FAA Spotlight An Artist Interview with Reynold Jay

Fine Art America Spotlight is an opportunity to get to know some of the fantastic people creating and sharing artwork within this community. As artists, we must support each other. Each of us possess an intimate understanding of the creative process. It is this intimate understanding that allows us to truly appreciate the work of our fellow artists. I have taken it upon myself to interview some of my personal favorites here at FAA. I am deeply honored to present these interviews as they occur. Having said that, I am very excited to present my interview with my good friend Reynold Jay! Reynold has been a very good friend to many in this community and it is an honor to have his participation. Please feel free to leave comments. Without further ado:

Question: In your own words, how would you describe your art?

Reynold: Most of the art is created by my staff of artists for my children's books. They have a lot more talent than me. I think of myself as the director and on occasion will make up a rough sketch or two of how I envision a scene.


Question: As an artist, what inspires you to create? How does your creative process work?

Reynold: It is the story that begins the art process. I begin with the story and then we create the most important scenes that make the writing come to life. The Wurtherington Diary is a fantasy for adult readers and then I figured we needed to add the art for the younger-reader editions. The adults love the art and it simply enhances the stories for them too. In all there are around 400 works of art in the eight-part series. All the novels are created with the intent to see them on the big screen one day. Whether that will ever happen is a long shot, of course.

Question: Can you share a few of your favorite artists? What is it about their work that draws you to them?

Reynold: I like all the artists at FAA. Each and everyone one of them has an enormous amount of talent. Many are 'world class'( including you, John) that compete with the great historical artists that we see in art texts. When I see this level of talent, I always mention it when I make comments. In that the art community at FAA has accepted me as a fellow artist means a lot to me. Most often I feel humbled when these talented artists give my gallery their attention with flattering comments!.


Question: What are your favorite mediums for creating artwork?

Reynold: I always love the appearance of water-color and quite often digital art give the appearance of water-color rendering.


Question: How long have you been an artist?

Reynold: I must have had it when I was born. I won a lot of local art shows when I was in high-school. My art teacher encouraged me to continue with it. I obtained an art degree and taught art classes all my life.

Question: Have you displayed your work elsewhere? If so, where?

Reynold: Only a few local art shows over the years. I figure everyone can view it at FAA ( and other art sites) and in my children's books.


Question: Aside from artwork, what are you passionate about?

Reynold: Art, music, writing novels, and performing arts are what I do. I've performed with my musical groups over the years, released an album; then went on with a one-man DJ format for decades. 4,000 performances all total for most everywhere in Michigan. I formed my first band at the age of fifteen and was performing in clubs ( alongside Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Aretha Franklin, and others) while I was still in high-school. My management skills became apparent as I ended up owning many of the clubs where I performed! I discuss much of this in my 'Born to be Rich' video (based upon one of my first books now in its 35th year) that can be viewed at You Tube.

Question: Do friends and family show support for your creative endeavors? Who is your primary supporter when it comes to your artwork?

Reynold: Yes they do; however, they have no idea of the fame I enjoy in the writing world. In that I entertained many of them over the years at the various events (weddings and parties) they all have first-hand knowledge of my creative side. I remember being excited to see 1,700 sites on the internet when I searched 'Reynold Jay' about ten years ago. Last time I looked it came up with 19 million. FAA art is a big part of it while the novels dwarf everything else with best-seller status with most everything.

Question: What do you get out of art? Can you describe what art means to you?

Reynold: It is one of those things where 'You will never need to work for a living when you are doing what you love!' I very much earned my living simply being involved in various art endeavors all my life. One can take a look at my gallery and see at a glance that I follow no one but my own creative endeavors. We could say the same of you, John. You could show me any work of art created by yourself and I and everyone else knows that it is 'John hard at work again.'
Thank you, John for this opportunity to do this interview. I has been a pleasure!

End of Interview

Click the link below to visit Reynolds amazing gallery here at FAA!