Continuing with our artist profiles of artists both living and working in the Hamptons, our next artist is Jim Hayden, who lives in East Hampton.

East Hampton - Jim Hayden is a native New Yorker. Born and raised in Rockaway Beach, he was influenced since early childhood by nature, the ocean and the changing moods and textures of the beach, the soldiers stationed there during WW II, as well as his mother's Bingo chips, which provided hours of creative play.

His art education took him from The School of Visual Arts in New York to summer residency at the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Fine Arts.

Artist Jim Hayden in his East Hampton studio in front of "Untitled" 2005, ink on glass. Photo by Eileen Casey

During his studies at the University of Pennsylavania Hayden coordinated audio-visual and mixed-media exhibits at the University American Indian Gallery, and taught printmaking and graphic design. After graduation, he taught printmaking at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

For the next five years, Hayden and his wife, artist Jana Hayden, lived in Honolulu, where he worked as a media specialist at the University of Hawaii. Upon their return to New York, they established and successfully managed a company providing graphic design, typesetting, and commercial printing services for many years.

Hayden states that, "Currently I am a resident of East Hampton, concentrating full-time on art. My life-long experience of working in the printing field has led to my choice of materials - in creating fluid, metamorphic images on glass, I use oil-based printing inks as my medium."

"I have exhibited at several venues in the past, among them The Pratt Center in New York, Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, and more recently at Guild Hall, East Hampton Town Hall, Ashawagh Hall in East Hampton, and The Crazy Monkey Galley in Amagansett. I am a board member of the Artist Alliance of East Hampton."

"Bones" 2006, oil on glass, 26" x 26"

When did you start making art and what medium(s) do you consider to be your roots in art?

Jim Hayden: The first part of that question is impossible for me to answer without trying to be philosophical. Posterity will have to pass judgment on whether or not there was a beginning. I take issue with the words art and artist and the way they are often applied. So I will say I started drawing with soft lead pencils early in grammar school. I then moved on to pen and ink high contrast images. In High School we explored numerous mediums.

During my formal university training I concentrated on oil painting on canvas and printmaking. Recently I have worked with ceramics, oil based inks on glass, and Sumi ink on paper. However observation of nature is probably where it all began.

What is it about the Hamptons that brought you here and enticed you to stay, work, and pursue your art here as opposed to some place else?

JH: The answer may be that other places I have been didn't entice me as much. I believe I could make the best of any place if I had to. But living in Springs, surrounded by nature, has proven to be a great comfort for both my wife and myself.

Recently I was at a check-out counter up at Hunter Mountain. One of the two cashiers was commenting she had never been on a boat or a plane. This middle-aged woman caught me by surprise and I began to think about the places I have lived and experienced.

"Emerging Colors" 2006, ink on glass, 20" x 10"

Fortunately my experience is remarkably different. While in college I was employed during the summer as a waiter on the SS United States and Constitution. Many years were spent in the Rockaways and Manhattan. I attended the University of Pennsylvania and lived in Philadelphia. Shortly after that I relocated to Honolulu for five years. While in the military I was stationed in White Sands, New Mexico and Mainz, Germany. My wife is from Prague and we made trips to Czechoslovakia while it was still occupied by the Russians. On our numerous trips we would stay at the home of friends who fled the 1969 invasion and settled in various places in Europe and thus we gained from their experiences as well.

After our world travels we spent 14 years in suburbia putting our two children through school. With this wealth of living experiences it wasn't hard for me to agree to come back to the Hamptons. This was one of the best places to party during summer breaks from school, but now I am not here for the parties, but for the peaceful life in the woods.

"Flight" 2008, Ceramic

How do you support yourself as an artist?

JH: The beginning of art related income came while I was a teaching assistant at Penn. Then I taught at Pratt Institute and the University of Hawaii. Later my wife and I had a printing and graphic design business. The printing evolved from part-time employment at the Falcon Press in Philadelphia. The head of my department, Gene Feldman, was the preferred printer for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This background was the foundation for the rest of my adult life's employment. So, one could say that most of my income during my life came from the commercial aspect of the graphic arts. Currently, some of my artwork has found buyers, though I do not actively pursue this avenue.

Why live and work in the Hamptons as opposed to elsewhere?

JH: For me the reason is easy. When living in Massapequa I was Erin's father, Dylan's father, or even my dog Sandy's "dad." Most of my "cultural" experiences during those years were experienced at Waldbaum's, the high school football games, and parent teacher nights. So, when the nest was empty, it was time to move and get seriously involved with creative pursuits on a more personal level once again. Having owned a printing and graphic art business my wife and I were always in touch with creativity, but not at the level we are now.

