Traveling Paintbrush: Interview with Artist Adriana Jay
Not many people know that I was in a Magnet School for most of my grade-schooling. What is a magnet school? It’s a public school with specialized courses or curricula. In my case, I was part of the Art Magnet, so for many years, I was trained in all sorts of arts – painting, drawing, charcoal, sculpting, photography, etc.
I didn’t pursue art as a career, mainly because by the end of high school, I was burnt out, never felt I was that good anyway, and I just lost the joy. It took nearly a decade after my graduation for me to get back into photography. Even then, I use an iPhone with special lenses and not a professional DSLR or hipster vintage manual. To not lose the joy, I refrain from diving in too deep.
For that reason, I am always floored when I see people I know honing their craft and showing their art to the world. Guys like Matt Mornick, and Adriana Jay. They’re doing something vulnerable, and extraordinary – without being weird about it.
I had an opportunity to sit-down with Adriana Jay, an up-and-coming painter here in Miami, whose content, vision, and perspective is pretty unique.
Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink, and let’s see what she’s been up to.
———————————————————
JB: It’s kind of funny, you and I lived literally across the street from one another for like seven years, and we never talked. Then we met up at the University of Miami years later and hung out with the same circle – interesting how that worked out.
AJS: Isn’t that wild?! I remember you playing basketball in the driveway, but I was too shy to say hi <Laughs>
JB: I remember one time seeing you and Raph kissing in the driveway, and I thought to myself, “maybe not a good day to play basketball.”
JB: So, I tend to ask this question in interviews, who are you?
AJS: At my core, I’m a dreamer, a hopeless romantic, an adventuress. This is how I move through life, and it’s been really colorful and magical. I’m also a big dork who loves cheesy jokes, and I say that with pride and an eye wink.
JB: I want to talk with you about your artistic endeavors. You’ve made quite a splash as of late. When did you start painting?
AJS: My first official painting, the one that sparked it all, was an assignment in my second-grade class. I painted a sweet little rainbow fish, based on a children’s story. The story goes on to be about sharing beauty with the world. Funny enough, after a 10-year artistic hiatus in my 20’s, what re-launched my painting was the opportunity to create a storefront mural for Rupees Sarees in Wynwood in 2016. I was terrified and excited to paint the mural, but what grounded me was the reminder that this was my chance to share my passion with the world, again. It was a second rainbow fish.
JB: Are you self-taught, or have you received any formal training?
AJS: I’m a public school kid and took art as my elective in high school all four years. Beyond that, I’ve never had any formal training. Unless you count YouTube University.
JB: What are some of your influences?
AJS: As a teenager, I was very much moved by surrealism, so I loved Salvador Dali. And I admired Frida Kahlo so much. My art doesn’t resemble theirs, but their spirit, their essence, has been a significant influence on how I approach the canvas.
JB: What inspires you?
AJS: Courage. The most beautiful rebellion is when someone chooses to be brave, whatever that looks like. The world can be a scary place sometimes, and anything worthwhile requires courage— heart. Courage to be the first in your family to attend college, raise a family single-handedly, make mental health a priority, fall in love, trek through a rainforest, or explore new continents. That decision to choose love over fear is courage, and I find it unbelievably inspiring.
“That decision to choose love over fear is courage, and I find it unbelievably inspiring. ”
JB: You and I have shared a bit of travel, at one point it seemed like Cynthia, and I were chasing you and Raph around the world – what have been some of your favorite destinations, and why?
AJS: Oooooh, boy! This question is a tough one to answer, and I’m sure as a fellow traveler, you can agree it’s not easy to narrow down a single place. There’s SO much to love about every destination.
If I had to dig real deep, I would settle on three countries that, to this day, make me weepy when I think about them: Spain, Japan, and Morocco. Spain, particularly Andalucia, had so much soul. The streets literally rang with music. Japan, especially Kyoto, floored me because it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I miss the temples, the hot ramen, and the overall gentleness. And Morocco, wow Morocco! Chefchaouen mesmerized me, and the sunrises in the Merzouga desert stole my heart. There’s nothing like a drum circle under a half-moon in the Sahara.
JB: That’s true, that’s a tough question! It’s hard to nail down just one favorite destination, but if I could pick three – Moll’s Gap in County Kerry in Ireland, Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria, and Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald area of Switzerland.
JB: Have your travels left any mark on you, or your art?
AJS: They’re ALL OVER me and my art. In many ways, my art and my travels mirror each other. Sometimes after a trip, I’ll rush home to my studio to paint, inspired by the moments we lived abroad. And other times, I’ll be halfway around the world and see something that looks like one of my paintings brought to life. It’s almost like a chicken-egg situation where I wonder which came first: did my paintings help manifest these amazing adventures? Or did my adventures guide me into the direction of my next work of art? It’s definitely both. On a personal level, my travels have also helped overcome some of my greatest fears. I’ve realized I’m a lot braver than I give myself credit sometimes.
