About the Artist
Lynn Jaye’s artistic path began at the age of five when her cousin taught her to paint by numbers. “I was entranced by the attention he gave me and the little pots of oil paints that smelled so good!” she recalls. Growing up in London, a French teacher who also taught art further sparked her passion, linking her love for art with the allure of French culture. This dual fascination led her to study art in college and live in France, where she began painting landscapes, a subject that continues to inspire her work.
Her creative process is structured and deliberate. “I like to get my office work done, exercise, and eat before starting to paint,” she explains. This routine allows her to clear her mind and focus on her art, often working from afternoon till late into the night. Her workday typically begins after lunch, ensuring she has a long, uninterrupted stretch of time to devote to her studio.
Lynn’s style is an evolving blend of influences. Inspired by Impressionists and Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Seurat, she also explored Abstract Expressionism. “People sometimes compare me to Van Gogh,” she notes, reflecting the dynamic energy in her work. Her paintings aim to capture the flow, movement, rhythm, and energy of nature, creating an expressive and evocative body of work.
She has experimented with various mediums throughout her career. Initially drawn to oil paints, she switched to watercolors and acrylics due to toxicity concerns but returned to oils with the advent of non-toxic mediums. “I sometimes coat the canvas with an acrylic undertone, my new favorite is red!” she shares, highlighting her innovative approach. Her techniques are diverse, incorporating oil paint sticks, oil pastels, and unique textures to create distinctive effects.
Known for her desert scenes, she has won recognition and awards, with her work featured in posters for prominent California art festivals, such as the downtown Santa Cruz Art Festival, Capitola Begonia Festival, Capitola Art and Wine Festival, Monte Foundation, Southwest Art Festival, and La Quinta Art Celebration.
Lynn's resilience and adaptability have turned her art into a thriving career over the past 34 years. The most rewarding aspect, she says, is the joy of seeing people appreciate her work at art festivals, a testament to the connection she fosters with her audience. Her journey, marked by global travels and a deep connection to nature, has instilled in her the resilience necessary for a successful art career. Her art reflects her life experiences and profound appreciation for nature. “I try to convey my feelings of joy and happiness in the presence of nature,” she says. Looking to the future, her goals remain centered on growth and exploration. “I am happy to keep going with my career as long as I can still paint,” she affirms, aiming to create even larger canvases that capture the expansive beauty of the world around her.
In the dynamic landscape of contemporary art, Lynn Jaye remains a vibrant force, her work is a testament to the enduring power of nature and color.
-written by Edward Gonzalez for the Santa Cruz Art League, July 24, 2024
Selected Collections, Awards & Exhibitions
2024 93rd Annual California Landscape Exhibition, Santa Cruz Art League, CA
2023 Poster Award, La Quinta Art Celebration Encore, La Quinta, CA
2023 Two Mayor Awards, Los Altos Rotary Art in the Park, Los Altos, CA
2023 92nd Annual California Landscape Exhibition, Santa Cruz Art League, CA
2021 Purchase Award, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Cruz, CA
2020 Southwest Art Festival Poster Award, CA
2018 JCOS Art Haus, Group Exhibit, CA
2018 Creative Grant, unSCruz, Santa Cruz, CA
2017 Special Juror's Award, ARC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014 Capitola Art & Wine Festival Poster Award, CA
2014 Monte Foundation 20th Anniversary Fireworks Extravaganza Poster Award, Capitola, CA
2003 Museum of Art & History, Group Exhibit, Santa Cruz, CA
2002 Best Fine Art, Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival, CA
2002 Best Visual Artist, Good Times, Santa Cruz, CA
2001 Capitola Begonia Festival Poster Award, CA
2000 Capitola Art & Wine Festival Poster Award, CA
2000 Capitola Twilight Concerts Poster Award, CA
2000 Celebrate Santa Cruz Poster Award, CA
1999 Celebrate Santa Cruz Poster Award, CA
1997 Impact Award for Excellence, CA
1997 Cover Artist, Capitola Mall Directory, CA
1996 Cover Artist, Capitola Mall Directory, CA
1994 Watercolor Biennial, Triton Museum of Art, CA
1993 Winsor & Newton Achievement Award
1993 Los Gatos Museum of Art, Group Exhibit, CA
1987 Plantronics, Santa Cruz, CA