About the Art
Jay McDougall’s sculpture is produced in the reductive method where material is removed to reveal the form, much like the process used to carve marble. This method is much more challenging and less forgiving than additive sculpture where material is added or fabricated to compose the form. Jay strives to cut away all that is ephemeral to yield only that which is essential.
Wood was selected as the carving material for its intrinsic warmth and life. These qualities serve to enhance the fluidity of many of his pieces while reinforcing the primal essence of others. Jay carefully selects distinctive logs from hardwood trees that have already fallen or been marked for removal near his studio in Ottertail County, Minnesota. All of his pieces are carved from a single block of material. This distinguishes his work from most other wood collectibles in that it involves no glue-ups or joinery. All of the work is carved and does not involve any lathe work, yet another feature that solidly positions McDougall’s pieces in a very select group. All of this contributes to the common occurrence on the part of many who are first introduced to his work of mistaking his material for stone or marble.
Jay’s pieces have the affect of connecting with viewers at a visceral level; they touch something deep inside. Terms used to describe the work often include: sensuous, soothing, fluid, passionate, poetic, and alive. McDougall’s pieces surpass transient trends and styles; they are timeless in their classic contemporary beauty and bring with them a soothing presence that fits seamlessly into wide-ranging architectural styles.
About the Artist
Jay comes from a family steeped in generations of art and craftsmanship. He received his BS degree in Industrial Education with an emphasis in Wood Technology and Furniture Design from UW Stout, Menomonie, WI. Jay has also studied with Tage Frid, Dale Nish, and Lissi Oland. Influences include the works and philosophies of George Nakashima, James Krenov, and Constantin Brançusi. His career as a self-employed artist has evolved over a 30 year span.
Opening his studio in 1982, McDougall’s early years were spent designing and building original pieces of furniture. He has also been a contributing writer for Fine WoodWorking Magazine. His sculpted wall pieces and vessels are the distillation of this career spent pursuing economy of line and form. Carved exclusively from Minnesota hardwoods these sensuous shapes call forth rolling curves that flow as easily as the undulating hills around Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he lives and works, collecting logs and transforming them into cherished collectables. Jay has garnered numerous national awards for excellence in his field and was selected as a 2008 McKnight Foundation Fellowship recipient. Today's discriminating contemporary craft collectors can find Jay's work in the nation's most prestigious venues for acquisition.
From the Artist
I have chosen to live and work in
rural Minnesota. I work out of a studio on the same property
as the home we built on the beautiful Ottertail River. I’m thankful to have been able to earn
a living as an artist (along with my wife who
is also a visual artist) while living and raising our family
in a small town setting. We are both very involved in our community
where we enjoy a flourishing culture of arts and a supportive
group of fellow artists.
Utilizing material that is very accessible is compatible with my goal of practicing, maintaining, and enriching a sustainable lifestyle. It also allows me to work with a material with which I share an intimacy. These are the trees that I have played and worked amongst my entire life. I strive for an efficiency in my forms where less can be more, and have achieved the discipline required to resist overworking the material. I am constantly challenging myself to keep moving and to remain fully engaged in my process. My work progresses in steps or layers with each one clearing a path to the next level. This allows me to remain relatively sane and highly motivated.
My career, family, home, surroundings, and the objects I create have truly become one entity. They are inseparable and define who and what I am. My pieces are very personal things to me. When you acquire one of them you are getting more than a mere object, you are also accepting a part of me.
I regularly tell my story, explain my work, and advance the case for "Artist" as a viable career path to local students and service clubs as well as speaking at many national events where I exhibit my work. Please contact me for booking information.
Utilizing material that is very accessible is compatible with my goal of practicing, maintaining, and enriching a sustainable lifestyle. It also allows me to work with a material with which I share an intimacy. These are the trees that I have played and worked amongst my entire life. I strive for an efficiency in my forms where less can be more, and have achieved the discipline required to resist overworking the material. I am constantly challenging myself to keep moving and to remain fully engaged in my process. My work progresses in steps or layers with each one clearing a path to the next level. This allows me to remain relatively sane and highly motivated.
My career, family, home, surroundings, and the objects I create have truly become one entity. They are inseparable and define who and what I am. My pieces are very personal things to me. When you acquire one of them you are getting more than a mere object, you are also accepting a part of me.
I regularly tell my story, explain my work, and advance the case for "Artist" as a viable career path to local students and service clubs as well as speaking at many national events where I exhibit my work. Please contact me for booking information.
