. A good friend of mine that I went to school with and was roommates with John Nelson share techniques and business practices. We also collaborate on projects when it's a good fit.

Do you have any specific goals as an illustrator?
To satisfy as many clients as possible and to be known the "go to" illustrator for all you illustration needs. If I can't do it then I know someone who can.

What illustration web sites do you frequent?
Illustrationmundo.com
thelittlechimpsociety.com
profilestock.com
theispot.com
illustratorspartnership.org
gag.org

my own website:
http://www.jaymontgomery.com

and many more.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on two large civil rights posters to be presented on MLK day 2009 at Ebenezer baptist Church, in Atlanta. At the same time I'm working on my 4th annual illustration that's used for the Hinman Dental Meeting Annual National Convention. I also just finished an illustration for a new drug's ad campaign. I'm really busy!

What advice do you have for someone who likes to draw and would like to make a living from it?
Draw, draw, draw, from life, from photos, from other artists. What ever you enjoy. Go to school and get formally trained. Take as many business classes as you can. Get a portfolio website and promote it by doing adding your link to any art directory just like this site. Mail out postcards to a targeted list you gather your self mainly by visiting your local book and magazine store. Keep experimenting and surround yourself with other artists. Don't be a hermit, get out a meet people face-to-face.

Prints and Products!

2008-12-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

I was one of the earlier adopters of Zazzle.com when I set up an account in 2001. I mainly did this for printing some personal stuff and to see how it works. Well they are still around and going strong. My Zazzle store has recently doubled in size with the amount of products offered with my art work on it. I have recently had a boost in sales this Christmas Season so I'm quite happy about that.

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Also I'm just getting started with Esty.com as of today.

I'm featured on Illustrophile!

2008-12-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

Charlene Chua of illustrophile.com was kind to feature my site today (12/02/08) on this blog dedicated to showcasing illustrators and commercial artists. I have also been asked to do an interview with them... stay tuned.

Thanks Charlene for the extra publicity!

I also have been meaning to post several new pieces I have done as demos for classes. I hope to get to it soon.

I have been busy with a new illustration for the Hinman Dental Society, a civil rights poster, and a resort map. More updates hopefully soon.

Ya Ya Kids T-Shirt Illustrations

2008-11-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

Just finished a series of 4 t-shirt illustrations for a new line of clothing geared towards Moms and kids. The company is called Ya Ya Kids. The business model is to have Moms post photos of their kids getting their "ya ya's" out by doing crazy fun things. The visitors to the site and company would then vote on the photos to see which of them gets turned into an illustration used on t-shirt and other apparel. These would then be sold on the web site as well as in retail stores. We are just getting started and have high hopes. The illustrations are at the printer now being printed. Check back for actual pictures of the shirts and updated Ya Ya Kids website so you can buy your own.

After many rounds of concepting we decided to go with a Dick and Jane style applied to modern and sometimes irreverent subject matter. Most the the Dick and Jane illustrator worked in watercolors and white gouache. These watercolors were painted on Ampersand Aquaboard and then were modified slightly in Photoshop to touch up some colors and facial details. These are not the same backgrounds used for the t-shirts. The warm background texture was added in Photoshop. The shirt illustrations were set up to be more of a vignette so they would work on several different colored shirts. I will not post those until the launch of the shirts on the Ya Ya Kids website.

Carpet Cut-a-way illustration

2008-11-01T11:38:00.001-07:00

While SCAD has got me really busy, this month I finished up a Carpet cut-a-way illustration for Dow Chemical. Nothing too terribly exciting but really functional and clear. I had to scan swatches of the actual carpet layers and compose them in a isometric perspective. Created using Illustrator and Photoshop.

Paperless Office Editorial Illustration

2008-10-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

Assignment for a Mortgage Servicing News. Art director's brief description is pretty much all I got: "man in small office building throwing papers out of window.
Pile of paper on the street..." I took it a bit further adding too many details.
This is the concept that the AD asked for and eventually went with.

