"Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do." - Bob Ross

 

From an early age, Jay Skorupski was always into art at some level. It all started around 4 years old with emulating the cartoons that were on TV at that time. Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse were the flavor of choice. While coming up with his own ideas the passion continued to grow into Comic books,  Superheroes and Cars. As he grew so did the talent (obsession). The 80’s/90’s were full of larger than life characters which all had an impression on Jay. Rocky, Arnold, Bob Ross, Knight Rider, Batman, Goku, Miami Vice, etc. Naturally, his art progression moved into drawing cars as his father was a Hotrodder and total gear head. His childhood was a perfect recipe of skinned knees, video games, comics, underdog movies, superhero aliens and fast cars that fostered creativity. The posters of the Red Testarossa, White Countach and Black Porsche 930 that sprawled his walls may have had an impact as well.

 

Along side drawing and the love cars was photography, which started in his Grandfathers darkroom watching him develop his Trips around the world (foreshadowing Jays addiction for adventure). Through taking photography and videography all 4 years in High School and essentially teaching it by his Senior year, the desire to capture moments in time was real to say the least.  Getting “the shot” was always a thing, even back in the 2 megapixel camera phone days. Hunting for the light, the angle, the look and feel of the moment. There also may be an unhealthy amount of photos and videos of his Camaro in his High School archives.

 

After school and spending a few years working odd jobs he landed working for his Uncle and 100+ year old family own business, which he quickly realized it wasn’t his path. It’s still up for debate if he got fired or if he quit :)

 

Around that time Jay was introduced to the Airbrush. A tool from his pas that was just used for graffiti. This time was different. Things clicked in as if a lifetime of experience came flooding. He knew this was it. THIS was his path.  After a couple years of mixing full time artwork and bodyshop work (to learn and master the automotive prep and painting) Jay started his own Custom Paint business. Where most of his time was spent airbrushing motorcycles, murals on cars, helmets, wall murals and dabbling in fine art.

 

Following 20 years of honing his skills in the Custom Paint world, 15+ of which was under the name “XSPAINT” which allowed him to work with some incredible names (EFI Logics, Superior Autobody, Miller Race Cars, Ken Quartuccio, Sonic Tuned, Joey Logano, Dee Snider, March of Dimes, DeBaise Bros Customs, The US Marine Corp, and Valvoline just to name a few) photography and Fine Art has become a focus yet again.

 

Jay is not a classically trained artist by the standard definition. Most of what he’s learned has been trial and error and countless hours of practice (pre YouTube era). If you had to put a number on it, it would be in the range of 40,000+ hours. In High School he spoke to Paier School of Art in CT and Ringing School of Art in Sarasota FL but neither clicked. His childhood art studies and work in in bodyshops, motorcycle shops and being around Hot Rods and Custom Cars for nearly all of his life translates into a strong understand of form, composition, lighting, and shapes. Most of his work is in traditional media, using acrylic and automotive based paints. The airbrush is a preferred tool but he’s just as comfortable with a traditional brush and techniques.

 

Jays’ passion has and always will be in the automotive space and adventure. That doesn’t mean he’s limited to one genre. From pet and family portraits to landscapes and everything in between. The real passion is connecting with others and being able to have a positive impact on this world.

 

If Jays not creating something, you might find him at a local car show, cars and coffee snapping pics, or 50 miles deep into the middle of nowhere, with his trusty pup, at 14,000’ just to get a breath of fresh air, also snapping pics.

 

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Creativity is never satiated. It may shift forms but at the end of the day, the only thing thats left is to make something worth looking at.

 

The fact that his signature is on everything he does, and will be forever, is a testament to his relentless pursuit of giving the best possible product. Period.

 

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Thanks for spending your time to look at my work. It is the most valuable thing we have after all. Hope you leave just a bit better than when you got here.

 

Jay

 

✌️