#jay croft

Tell us about yourself Jay.  Who you are, where you’re from?

My Name is Jay Croft, I am from Akron, Ohio. I am a husband, father, and a maker of things. As far as something weird about me, I write with my right hand and kick with my left foot.

What’s your thoughts on being a self taught artist vs. going to art school? I never went to school for art but if people have the opportunity to do it then i highly recommend it.

Folks are always interested in process.  What’s your drawing process like and how do you keep yourself in a creative mind set?

I guess I just try to draw and make stuff all of the time. I always try and keep myself busy too. I do better when I’m busy. I guess everything starts out as a drawing

In your art and drawings, what do you find yourself gravitating towards theme wise?  

I suppose skateboarding has always been a constant in the things that I do and make. I also have always just tried to draw the people that I see in everyday life. I’m influened by so many things that I see on a day to day basis.

Name your top favorite art tools. Any new tools lately you’ve been drawn too?

A sharpie marker and just a white piece of paper is usually the norm, but lately I have been drawing on my iPad pro. It’s kinda crazy that I’m into it so much. I was always pretty much anti-computer everything, but for some reason, I’m hooked.

Can you tell us about the Art Bomb Brigade mural event you lead last year? and how it came about.  What did you enjoy the most about leading this year?

The Art Bomb Brigade is amazing. It’s basically a non profit group that is trying to beautify one wall in our city at a time. They believe that art is healthy on so many levels and that it enriches the community that it is in. I’m stoked to be involved with them. I just really liked working with other artist. It was fun trying to convey my message to them and see them bring my ideas to life. I hope i get to do it gain soon.

You’ve been painting more large scale works and lately murals.  What do you enjoy and what do you find the most challenging about it if at all?  It seems like artists always have a different approach to working large, what about you?

Painting murals is so much fun. I used to always just work on such a small scale, so working on a big scale is a breath of fresh air. I often find myself trying to make everything bigger now, even if it’s not a mural. I really like the challenge of laying it all out and figuring where everything goes. I also really enjoy the ability to improvise while your doing it.

Tell folks out there who might not know about the Street Canoe publication / zine.  What’s your history with zines and zine making.

I’ve always made zines ever since i was younger and I hadn’t made one for a few years, so I decided to make another one and street canoe was born out of that. It was originally only going to be a website. I figured I could reach more people that way. But then I figured that there needed to be something in print. I wanted to do a best of the web type thing, but that didn’t really happen. It kinda just turned into its own thing after that. I’ve released five issues and number six is on the way. I also make boards, tees, stickers, and anything else that I want to under the street canoe moniker. It’s super fun to do. I’ve always just liked zines. I never really had a favorite. I just really like magazines, always have, always will. Text and photos layed out in a creative way gets me excited.

Tell us about your most exciting project so far in 2017? 

So I have a show coming up at the Akron Art Museum In Akron, Ohio in a few days (March 2, 2017 - July 16, 2017). It’s pretty crazy to think that I’m going to have some of my stuff hanging in a museum that has some very legit art in it. I’ve shown my art all around the world ,but not once did I ever think I would have my stuff hangin in a spot that also includes Warhols, a really rad Chuck Close painting, and the list goes on and on. I’m very humbled, lucky, and honored. I still can’t believe it. The show is called Please Touch, and the concept is that your allowed to actually touch and handle the art. So I made some pieces that have movable pieces and are magnetic. It was really fun to try and come up with some new ideas and ways for people to interact with my art. I hope people find it engaging and fun. I just hope that my kids and other kids are into it. Maybe it will inspire others to think up new ways to do things in their life and art.

Best advice you’ve gotten and worse in regards to art.

I have never really gotten any advice in art, good or bad. This might sound bad, but I probably wouldn’t listen to it either way. My whole life has been about figuring stuff out on my own. I guess I’m stubborn.

Who are some of the artists then and now you really admire or just enjoy.

Oh man the list is so long… My grandpa was probably my first and major influence. He was a maker of many things, he could do it all. I’d also say Russ Pope, Rich Jacobs, Neil Blender, Chris Miller, Ron Chatman, Nat Russell, Mark Gonzales, Lance Mountain, Dr. Suess, Wayne White, the list goes on…

Ask and answer the art question you never get asked.

What’s your favorite color? Blue.

Whose someone you’d like to see get interviewed in our Art School: Q&A’s ?  

Sergej Vutuc. He’s an amazing photgrapher and artist. If you don’t know anything about him make sure to check him out. You will be stoked.