This is another concept that the AD did not ask for but liked better. The editor liked the other requested concept so the AD had to comply. This has happened over and over again with editorial clients. I thought it was the AD's job to pick the artist and the art. Isn't that what they went to school for?

I had originally painted the colors as a normal blue sky day. I liked the way a changed it. After some thumbnail sketches it was totally created on the Mac using Illustrator CS3 most 85% of the shapes and Photoshop for the painted looking parts. Total time: about 10 hours on and off for a week.

A cropped detail that surprisingly and most frustratingly communicates exactly the same thing as the un-cropped version. I could have done half the work and got paid the same! Arggh!!

Comments good and bad are welcome!

Flavor Icons

2008-10-04T17:44:00.001-07:00

A new potato chip package design that I have recently been working on needed some small flavor icons. This is what I came up with. These chips are going to be sold mainly in vending machines with the potential of them in the stores later.

New Book Illustrations

2008-09-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

I just finished some book illustrations for the book publisher Winepress Publishing. It's for a book titled "Righteousness and Life From Grace". These are to be used as 2 spots and 3 half page black and white illustrations. As for what they wanted pretty much all I got was this text below, with a few other questions asked. So this is simply how I translated those words into illustrations. It was quite fun to work on but that sure was a lot of people to render. Finals were created in Photoshop at actual print size at 400 dpi.

Cutaway Illustration

2008-09-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Over the Summer I completed a fairly complicated cutaway of a support structure for railroads. Tensar makes and designs grid systems for various industrial applications. This illustration was about railroad ballast and the slope systems. This was created using mainly Adobe Illustrator and the train is a Poser 3D model. The final was 20"x 16". Now every time I see a railroad, wall system, or slope I will have a much better understanding of how it might be built.

Current Conservation Magazine Cover

2008-07-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

This one I'm quite proud of. I did this illustration when I was at Portfolio Center in 1993. Today I got my copy of the latest issue of Conversation Magazine and it's on the cover! I'm really glad to be apart of such a worthy cause. I'm in good company with past covers art as well. Several very well known illustrators have graced the cover and now me. Thanks to Society for Conservation Biology. Also, this has been on another magazine cover and won a Best Cover award back in 1995. An oldie but goodie. Check out some other past magazine covers here.

My process

2008-05-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a demo I did for my Electronic Illustration class. The link to the web page not only describes my process of painting and modifying the same Photoshop image for 3 different looks of the same image. The web page itself was an actual assignment as well. The style was something really different for me and I had lots of fun illustrating it. Let me know what you think.

The students created 3 different tarot cards of their choice in a style of their choice using Photoshop and Painter and then they created a web page based on those cards talking about their process. They all worked very hard on these and a great job overall. Here are some links to the students web pages.

Mary Wall
Matt Kelly
Sarah Pettis
Fiona Handshin
Min Choi
Tanya Rodes-Colee
Alan Hawley
Jacob Smith

...more student links to come soon.

Orphan Works Legislation

2008-05-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Orphan Works Act of 2008

Two new versions of the bill was introduced to Congress the week of April 25th.
New to both bills is the requirement that the U.S. Copyright Office to create and undertake a certification process for the establishment of searchable electronic databases of visual works, so that the public can view orphaned works.

From what I understand the better of the two bill is the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008. Due to the fact that the act would enable users to exhibit orphan works to the public, the sponsors say, if the copyright owners are unable to be located after a "thorough, documented search." The legislation spells out the requirements that would be necessary to meet the standards of a search, and how a court can review the search to decide if it was adequate and done in good faith, If no copyright owner is found and the material is used and then later the copyright owner comes forward, the bill requires that the user must pay the owner "reasonable compensation."

On this site are provided sample letters from individuals representing different sectors of the visual arts. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, reps, licensing firms, and designers: If you are opposed to the Orphan Works act, this site is yours to use. For international artists and our colleagues overseas, we’ve provided a special link, with a sample letter and instructions as to whom to write. Two minutes is all it takes to write Congress and fight for your copyrights.

http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/

Pick a sample letter or write your own. Type in your zip code. Your letter will be automatically addressed to your congressman and senators. Click and send.