JB: When you approach a piece, what is your process?
AJS: The single most important thing in my process is asking myself this question: are you swept away? If I feel elated by what I’m about to paint, then I’m ready. As far as subject matter, I usually look for stories, and the stories I love to tell are of female solo travelers. The final step is a [great] soundtrack and a glass of wine.
JB: What gives you the most satisfaction in working your craft?
AJS: I love being able to talk about my muses. Most of the women I paint are real-life travelers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. They’re educators, artists, activists, health-care professionals, scientists, writers, bloggers, and on we go. When I paint, it’s my way of celebrating their courage. And when I create the destinations they’re in (because I always feature my muses in gorgeous locations around the world), it’s my chance to travel via paintbrush. It’s so satisfying from start to finish.
JB: What are you most proud of?
AJS: I’m most proud of opening up about my mental health, finding my voice, and leaning into courage with art and traveling. As someone with Generalized Anxiety, I struggle with perfectionism and wanting to control (out of fear). Yet I live for two things that can’t be controlled: painting and traveling. In art, you make tons of mistakes. And in traveling, things don’t always go as planned. Being able to dive into both of those means I’m confronting my fears and living with passion. Talking about what that’s been like allows others to see that anxiety doesn’t have to define or confine us.
“...anxiety doesn’t have to define or confine us.”
JB: Any failure you’ve had to overcome? If so, how did you do it?
AJS: Oh, man, TONS. I’ve messed up on portraits a bunch of times. The proportions are all wrong, or the skin tone isn’t right. The best thing I can do in those moments is take a breath, be kind to myself, and reconnect with the joy of painting—not the product.
Something similar happened on a trip we took in 2017. Our first time in Morocco, Raph and I got awful food poisoning in Fez and ended up in the hospital, then a few days later had our passports stolen. We had to reroute our entire trip, and our perfectly curated itinerary flew out the window. But you know what? To date, that’s been one of my favorite trips because it taught me to take a breath and trust—trust that it was all going to be okay. And it was more than okay, it was one hell of an adventure.
JB: I’ve seen on Instagram that you’ve also been involved a bit in the local community, can you speak to that? What are you doing?
AJS: Miami has a phenomenal arts community. I’m grateful to have such talented friends that are kind enough to include me in making our city lively!
If you haven’t already swung by Words and Wine, be sure to do so because it’s a guaranteed good time. I started live painting because of Nikki Bravo and the W+W community. From there, I began live painting at Churchill’s Pub, thanks to Taylor Davis and his eclectic music shows. And I was fortunate enough to live paint on stage with the fiery Dita Sharp dropping her spoken word bombs.
Whether it’s a studio open house like I did with Talia Garcia, an artsy brunch at Vista with Omar Sanad, or a chance to showcase art at The Wharf during Basel (thanks to James Echols with Life is Art), it’s been fun to team up with friends and other artists.
Currently, I’ve got some pieces housed at the Zen Zone with Mary Dorsett, who I affectionately call my connection doctor, and I can’t wait to continue collaborating with people I admire.
JB: That’s a lot of name-dropping! I feel like I am talking to an art celebrity here.
JB: What are your plans for the future with your art, and the community you’re helping foster?
AJS: I’m playing around with the idea of launching some mini-series and possibly expanding my travel postcard collection. Additionally, my hope is to bring more light to mental health, and this is something Mary and I have talked about doing at the Zen Zone, so stay tuned! I’ve also been giving some thought to hosting intimate travel talks and hosting art workshops, including art sessions for the children of refugees through the Refugee Assistance Alliance.
JB: Where can people find you online, if someone is interested in your work, how can they go about purchasing something?
AJS: Connect with me on Instagram @artistadrianajay—say hi! Messages brighten my day. I can also be commissioned for customized art, and I’m always happy to participate in events. Connecting with me on Instagram or e-mail is the best way to reach me, artistadrianajay@gmail.com.
JB: By the way, the painting you made for Cynthia and I is prominently displayed in our living room.
AJS: Awwww, I’m smiling so big right now. Mr. and Mrs. Octopus! You guys were among my first clients, and it’s always awesome to paint for friends.
———————————————————
There’s not much I can add here, nor want to. Thank you to Adriana Jay for spending some time to talk about her art, her struggles, successes, travels and future plans! Also a huge thank you for touching on topics of anxiety, and fear - things I think we’re all dealing with in one form or another right now.
