Jim Shay paints, draws, and collages in his Sonoma Valley studio, north of San Francisco. Prior to becoming a full-time artist he practiced architecture for thirty years. He worked in California and Iran on projects in the United States, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Japan, China and Vietnam.
Most paintings, including “Grove Study 1″ on the left are done in casein and tempera, two of the oldest painting media in existence. They dry to a matte finish, somewhat similar to that of a fresco, and are protected with matte varnish.
To achieve a sense of time’s passage, the paintings are scraped and abraded with sandpaper and x-acto blades. The work is on framed archival panels, and currently ranges in size up to 66″x84”. In addition to the work sold by the galleries listed, commissions are undertaken through the galleries for specific clients and sites.