From the ICON5 website.

The Orphan Works Bill

The Orphan Works bills recently re-introduced in the House and Senate could have a profound effect on every illustrator and the protection of our copyrights.

ICON urges you to inform yourself on this important issue. Several organizations are following this closely, and the following links will provide further information. Please check them regularly for updates and advice on actions you can take.

Illustrators' Partnership

Graphic Artists Guild

American Society of Media Photographers

National Press Photographers Association

Stay informed at these sites above.

Jay

Puppet illustration for Crusader Magazine

2008-05-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Recently finished a spot illustration for Crusader Magazine. It's a puppet from a puppeteer Julie Shockey.

His Life Accepted in the Upstream People Gallery

2008-04-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Late 2006 I was commissioned by new company called Heirloom Christian Arts. It was a complete pleasure working with Camilla Raymond on the project which gave my ample time, creative freedom and generous compensation to create the new painting based on a one inch high piece of jewelry. I transform the message and detail into a 24" x 36" painting.

Just found out this week that the painting was accepted into the

10th Annual Judeo-Christian Juried Online International Art Exhibition

See it here!

Signed and numbered edition of only 50 giclee prints
in various sizes, greeting cards, and more are
available exclusively through Heirloom Christian Arts.

Thanks,
Jay

eMotion Pictures Book

2008-04-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art
I entered my artwork from a past job into the AAOS eMotion Pictures.

I got the printed book the other day that has a great collection of artist's work about orthopedics. I have cronic back pain and live with it daily. Click the photo of the book and read text on the page for more.

You can see this and the other works of art on the AAOS Emotion Picture Gallery.

Donations

2008-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I donated a print of mine where the image was picked by a very nice lady in Hawaii, Angel Visoria representing Habilitat, which is a long term residential program built on the "Therapeutic Community" model. This approach is considered by experts to be the most effective method of treatment for substance abuse and chemical addictions. Habilitat was holding a charity luau based in Kaneohe, Hawaii, selling framed artwork to help raise money for this non-profit organization. I donated a giclée print of Imagination. An illustration I did almost 10 years ago. While I was at it there is a 1st Annual SCAD Atlanta Scholarship Gala that was holding a silent auction from student and faculty and I donated a framed print of the same piece.

I also decided to frame and donate a print of Worries From Home. I have very few pieces of art that actually fit into the fine art "match your couch color". This is what I came up with and I hope that the prints raise as much money as possible.

Path Tree for Dentists

2008-03-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

New Illustration for the 97th Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting 2009. This is the 3rd year in a row I have had the pleasure of working with the Hinman Dental Society on creating the main image used on all their advertising, materials, signs, printed materials.

This upcoming years theme is about continuing education. So my idea was to show a tree representing growth and the branches turning into path ways leading to certain areas or dentistry.

Technique specs:
17” x 21” image with a 1.5” crisp white border all the way around. Total board size is 20” x 24”. It was painted in acrylic on a gessoed board of masonite. Nice a sturdy and archival quality. There is no white type on the paths in the original. That’s part was done in the computer. With the original you really get to see the textures of the surface unlike a digital file or print will ever do. Let me know what you think.

eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art

2008-02-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

I entered my artwork from a past job into the AAOS eMotion Pictures.

Almost 1,200 entries were received from 17 countries and 45 states, representing a broad spectrum of orthopaedic conditions. The artists' words were strong and the artwork powerful.

A jury of art professionals had the difficult task of selecting the artwork for the exhibit. The jury included René de Guzman, director of visual arts at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; John R. Killacky, program officer for arts and culture of The San Francisco Foundation; and Paul Pratchenko, professor of art, painting and drawing, San Francisco State University. The show features 200 works of art from 152 artists.

I'm honored that one of my illustrations is on exhibit in San Francisco until March 2oth for. It's a gallery show of all sorts of orthopedic art for doctors, patients, artists and children. Read about my chronic back problems story here and see the other artists work. A book is available with all the artist's work including mine available here.

