See New Paintings First

Each month I complete between 1 and 4 paintings.

My subscribers see them before anybody else – giving them the first look at new works as soon as they are finished.

These emails are sent on Saturday mornings, so you’re free to pour your favorite Saturday morning beverage, get comfortable, and begin your weekend with some art.

All you need to subscribe is an email address and optionally your first name. You can unsubscribe at any time, and your information is never shared.

Complete the form below to see my next painting.

The Beauty Of Quiet Things

My name is Jeffrey Hayes, and I create paintings that draw the viewer into a realm of beauty, harmony, and quiet contemplation.

Inspired by the great still life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, these paintings are crafted with the finest materials, using techniques that have stood the test of time.

Continue reading to learn more about the artwork, the artist, and how you can see new paintings as soon as they are completed.

The Inspiration

These paintings are studies in meditative silence and the beauty of quiet things.

They grow out of a momentary experience of deep connection with one of the objects that becomes part of the painting.

During those moments, everything else slips away and I become intensely focused on that thing, seeing it in a new light, and become suddenly aware of all its beauties and artistic possibilities.

It is quite similar to slipping into a daydream – that experience becomes the real inspiration for these paintings.

The Process

These paintings are created using a process that can takes weeks – even months – to complete.

Known as the Flemish technique, it divides the production of a painting into three parts – the drawing, the black-and-white underpainting, and the final color layer. Each step is completed and perfected before moving on to the next.

By working this way, the tremendous complexity of creating a realistic image is broken into smaller problems that can be resolved separately.

This allows the artist to approach a painting in much the same way as a building is constructed – first the foundation, then the frame, then the final fittings and decorations.

I came to painting later than most artists, having been educated as a musician, and then finding my way into a more practical career as a computer programmer.

Around my 30th birthday, I satisfied years of curiosity by purchasing a small oil painting kit. This turned out to be life-changing; before long I resolved to leave my technology career and devote the rest of my life to painting. Within a few years that became a reality.

It is a privilege to create artwork that many people have said touches them in a profound way.

It is a great honor when someone chooses to bring one of these paintings into their home and live with it on a daily basis.