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Hunter Jay's art career began in 1964 with drawings of Godzilla in battle with squadrons of fighter jets. His fellow first graders were his early collectors for these scenes of chaos; all free for the asking. At the time, no one knew he'd rather draw cars and castles, but the Godzilla drawings were so popular and made his friends so happy, he couldn't resist.
As a teenager, Hunter left the monsters and jets behind and experimented with a wide variety of mediums; so much so that his parents strongly encouraged him to major in art at a local university. It may have been an act of rebellion, but he decided to major in music instead. The music education was a wonderful experience, but by 1981, with degree in hand, he realized the ride was over. He re-entered a university studying graphic design, and was offered a job before he earned a second degree.
And a job it was, at least for him. In a way, it was the Godzilla phenomenon all over again, creating design layouts for subjects that hardly interested him. Eventually, the creative differences with the entire advertising world became too much. He abruptly quit, and began a lucrative career in telecommunications that lasted for over 15 years. Art won out in the end. After a massive layoff in telecom, Hunter used his savings to launch his career as a full-time artist, painting the subject matter that is closest to his heart.
Hunter's paintings embrace an admiration of simplicity. Colors my be brilliant and bold, but never shocking. The work evokes a contemplative and peaceful place, be it a sun-showered field of daisies or a quiet, icy winter scene. His paintings have been showcased in juried shows throughout Colorado, and his commissioned work is highly sought after. In 2006, his work was chosen by acclaimed director Kar Wai Wong to be used in the upcoming film My Blueberry Nights, starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weiss, and Nora Jones.
