This American artist unveils the silent poetry of still life, capturing our world’s quiet beauty in every brushstroke, says Ramsha Vistro
HOW I WORK IN THE STUDIO
IN JEFFREY HAYES’ CHILDHOOD HOME hangs a grand reproduction of Autumn on the Hudson River by Jasper Cropsey: a depiction that subtly nudged the young artist towards fascination. Jeffrey recalls, “I spent countless hours standing on the couch looking into the world of that beautiful painting. I still love seeing it.”
Later, at the age of six, a museum outing with his father would shape his artistic perspective. A particular painting – with its intricately glazed lace over a figure’s forearm – imprinted itself in his young mind. The astonishment lingered; the disbelief that paint could achieve such intricate finesse. “Both of these experiences instilled in me an intense curiosity about how simple paint could be transformed into such wonders.”
Jeffrey’s family also played a pivotal role in nurturing these artistic inclinations. His father’s craftsmanship in woodworking infused a sense of beauty and patience, while both parents fostered a deep respect for the arts and encouraged his curiosities. He highlights, “My mother instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I wanted, and my father always taught me the value of keeping an open and honest mind.”
These moments laid the foundation of his genuine interest in painting. Though, he didn’t act on that eagerness for many years and came to painting much later than most who follow this path.
While art classes in school sparked an intense curiosity, he meandered through other interests, especially music. Thus, his journey into painting wasn’t a direct one. With an advanced degree in music composition and a detour into computer programming, he found his way to painting as his third career.
Drawing parallels between painting and music, he says, “They are so deeply related that they almost seem like the same thing viewed from two different angles.” Programming, with its emphasis on logic and meticulous attention to detail, also finds a subtle connection with his artistic process.
It was on his 30th birthday that his life as an artist began and he finally “decided to satisfy that curiosity” by buying himself a small oil painting kit. Reflecting on those early days, he candidly admits, “The first paintings were absolutely terrible, but I also knew right away that I would be doing this for the rest of my life.”
