To all of our German friends, check out this new interview with surf artist Jay Alders on SoulSurfers.de
Below is a Google Translated version for our English Speaking visitors…
When did you start surfing and can you remember your first ride?
I started surfing when I was 17 years old. As soon as I had my driver’s license and got my first vehicle and was able to go to the beach whenever I wanted which was only about 15-20 minutes from my childhood home.
As a surfer – is the design of a surfboard important to you?
Yes, absolutely. Surfboard design is such an interesting and inspiring art form. The evolution of the aesthetics and function of board design is intriguing and beautiful.
Beaming with Abundance is your own favorite artwork. Can you tell why?
I don’t have a favorite one. I love all of my paintings and when I do each one, at that time, it’s my favorite. Each one has a special meaning to me and each taught me lessons. I do love “Beaming with Abundance” and it’s the one that’s hanging over our bed in our bedroom so it’s certainly one of my favorites.
I began painting it on a day that I was planning on painting another piece, “Sweet Aspirations”, but that piece was still wet with oil paint. So I decided to paint something else. I picked up brushes and just started to paint on a wooden panel that I had in my studio. I had no plan, no sketch, no idea, I just thought “hmmm..Let’s see what comes out of me if I start painting”. This painting, “Beaming with Abundance” came out of no where and revealed itself to me, inspired by the love of my now wife Chelsea who was then my girlfriend. We were just about to go on our first trip to Australia and the scene was inspired by the vision of what that would be like.
Your artwork often plays with light. Do you use it to create especial feelings?
There’s a quote by Picasso, “There are artists who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun”. I think I’m the latter, the artist who transforms blobs of paint into the sun. I allow the paint to become light. I let it convince me that it is real and I watch it happen as I act as a medium between the vision and the paint.
You do a lot of life painting with bands like G-Love and also did a great artwork of Donavon Frankenreiter. So you are a music lover? What connects you to music?
Yes, I adore music. I grew up listening to a wide variety of music from my Dad who is a music aficionado. He had vinyl records ranging from Latin to heavy classic rock to classical, jazz and everything in between. I always wanted to be a rock star but never stuck with my guitar playing like I did with my art, so now I can pretend to be a rock star using the medium that I know how to solo on best, paint. Im fortunate and grateful to have rockstar friends who enjoy collaborating with me and we share a respect of one another creatively.
You travelled alot with musicians what was the most inspiring situation?
The most inspiring, was probably the scene that my painting “Rio Jam” was based on. A huge jam session in the hills of Rio in Brazil with G. Love, Donavon, Matt Costa, ALO and others. The scene is partially on YouTube thanks to my friend Sean Davey, the photographer who recorded it on his first generation iphone. I was next to all the musician and had a sketchbook with me and sketched as they jammed. It was magical.
Have you ever painted on surfboards?
Yes, for charity events mostly. It’s not a regular thing I do but I have and enjoy it.
In an other Interview I heard that you are creating a book. Are there any news on that?
It’s been a long process. Longer than I anticipated. Two years now in the making. It’s been a passion project that’s very important to me. I hope to have it done by this year but it might take until early of ’18 to finish. I’m putting a lot of detail and thought into just as if it was a painting for me. I hope it helps and inspires people. It’s going to contain stories, mindsets and lessons from me as a career artist from childhood to now.