Autotrader

2008-02-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

Autotrader.com called me a few months ago to do some Illustrator characters that would then be animated in flash for online training. I did one version with outlines and one without. Still waiting to see if they want me to do more.

Pharmaceutical Convention Main Image and Icons

2008-01-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

A revision of another illustration I did for another Atlanta convention. They wanted a classic charm of the city of Atlanta.

This Pharmaceutical imagery for the 2009 AAPS convention was all done in Photoshop and Painter. They wanted a old world classic feel using modern equipment and objects. Tough to pull off. What do you think?

Rosie the riveter as CalPERS

2007-12-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-12-03T06:14:00.001-08:00

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.

Ben Folds portriat

2007-11-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

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

Smoker's Choice

2007-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Art Fairy - Hidden Pictures

2007-11-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

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.

22 Q&A interview

2007-10-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

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 doing full-time freelance. 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

Press Release for the end of Summer

2007-09-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Porsche Is Recycling Now...

2007-09-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

...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

2007-09-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-30T05:21:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

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.

New Web Pick Interview

2007-08-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm featured in a 5 page spread interview in NewWebPick E-Zine issue 11. This month's issue marks the first anniversary of "NewWebPick" for subscribers, first launched with Issue 5 in August 2006. It has over 3,000,000 readers. It only cost $1.49 for the full version a lite free version is coming soon. This truly international flash based E-zine has over 570 pages of new illustration, design and some funky and crazy artist from all over the world. I'm about 1/4 the way into the magazine. It premiered on August 1st. Download it now!

Here are some teaser spreads.

Great White Heron

2007-07-28T19:04:00.001-07:00

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.

New Web Pick Award

2007-07-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

My website was just picked as a Super Pick of the World! by NewWebPick.com. Which is a "international digital designer union and a community of international digital designers, is one globe designing information focusing on the digital design." Since it's produced in some foreign city where English is not the primary language the English translation is a bit off but readable.

I'm also going to be featured in a 5 page spread interview in their NewWebPick E-Zine issue 11

As of now, it's not out but will be soon.

Worries at Home Ribbon Design

2007-06-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

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

The Mansion Process

2007-06-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

In May I completed a new illustration of a hotel/condo that is not built yet called The Mansion. This is a part of my sped up process of how it was done. The final drawing took me about 3 days working 14 hour days. The video is about 5 minutes long. Music By The Postal Service (John Tejada Remix).

Radio Interview 06/12/07

2007-06-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are in the Atlanta, GA area I will be interviewed on a local radio station, Radio Sandy Springs. The weekly show is Following your Passions hosted by Bernard Kearse, of Kearse & Associates, P.C. The show discusses peoples' passions about work, hobbies and the things that make life worth living.

The show does take calls from listeners, so please spread the word to some of your friends and contacts. The call-in number at the station is 404-943-1620 or toll free at 1-866-356-0789.

Who: Jay Montgomery and Bernard Kearse
What: Interview about my passions. See if you can guess what it is.
When: Tuesday, June 12th, 8-9 PM
Where: Radio Sandy Springs on your radio dial 1620 AM.
Why: Learn more about the mysteries and true passions of Jay Montgomery!

A copy of the interview will be available on the Radio Sandy Springs website soon after.

New print available - His Life

2007-05-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Just announce a new painting is available for for print purchase. Late 2006 I was commissioned by new company called Heirloom Christian Arts. It was a complete pleasure working with Camilla Raymond on the project which gave my ample time, creative freedom and generous compensation to create the new painting based on a one inch high piece of jewelry. I transform the message and detail into a 24" x 36" painting using a relatively new medium called Chroma Atelier Interactive Acrylics. It's an acrylic paint that allows you keep it wet on the surface on your painting for much longer than conventional acrylic paints. This gives way to an oil painting look without all the harsh mediums of oils and using water as thinner. I loved the process! I even made a step-by-step demo of the process for my Materials and Techniques II class at SCAD-Atlanta. If you would like to get a PDF of the step-by-step process please email me. The painterly feel and hand done look is a little different from most of my work, but it was fun to loosen up. Let me know what you think!

