Artist spotlight: James East

My father-in-law is an amazing human. After he retired from life as a professional classical musician, he dove into art with a fervor that made me marvel. And also made me jealous, if I'm honest. Most of the time my brain is going in a hundred directions all at once. I'm lucky if any of the molecules end up in the collection bin of my choice. I'm in awe of anyone who knows what they want and can actually pursue it with the time and dedication necessary to become truly good.

And oof, Jay is so so good!! His paintings are moody and ethereal, sometimes lonely, sometimes hopeful. We have a large piece in our library that feels both ominous and profound, its weighty darkness leavened by a bright glimpse of the surface.

There is texture to his work that mirrors the scrubby wilds of his subject matter. I want to touch his paintings almost as much as I want to look at them.

When I'm wondering what things I would save if our house caught on fire, it's Chris, the cats, and the art. The irreplaceable things.

Recently I came into possession of some of James's art supplies: a leather bag he used to attend art classes with in New York City, a selection of paint brushes and palette knives, a half dozen brayers that I can use for block printing. Many of these tools are encrusted with paint. They weren't just owned, like most of my art supplies, they were used. The tools of a real artist.

(If you're reading this, Jay, sorry if I'm embarrassing you! But not really.)

I'm so tempted to keep the brushes like that. To array the tools in a vase like the prettiest bouquet of all time. And maybe I will for a while.

This wasn't the newsletter I sat down to write today. I was going to share some sketches I've been working on and talk about drawing daily comics. But when I sat down and started to type, this is what I wanted to share.

I feel so incredibly lucky that I've gotten to know Jay over the last two decades. I missed out on most of his professional musician years, but I loved loved loved cheering him on during his journey as an artist. He's retired from that now, too, but not without making a similar glorious mark on the world.

Your homework assignment this week is to stare at a piece of art you already own and notice everything you can – the colors, the mark-making, the mood, the texture of the paper or canvas. Where does it take your mind? Where does it take your heart?

Thanks for reading. (And thanks, Jay, for your art. And for everything.)

Jenn