Welcome to JAKE’s Studio

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I invite you to a little getaway from the stresses of everyday life and norms and allow your mind to wander among more than 30 years of my paintings sculptures, poems and prose.  Remain as long as you dare and enjoy glimpses inside the heart, mind, and soul of JAKE as I express my thoughts and feelings about the people, places, things, and events from the past and present using whichever mediums, often mixed, I feel best tell the story. Most of the pieces are accompanied by prose and poems which provide a hint about each piece… but they are best viewed unbiased through your eyes and your open mind.

 

About the Artist

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Ed Ginty, creating his art under the name JAKE, was born in 1949 in the vibrant city of New Haven, Connecticut, and spent his formative years in the lush expanses of New England. His childhood, a kaleidoscope of senses filled with the vibrant colors of Fall leaves and the serene immersion in nature, kindled his creative spirit. Surrounded by the contrasting influences of a disciplined father and an intellectually astute mother, JAKE absorbed a world of literature and humor, paving the way for his artistic exploration. From an early age, JAKE yearned for more than his immediate surroundings, driven by an insatiable desire for discovery that would later permeate his work.

Despite his family's Old School New England skepticism about turning art into a vocation, JAKE was never discouraged from indulging his artistic curiosity. His self-taught journey allowed him to explore freely, creating pieces in his own unique style, which eventually blossomed into a mélange of abstract and surreal elements.

The influence of his family's literary achievements, including war-time memoirs penned by his grandfather and uncle, only added another dimension to JAKE’s creative pursuits. His own artistic journey took a significant leap when, at 18, he sought to see the world by enlisting in the Naval Air Service. This decision opened up a panorama of exotic locales—Marrakech, Casablanca, Tunisia, Barcelona, Athens and Rome, to name a few—feeding his imagination and defining the palette of experiences that his work now captures. He now lives and works out of Southern California, a far different environment than his Connecticut childhood.

JAKE’s art is a reflection of the raw and the real, as well as the unusual and sensual. His subjects often seize his attention, lingering within his mind until they are released onto the canvas through a deeply personal and experimental process. His fearless approach to trial and error and his defiance of internal and external constraints have helped him carve a niche that defies conventional categorization.

His creative influences are as diverse as his travels, with figures like Picasso, Van Gogh, Dali, and Hopper leaving their indelible marks on his work. As he continues to develop his technique and identity, he remains untethered to any specific artistic guilds or societies, constrained in part by a demanding corporate career from which he is nearly retired. Nonetheless, these responsibilities never stifled his artistic spirit; artful encounters peppered throughout his travels have inspired his extensive body of work.

JAKE is now at the threshold of sharing his creations with a broader audience. While he has yet to be featured in major shows or publications and is in the nascent stages of securing gallery representation, his art has already attracted a devoted following for its evocative and whimsical nature. Descriptors like "unique," "abstract," and "surreal" color the responses to his pieces, marking him as an artist to watch.

Beyond the canvas and sculpture, JAKE engages with the world through pursuits such as fly fishing, writing poetry and enjoying music across all genres. These interests speak to his appreciation for both the contemplative and the dynamic qualities that seep into his creative work. As he steps further into the spotlight, JAKE aspires to forge connections with audiences who resonate with his inventive vision, affirming his belief in art as a cornerstone of societal function and human connection.

 

Artist’s Statement

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The subject matter for my work often finds me rather than the other way around. It could stem from a sight seen, a story shared, an event experienced, or even a simple sound or scent. The key is that it must be honest and open, powerful enough to linger in my mind and inspire me to translate it into an artistic form. It needs to move me, demanding expression until I can adequately capture its essence in my art.

The creative process itself is an intuitive journey. I begin by contemplating the visual representation of the concept, keeping a variety of blank canvases at hand to accommodate the impulse. The right choice—whether big and bold or small and intimate, horizontal or vertical—depends on the narrative I am driven to convey. Sometimes the process starts with rough sketches, while other times my intuition guides my hands without premeditation. The final piece frequently mirrors my initial vision, yet always surprises me with unexpected elements and facets, reinforcing the uniqueness of my approach.

In essence, my art is an exploration of relationship—between subject and artist, artist and viewer, and thought and form—crafted to provoke, inspire, and deeply move all who encounter it.

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