Signed and numbered edition of only 50 giclee prints in various sizes, greeting cards, and more are available exclusively through Heirloom Christian Arts.

Thanks for looking!

Atlanta From Above

2007-04-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

I went on my first helicopter ride on April 27th for an illustration I'm working on. The Creative Director wanted me to go up and art direct the photographer, Scott Johnson, to take the photos at the right angle and elevation for a new building coming up in Buckhead called Mansion on Peachtree. It was quite incredible and enjoyed every second of it. I took my camera and snapped away until my fully charged battery went dead. I got several photos for hopeful future references. One photo I have already used for reference for another job I'm working on. It really came at the right time it was quite amazing.

I flew it all by myself and took pictures at the same time!

Savannah College of Art & Design - Atlanta, Where I teach.

Go here to see a select group of untouched photos.
I'll be sure to post the final illustration once it's done in about 2 weeks.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie backgrounds

2007-04-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

It was well over two years ago when Art Director, Bob Pettitt, contacted me to see if I was interested in doing some movie backgrounds for this movie. At that time I had never heard of Adult Swim much less Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The show and movie is admittedly not for everyone and it's main target market is teenagers who like dark alternative, and crude humor. So be forewarned! Anyway, all they needed were some layered Photoshop backgrounds that they could mess with to create scenes for this 15 min Adult Swim show into a full length movie. Over all I did 7 backgrounds for my first movie art experience. Well, I had to keep it quite until now. With the many delays and postpones of the premier it's now finally here and I can show the stuff I did on the web. I'm going to be attending the ultra exclusive movie premier on April 8th right here in Atlanta and the Plaza Theater. I'll try my best to not trip on the red carpet and smile for the deluge of paparazzi and interviews. Click this link or image to see page I created with the backgrounds and be sure to zoom into each image to see all the hard work.

I would LOVE to hear any comments on these and the movie on my blog or here on my news page. Make sure you go see the movie starting on Friday the 13th, April 2007 at a local theater near you.

Piece Accepted in West Coast Art Show

2007-03-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

My Fixation and Fusion illustration has just been selected for eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art.The eMotion Pictures exhibit will open in San Francisco on March, 2008 at the Moscone Convention Center in the West Lobby. Approximately 200 pieces of art from artists and orthopedic surgeons will be displayed in a professionally-designed scheme with placards next to each piece telling about the artists and the work’s relationship to orthopaedics. They will advertise the show locally in San Francisco, and distribute the information to the media internationally. eMotion is planning to produce a book of the artwork and the artists’ stories that will be available at the exhibit. So stayed tuned for the book.

On the cover and inside my alma mater

2007-03-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

This month I am proud and honored to be featured not only on the cover with one of my illustrations but on the inside with a one page article about me in LaGrange College's Alumni Magazine - Columns. I graduated with a BA from LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA, in 1992. Studying there played a huge part in who I am today. Majoring in Drawing & Painting and Graphic Design, in a liberal arts college, I learned the base set of skills that made this illustration for the cover. Even though this cover was not originally done for Columns, the Editor, Dean Hartman and Designer, Stacy Jackson, thought it would be appropriate subject matter and concept for this issue. I originally did this for PTO Today magazine in 2003. I tweaked the layers a bit so the Stacy could separate the people on the inside spread. What's even more interesting is that I was found by the creators of Columns from the LaGrange College alumni website where this my other blog is listed as one of the blogs that all alumni can see. Dean and a photographer, David Beard, came to my studio for an interview and photos. It was a good experience all around.

Click to enlarge and read.
The article is a good representation of who I am.

Photo & illustration montage for repeat client

2007-02-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

In 2006 Hinman Dental Meeting of Atlanta, GA commissioined me to do thier main image for the 2007 convention. They liked working with me so much that they came back to me to do the main image for 2008. Just finished this at the end of January. Completely different solutions for the same company. They were thrilled.