Of all the places I have lived; Hawaii and the Springs have been the most receptive to new inhabitants. Contrast that with Vermont and you get the picture. I love Vermont but the standing joke is that after 10 years you are still considered a newcomer. When we moved to East Hampton and showed an interest in the Arts we were accepted into this community of accomplished talent. That in itself is an attraction and a shot in the arm to one's self-esteem. This is a magnet for those of us with an interest in the arts. On the other hand it is intimidating. You know your work is scrutinized closely by your peers, which forces you to be your own best critic.

What local environment or historical aspects of the Hamptons do you relate to that may be reflected in your medium?

JH: Back at the University of Pennsylvania, in my attempt to get off easy and reduce my credit load for a fall semester, I registered for Astronomy 101 & 102. The courses were given back to back and I could take them in a short session during the summer. This allowed for unlimited studio time in the fall. Of course, it turned out the courses were far from easy, but they left a lasting impression on me.

"Vision" 2004, ink on paper, 20" x 30"

Recently I collaborated with my son, who provided me with astro-photography images. He would go to Hither Hills and capture time lapse images of the Milky Way. I would then incorporate them into some of my Sumi ink paintings with the aid of Photoshop to create photo collages.

My wife and I love to view the night sky from the darkness of our woods or beaches. This was a major attraction that drew us to East Hampton. Hopefully we can curtail some of the light pollution that is destroying this precious view and wasting energy.

What artist(s) do you feel have influenced you and your work?

JH: I froze at my canvas when I attended my first painting class. It was at night, at the School of Visual Arts in New York. By froze I mean I was afraid to put a stroke on the canvas. The instructor, who was confined to a wheelchair, took me under his wing when he realized my dilemma. On weekends he and I would wheel our way with two or three other students to various museums. His explanations of art at the Frick are as vivid to me today as they were then. Ironically, I have forgotten his name and keep promising myself to do the background and find out who he was. I do remember his paintings. These museum trips were not part of our curriculum, but his way of teaching. Witnessing his love of art and devotion to helping struggling students has impacted my views and they are not limited to painting. I feel that he established in me a similar unselfish attitude. I hope that some of the students I taught have the same opinion of me.

PS: As to what artist work influenced me I can only say I am still being influenced.

"Light Flight" 2008, Sumi Ink on paper, 20" x 26"

What advice would you give an emerging artist?

JH: Feed off the discoveries of your previous work. I am convinced that a solid formal well-rounded introduction to drawing, painting, color theory, and sculpture is important. These traditional studies provide you the confidence in the value of your own work. Personally, I prefer to see exploration and discovery as opposed to shtick and tricks and an overabundance of detailed discipline. However you need a firm foundation within yourself in order to be able to make your creations worthwhile.

What gives you an edge, if any?

JH: The accident of my experience; both my parents were Irish immigrants with a wealth of hardships, experience, and six kids. I literally grew up on the beach in Rockaway, New York. During WW II soldiers were manning guns on the beaches to protect New York Harbor in case of an attack. Their entertainment was at my mother's and her sister's rooming houses (today's B&B). A piano, an accordion, a fiddle and a singer were always at hand.

My uncle, James A. Hayden, had a profound influence on me. He hosted the Irish Hour radio program in New York. He wrote for the Irish newspapers and put on live musical shows juxtaposing American Indians with Irish Step Dancers. Every Sunday night during the summer I would hear his voice over the radio wherever I was.

His son James and daughter Dorothy Cudahy carried on the tradition. Their theme song "Of All The Towns In Ireland, Kilkenny For Me" is still one of my favorites and reverberates in my head. I was always backstage at the live events and was doted over by the entertainers and fans of my uncle. At this point in my life my father was off working on construction jobs building airfields and digging tunnels for government projects. My guess is that this exposure made nine to five impalpable and I keep looking forward to the next show.

"Pair To The Moon" 2008, Giclee, 20" x 26"

What are you working on now, and are you involved in any upcoming shows or exhibitions?

JH: As the weather warms up I will move my work outdoors. Much of my work will continue to be oil based inks on glass. The drying time for this process is prolonged due to the nature of glass not being absorbent. For the remainder of the winter I will produce images with water based inks on paper and other materials.

This June I will be a featured artist at The Crazy Monkey Gallery, and in July my studio will be on the Artist Alliance of East Hampton Studio Tour; and in November I will exhibit my new work at Ashawagh Hall.

 • To view more of Jim Hayden's work, visit the following websites at www.haydenaesthetics.com, or email at haydenjj@optonline.net